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Is Golf a Sport or a Game?


tigerwoo
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21 members have voted

  1. 1. Is golf a sport?

    • Yes
      86
    • No
      19


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We know a little more than you seem to think. We know that you're 18. We know that you list your "occupation" as "caddie" and that you live in New Jersey. We know that your ISP is optonline.net. And we know a bit more than that.

So you know my age, my ISP, and my occupation. That doesn't mean that you know my brother, my sister, my cousin, my parents, or anyone else. You still don't know how accomplished I am at other sports. Saying that since you know my age, ISP, and occupation means that you know me, my history, and my family doesn't add up. Regardless, it doesn't pertain to the discussion.

Did I ever say that I don't get a thrill from golf? I said that it was a different feeling. Never did I say that I felt nothing while playing golf. You get different thrills from different sports. That's all. Emotions in team sports are different than emotions from individual sports. A teammate messing up is different than YOU messing up. Tell me that draws the same emotions. I get a different thrill from golf than any other activity or sport. I get a different thrill from basketball than I do from volleyball. I get a different thrill from playing a competitive basketball game than I do from playing a pickup game. Different activities/sports draw different emotions. I still don't think that you need athletic ability to be very good at golf. There are exceptional golfers that are not athletic. Granted in pro sports leagues (NFL, MLB, etc.) there are players who are not athletes, that seems to be the exception. Most players in pro sports leagues are athletic freaks. In golf, however, athletic freaks are few and far between. (This may be why golf is so appealing to play; to be great you don't have to be an athletic freak.) There are a few, but there would be more if it was required to be athletic. There's this old guy at my course who was a top amatuer in the state. Right now, he's probably 65 and has a 3 hcp. However, he's short, weak, and not that flexible. He's still great at golf though (his short game and putting are amazing). You cannot compete at a high level in sports if you are not an athlete. (Archery, Billiards, Baseball, etc. can be argued to not be sports either. Citing those as examples of sports that do not require athleticism is not valid if they're not sports. That's a debate for another time.) In golf, you can. Flexibility does not equate to being an athlete. It is not the only factor to consider. Flexibility is not required to be good at golf, though it helps. Being 6'8" helps in the NBA. It isn't required, but it helps. It is the same principle with flexibility in golf. Can anyone find me a good definition of a sport? One that includes golf, but excludes other activities like Chinese-checkers. Something that requires physical strain or activity is not valid. Giving birth requires physical strain. That's not a sport. See-saw requires physical activity. A competition is not a valid definition. There are hundreds of competitions that are certainly not sports. Combine the competition and physical activity and you may be on to something. Do you see my point? No one can come up with a good definition of sports. The definition I found does not seem to include golf. Has anyone actually read the article on page one of the topic? Read it. The reasons that golf is a sport (according to the article) are somewhat debateable. Debating our opinions is silly; we're not going to change anyone (however, I'm starting to think of golf as 60% sport/40% game). The article presents facts researched by doctors and specialists. Debating opinions leads nowhere; debating facts can actually accomplish something.

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The 'esp' in the definition means that part is optional. It is not required to fit the definition. That being said, we are left with "A game or competitive activity." Chess, checkers, any board game, etc. It is not a good definition. It does not exclude activities that we know are not sports.

It is *the* definition of sport, regardless of how accurate you deem it to be, thats just what a *sport* is defined as.

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So you know my age, my ISP, and my occupation.

Your age alone tells us a lot.

You also don't seem to get that ONE PERSON's experience (yours - even if it's by talking to other people or observing others) is not in any way definitive.
A teammate messing up is different than YOU messing up. Tell me that draws the same emotions.

Oh, so now you think you have to have a team to make something a sport? What about the argument that your teammates can carry you along to victory even if you're not "athletic"? I see it all the time in hockey - an "athletic" sport that can be played by people who are anything but athletes.

You should stop talking. The more you talk, the more ammunition you give to others to shoot holes in your position. What do teammates have to do with it? Nothing. What's the thrill have to do with it? Nothing.
There are exceptional golfers that are not athletic. Granted in pro sports leagues (NFL, MLB, etc.) there are players who are not athletes, that seems to be the exception.

Poor choice of words there kiddo.

There are no golfers on the PGA or Nationwide Tour who are not athletes. In fact, I'd go so far as to say there are no scratch-or-better golfers who are not athletes. With rare exception - which you've granted by your word choice above - there are almost no single-digit golfers who are not "athletes."
Most players in pro sports leagues are athletic freaks. In golf, however, athletic freaks are few and far between.

No.

At the professional level, virtually everyone (on par with other sports) is an "athletic freak" by almost any definition. At the amateur level in any sport (roughly single-digit handicaps for my purpose, right on through to very good amateurs), there are roughly an equal percentage of "athletic freaks" versus not. At the recreational level (10+ handicaps) in any sport, the percentages are again the same. Witness the guys drinking beer playing softball, or one of the players on my rec league hockey team.
(This may be why golf is so appealing to play; to be great you don't have to be an athletic freak.)

