Golf & Smoking

[Acropo]

This country is getting all crazy. Socialism is next, Singapore anyone??

Merely on a point of information -

Singapore is a long, long way from being a socialist country. If you went there, you might be arrested for suggesting such a thing! (Tip: don't chew while you're there, either. That's anything - gum, tobacco, whatever. It's illegal!) Authoritarian, yes; socialist - definitely not!

[MKPKR]

as a smoker i don't see a big problem with people smoking on the course. the only thing that bothers me is when people litter the course with their butts. whether it be cigarettes or cigar butts doesn't matter. i always put it out and either put it in my back pocket or put it in an "empty can" in the cart. one of my buddies is infamous for flicking them and i ride him to no end about it.

on a side note, don't leave anything out there for the next person to have to clean up.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I can remember watching old golf videos with guys like Palmer, Hogan and such smoking all of the time on the course. I remember watching old NFL videos with players smoking on the sidelines LOL. How did we become so girly over the years?

[Boyder]

I quit smoking almost a year ago. Not really because of peer pressure, my health or anything other than I was just getting sick of the cost and the habit. Smoking has become such a negative stigma in our society that to see someone smoking on TV feels to many out there like "something dreadfully wrong". Personally, I would rather see all the energy (and money) currently being directed toward "anti-smoking" re-directed toward making it more socially unacceptable to drink and drive. Just My Opinion.
BTW - I do not drink either. I do however swear like a sailor and eat too many carbs and I do not get the amount of cardio exercise a man of my age should have on a daily basis ... although I would if I could play golf everyday!

[The Road Dog]

SSJLaletas, you seem to be surprised that others don't want to be told what we can and can't watch or show. You sure were quick to agree to banning fat people from the tube.

I get a kick out of the places I visit that are trying to ban smoking from their parking lots or grassy areas outside their buildings.

I will smoke a cigar during a round, I'm walking and I don't ask someone's permission. But then I also ignore the sign on the mall door that says "no concealed weapons allowed".

[14ledo81]

I quit smoking almost a year ago. Not really because of peer pressure, my health or anything other than I was just getting sick of the cost and the habit. Smoking has become such a negative stigma in our society that to see someone smoking on TV feels to many out there like "something dreadfully wrong". Personally, I would rather see all the energy (and money) currently being directed toward "anti-smoking" re-directed toward making it more socially unacceptable to drink and drive. Just My Opinion.

Agree completely. Society nowadays shuns smoking to no end, to the point where those who smoke are looked down upon. Yet drinking seems to be no big deal. I dont have any stats, but I would be willing to bet drinking and driving kills more people than second hand smoke.

[RCF]

I think it's a result of all the federal regulations on smoking ads.

One time I was walking in town with a girl and she complained about the cigarette smoke from the guy in front of us. I told her to worry more about carbon monixide from all the traffic around us. She has been programmed about smoking and that's good until she extends it to people who are not causing her harm.

As for cigaretts on the golf course, they are small and biodegrable as long as the filter is removed and placed in a trash can.

I engoy the smell of a good cigar.

[kleraudio]

(Tip: don't chew while you're there, either. That's anything - gum,

That is what I meant when I mentioned Singapore

[pusher]

I used to smoke a pack a day. I quit several times. The last time was 8 years ago. So far, so good. I don't care if you smoke on the course, but please don't drop your butts on or around the green- or anywhere else on the course, for that matter. What's the difference between that and throwing a candy wrapper or a beer can on the ground? Nothing. It's all littering and only slobs litter. As for pros shown smoking on TV: smoking on TV is simply out of style. Besides, with golf now being considered an athletic sport, smoking is at odds with athleticism. I'm sure the Tour frowns upon a network who puts a camera on a pro smoking a cigarette or even a cigar.

