Is Golf a Sport or a Game?

[Sante TwoGloves]

But they say the same of undisputed sports like football and baseball.  That's not a valid argument.  You don't ask a quarterback "How's your sport?"

Yes but when two football teams square off we call it a game. Do you ask your buddies, who wants to play a game of golf this weekend?

[Fourputt]

From Merriam-Webster:

 

Quote

sport

noun

: a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other

: sports in general

: a physical activity (such as hunting, fishing, running, swimming, etc.) that is done for enjoyment

[Sante TwoGloves]

Sorry didn't mean to sound argumentative. I voted golf as a sport way back in this thread. Im just trying to figure out why some say it's a game and if they are right or not.

[DrvFrShow]

Golf, played from a driving golf cart is simply a game of some sort. You get out of the cart and hit the ball, then drive to your next shot. There is little exercise involved. Played this way usually involves alcohol. I won't call it a sport. A sport to me involves exercise.

Walk the course, it's a sport. There's physical exercise involved.

So walk if you can, ride if you can't. If you can't physically walk the course due to injuries, I'll let you get by with calling it a sport.

[David in FL]

Golf, played from a driving golf cart is simply a game of some sort. You get out of the cart and hit the ball, then drive to your next shot. There is little exercise involved. Played this way usually involves alcohol. I won't call it a sport. A sport to me involves exercise. Walk the course, it's a sport. There's physical exercise involved. So walk if you can, ride if you can't. If you can't physically walk the course due to injuries, I'll let you get by with calling it a sport.

What if you walk a short, flat course using a push cart....or even a caddy on a nice, cool day, versus riding a long, mountainous course, having to keep your cart on the cart paths only, in 90+ degree heat. One day it's a sport, and the next it's "only" a game? :-\ I'll stick with the definition that @Fourputt posted.

[Fourputt]

Golf, played from a driving golf cart is simply a game of some sort. You get out of the cart and hit the ball, then drive to your next shot. There is little exercise involved. Played this way usually involves alcohol. I won't call it a sport. A sport to me involves exercise.

Walk the course, it's a sport. There's physical exercise involved.

So walk if you can, ride if you can't. If you can't physically walk the course due to injuries, I'll let you get by with calling it a sport.

Actually, according to statistics I've seen published, you still burn about 2/3 of the calories riding as you do walking.  I get nearly 5000 steps on my Fitbit pedometer for a typical 18 holes riding.  Last Monday, playing 36 holes. I got 15,947 steps total for the day. Wednesday was 10,445 steps playing 27 holes.  I typically hit around 8200 steps on days when I play 18 holes and don't do anything else specific for additional exercise.  If I mow the lawn the same day I'll top 10,000.

[Sante TwoGloves]

When we were young and picked sides and played baseball, basketball, whatever we weren't playing a sport...we were playing a pick up game. I think of golf like that . The professionals are playing a sport and I am having a pick up game of golf with my friends.

[Joe from MD]

Golf is a game, sport.

[Mac62]

I voted yes (it's a sport), but TBH I've never really thought about it and don't much care what anybody else thinks it is.  If somebody wanted to argue with me that I was playing a "game" rather than a "sport", I'd just shrug my shoulders and say "OK, whatever".  Either way, I enjoy it and am getting some exercise and having fun with friends, so call it whatever you want.

[newtogolf]

For those that play it competitively (pro and amateur) it's a sport.  For those that play it for leisure and fun, it's a game.  I voted "sport" because I play it to compete.

[Patch]

I googled "the diference between a sport, and a game" for a definition. I'm not going to give away my findings, but I did get a better understanding of the two. Try it for yourself. 

[krupa]

Well, I'll give away my findings.  First, if you search on the internet long enough (and it doesn't take much time), you will find a source that supports your opinion.  Second, the Internet is as divided as this, and every other forum, about what is and isn't a game: 

There was a question on the English Language & Usage stackexchange site that had a really nice answer.  It covered the nuances of the two and pointed out that there will always be examples of a game/sport that seem to contradict the generalized descriptions.

Then there was a site called "difference between" that had an article that did not include the author's name or any references to reputable sources.  Also, the article made terrible conclusions that don't make any sense whatsoever.

The Miriam-Webster site has enough definitions of "sport" to satisfy anyone, including -- and I'm not making this up -- "sexual play."

 

At the end of day, games and sports are like pornography: you know it when you see it but there will still be some examples that are in the hazy, grey area between the two.

[NCGolfer]

There is competition and athletic skill required.  Sport.

I can't believe there is 28 pages dedicated to this.  

[Hacker James]

Going back to the original topic header, it is asking about whether Golf is a sport, or a game. It says nothing about whether or not the individuals taking part are athletes or not. Certainly those taking part on a professional basis are engaged in physical conditioning as are any who have a real desire to improve. From that standpoint, I would call it a sport, but those who participate are not necessarily athletes although most probably are.   Then there is the idea of whether or not it is a "team" sport. At first glance, one might say that it is not, but then those on the Ryder Cup would heartily disagree. I have a little problem in whether or not Golf is a sport that should be included in The Olympics however, but there are other activities that are probably questionable as well. 

"So, Yes, Virginia....there IS a Santa Claus"

[RH31]

Game. If Tim Herron can win (4 times) it can't be a sport.

[mcanadiens]

People always insisting on labeling things. 

It's golf and that's more than enough by itself. 

[krupa]

6 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

People always insisting on labeling things. 

It's golf and that's more than enough by itself. 

Nothing wrong with labeling; that's how we communicate.  The problem is that a lot of people use the labeling as a value system as well.  In other words, being a "sport" means something better (players are more athletic/fit/stronger/etc. and therefore require more effort/skill/time/etc.) than being a "game" (a word which implies tiddly-winks as much as chess or Bridge or billiards (which I think is a sport), etc.)

[Lihu]

GAME golf.

Well, it's a varsity sport in high school.

I definitely feel like golf is at least 2/3 effort even in a cart. The walking part doesn't really provide that much more exercise for me these days anyway. . .