If "athletic freakism" was required to play on my hockey team, we wouldn't have a league.

(Archery, Billiards, Baseball, etc. can be argued to not be sports either.

Right. Baseball's not a sport. Uh hmmm.

You wanted us to go back to the original article? Okay:

Source: Original Article So, is golf a sport? Answer: It certainly is A sport, but probably not The Only sport you would need to play if you really want to get fit. But getting fit on the treadmill or in the weight room will definitely diminish fatigue on the golf course and, in turn, help you play better.

Something that requires physical strain or activity is not valid. Giving birth requires physical strain. That's not a sport.

Physical strain + competition. Golf qualifies.

It is *the* definition of sport, regardless of how accurate you deem it to be, thats just what a *sport* is defined as.

Word.

And just for the hell of it, I typed "sport" into an online dictionary . The first definition, courtesy of the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Β© Random House, Inc. 2006, is:

Source: Random House Unabridged Dictionary 1. an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

Guess that's the final word on that. I'll consider re-opening this thread (PM me if you'd like), but I think we've got our answer.

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  • 2 years later...

I would say that casual play (like I do) is more a game, that requires athletic moves.

To play at the professional level, it becomes a sport.

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It's all about physical coordination and physical ability. You can easily break a sweat doing it and it can leave you sore afterward. You can work out to build up relevant muscles and then make use of those when you play. Players hurt themselves sometimes and suffer injuries that limit their play. To be even moderately competent requires a decent level of skill and practice -- most people can't play very well even with some sporadic practice. Sounds like a sport to me. Also: If baseball's a sport, golf is a sport. Baseball includes running, but golf has even more focus on endurance and precision.

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One does not necessarily exclude the other.

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Don

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You could call it either depending on your criteria. Golfers tend to blow the physical aspect out of proportion, it's really not very taxing on a person's body compared to most other sports. I've played many sports and don't consider myself a great athlete but walking and carrying for 18 holes on a mountainous course doesn't take any more strength or endurance compared to most sports. Just look at the pros, you can compete at a high level well into your 40's or 50's. How many baseball/hockey/football/track/tennis/swimming participants do you see able to compete with people 20 years younger? Archery, pool, golf, etc. require some athleticism but it's mainly about coordination. Cheerleading requires more athletic ability than golf. All that said I do consider golf a sport and I can see why some people would argue against it.

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I've taken quite a few "tough guys" to play golf who can't make it to the back nine before they are so tired they can't hit a good shot anymore.Β  I personally don't care what someone else calls golf but I like it when someone tries it and realizes how taxing it really is compared to their idea beforehand.Β  I've played baseball and I will disagree with the guy who said its not harder than golf.Β  Its much more difficult for many reasons I won't get into here but lets just say that I can play golf and not be sore but can no longer play baseball because of what my body has been through.

My philosophy on golf "We're not doing rocket science, here."

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Given that some people who enjoy killing animals call that "sport", I am quite happy to call it a game. To those people who talk about being worn out after playing 9 holes or 15 or whatever, that is a matter of being seriously unfit,not proof that golf is not a game. I just refer to call it golf.

In the race of life, always back self-interest. At least you know it's trying.

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I'd say golf is a lot more physically demanding than being a DH in baseball and that's a sport, so I'd vote sport.

Joe Paradiso

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Originally Posted by Shorty

Given that some people who enjoy killing animals call that "sport", I am quite happy to call it a game.

To those people who talk about being worn out after playing 9 holes or 15 or whatever, that is a matter of being seriously unfit,not proof that golf is not a game. I just refer to call it golf.



Coincidentally, "game" is what hunters kill for sport.

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I've always erred on the side of it being a sport, but I can't say it really matters a whole lot to me. Hell, sometimes if people ask me if I play any sports, I say "I play golf, so kind of a sport."

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I've played baseball and I will disagree with the guy who said its not harder than golf.Β  Its much more difficult for many reasons I won't get into here but lets just say that I can play golf and not be sore but can no longer play baseball because of what my body has been through.

I think you're referring to my comment. I didn't say baseball was easier, I just drew a parallel between them.

"Golf is an entire game built around making something that is naturally easy - putting a ball into a hole - as difficult as possible." - Scott Adams

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Originally Posted by newtogolf

I'd say golf is a lot more physically demanding than being a DH in baseball and that's a sport, so I'd vote sport.



If we're calling the one dimensional position of DH on baseball team a sport, can we call certain aspects of golf, like putting, sports. Is putting a very physically demanding activity? How about mini-golf?Β  The DH is one position in a team sport. Some positions are more demanding than others. Even some players playing the same position have more demanding roles than others. Compare playing catcher versus first base (the 4 infielders, the battery,Β starters v. middle relievers, it depends on your POV).

Either way, the two main things golf and baseball have in common are that 1.) it's more work to practice the game than play it, and 2.) to a casual sports fan who doesn't even have a favourite team or player, they're extremely boring to watch on TV.

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Note:Β This thread is 2533 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic.Β Thank you!

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