[juanrjackson]

I quit smoking almost a year ago. Not really because of peer pressure, my health or anything other than I was just getting sick of the cost and the habit. Smoking has become such a negative stigma in our society that to see someone smoking on TV feels to many out there like "something dreadfully wrong". Personally, I would rather see all the energy (and money) currently being directed toward "anti-smoking" re-directed toward making it more socially unacceptable to drink and drive. Just My Opinion.

I think "drinking and driving" is viewed as unacceptable in the U.S. today. I think MADD was the organization that raised the awareness of "drinking and driving" during the 80s/90s and that is also when most states increased the penalities for DWI/DUI.

Wasn't in in the 70s/80s or so when laws were implemented banning cigerate/liquor commercials on TV. Recently I have saw some liiquor commercials on TV late night so maybe the rules are changing. I personally don't care if people smoke or not as long as they are not blowing the smoke in my face lol But in sports....they just do not normally show poeple smoking.

[WUTiger]

Back when golfers smoked, it was much easier to line up your shots from the fairway: Dozens of little white "aiming points" to use. Maybe that's why it's so rough to break 90 lately...

[James_Black]

what about Jimenez and his cigar? That's allowed

[SSJLaletas]

SSJLaletas, you seem to be surprised that others don't want to be told what we can and can't watch or show. You sure were quick to agree to banning fat people from the tube.

The overweight joke that another poster wrote with sarcasm was me just showing distasteful humour, my apologies.

Again in just my opinion which means nothing except to me, I simply think smoking is a disgusting, expensive, life threatening habit. That being said some family members, friends, and coworkers do it all the around me, in my car, on the course, wherever, and usually almost all of them ask permission lets say if were in a car together even if their driving (honestly over the top but hey still very considerate). All of which I appreciate it and honestly dont mind at all. Just when your on a major televised broadcast you cant withold from your habit for four hours? And if you can then why in the world are the cameras showing this footage on very unimportant walks to each ball, very bad taste. And that commercial where John Daly is on the couch looking at his phone blowing his smoke everywhere, why doesnt he just blow right in camera at that point, distasteful on him and on the golf channel. Again just stating my opinion, no facts involved, and no offense intended.

[kleraudio]

Just when your on a major televised broadcast you cant withold from your habit for four hours?

Im guessing youve never been a smoker

[B Keller]

as a smoker i don't see a big problem with people smoking on the course. the only thing that bothers me is when people litter the course with their butts. whether it be cigarettes or cigar butts doesn't matter. i always put it out and either put it in my back pocket or put it in an "empty can" in the cart. one of my buddies is infamous for flicking them and i ride him to no end about it.

This is spot on. I smoke a pipe or cigar about once a month or so but have never done so on the golf course. More from forgetting it and not really having a way to hold it when I am swinging.

But it really grinds my gears when there are all these butts all over the place. Especially here in Texas where it is dry and windy and there are burned spots in areas. Really, how dense do you have to be to drop your butt in dry grass on a windy day?!

[BonoVox]

Smoking on the tour and by extension showing it on TV IMHO just gives the people who say golf is not a sport more ammunition.

Other than my love for the sport.....I don't really care what they show on TV.

[The Road Dog]

Again just stating my opinion, no facts involved, and no offense intended.

SSJLaletas, I was just poking ya. But seriously you don't understand the nature of addictions. An addiction is what made Tiger meet up with over a dozen women who are worth nothing to him but it made him risk untold millions of dollars in income to be with them.

An addiction is what makes a drunk buy booze and risk health, wealth and family for. Ask a crackhead to just wait four hours before going out to look for that next hit. They can not control the urge to do what they are addicted to. TV isn't in the thoughts of smoking golfers. Now after all that it occurred to me that maybe we're seeing a European influence on the Golf channel, covering the event as it is instead of editing as per PC Police rules.

[USA 79S]

I thought it was a little weird when i saw an ad for the John Daly reality show that was just him smoking. What exactly were they trying to say about Daly?

Was that John Daly? I thought it was Ron "Tater Salad" White from Blue Collar Comedy Tour. But really, guy smoking and drinking alone in a chair, gee there's some must see t.v.