Golf Is Not Intellectually Solvable

[DrvFrShow]

Chess is not a sport. It is a game.

[14ledo81]

I would say that portions of the game are intellectually solvable. The game management portion. I think it is spelled out fairly clearly in LSW.

[billchao]

I would say that portions of the game are intellectually solvable. The game management portion. I think it is spelled out fairly clearly in LSW.

Sure, but you still have to swing the club. That's THE most important aspect of golf.

[Patch]

Intellect uses the mind. With that, anyone who uses intelligence (thought and reason) in either a professional , or  amateur manner can be considered an intellectual . I would say that the professionals on this web site are considered intellectuals, more so than the amateurs who are looking for answers.

Since intelligence uses thought and reasoning, it would seem to me to solve any problem, a person would need intelligence.

Pretty sure that's what I think anyways. I guess.

I'd hate to try to swing a golf club with out my intelligence telling my muscles, and bones what to do.

[No Mulligans]

Intellect uses the mind. With that, anyone who uses intelligence (thought and reason) in either a professional, or  amateur manner can be considered an intellectual. I would say that the professionals on this web site are considered intellectuals, more so than the amateurs who are looking for answers.

Since intelligence uses thought and reasoning, it would seem to me to solve any problem, a person would need intelligence.

Pretty sure that's what I think anyways. I guess.

I'd hate to try to swing a golf club with out my intelligence telling my muscles, and bones what to do.

I suppose, but

We all knew what was meant by the title "Golf Is Not Intellectually Solvable".  Even if one didn't the 1st post clearly states the intention of the thread.

[iacas]

We all knew what was meant by the title "Golf Is Not Intellectually Solvable".  Even if one didn't the 1st post clearly states the intention of the thread.

I agree.

Plus:

[FireDragon76]

Golf appeals to intellectual people more than other sports. On its face, it appears to be a game that you can conquer with brain power.

Blame the mystique of Golf: country club culture, wealthy Americans that wanted to pretend that Golf was different than other, brutish sports like boxing or baseball that a gentleman would never engage in.

The focus on mechanics obscures the athleticism of the golf swing.  Especially because so much of the mechanics of the golf swing are dependent on a persons physical ability, in some cases physical abilities that may be extraordinary.

[newtogolf]

Blame the mystique of Golf: country club culture, wealthy Americans that wanted to pretend that Golf was different than other, brutish sports like boxing or baseball that a gentleman would never engage in.

The focus on mechanics obscures the athleticism of the golf swing.  Especially because so much of the mechanics of the golf swing are dependent on a persons physical ability, in some cases physical abilities that may be extraordinary.

Never thought of baseball as brutish.  There's quite a lot of science behind baseball but like golf requires athleticism as well.

[nevets88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iacas

Golf appeals to intellectual people more than other sports. On its face, it appears to be a game that you can conquer with brain power.

Blame the mystique of Golf: country club culture, wealthy Americans that wanted to pretend that Golf was different than other, brutish sports like boxing or baseball that a gentleman would never engage in.

The focus on mechanics obscures the athleticism of the golf swing.  Especially because so much of the mechanics of the golf swing are dependent on a persons physical ability, in some cases physical abilities that may be extraordinary.

On the other hand, I thought golf appealed to the 1% because of the exclusivity and making business deals aspect. The people who wrote the most "intellectual" tomes on golf came from modest backgrounds - Homer Kelley, Mac O'Grady (well, wrote but not so much published), Chris Como, masters candidate and in the eyes of the media, biomechanics man himself said he came from a modest background.

[FireDragon76]

Never thought of baseball as brutish.  There's quite a lot of science behind baseball but like golf requires athleticism as well.

Well, I guess I should put "brutish" in quotes, as its not necessarily something I agree with.  But I still do feel the class-based prejudices play into the perception that golf is different fundamentally from other sports, that it doesn't have the same sort of basic prerequisites to play well as other sports, such as baseball.

[nevets88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtogolf

Never thought of baseball as brutish.  There's quite a lot of science behind baseball but like golf requires athleticism as well.

Well, I guess I should put "brutish" in quotes, as its not necessarily something I agree with.  But I still do feel the class-based prejudices play into the perception that golf is different fundamentally from other sports, that it doesn't have the same sort of basic prerequisites to play well as other sports, such as baseball.

Yacht racing, polo, equestrian, skiing to an extent, yes. Golf in the US and UK is affordable to a wider breadth of demographic. But the former, you need a hefty lump sum and or connections to participate. I think it's a misnomer that golf is mostly a 1% activity because all you need is a course, a couple clubs and some balls and these are not major barriers to entry costwise. While the course may be in pretty bad condition, at least you're playing. Most people aren't going to be able to afford an entry level yacht or keep a horse or fly to the Alps.

[iacas]

Blame the mystique of Golf: country club culture, wealthy Americans that wanted to pretend that Golf was different than other, brutish sports like boxing or baseball that a gentleman would never engage in.

I nearly completely disagree.

I think people, such as yourself, see it as intellectually solvable because it's one of the few solitary sports. It's just you and the ball… there is no offense or defense, nobody else to consider. I think people have attempted to "solve" golf intellectually for quite a long time.

The point of the post is that people will rarely or only very very slowly get better at golf the way you've been approaching it: hopping from swing method to swing method, trying "the Moe Norman swing" and then "the Don Trahan swing" and then such-and-such other guy's swing. The golf swing is an athletic move, not an intellectual one. There is no magic bullet, and just because you understand how, why, and what you are supposed to DO, you still have to actually TRAIN your body to DO those things.

Intellect is not a help in the golf swing.

The focus on mechanics obscures the athleticism of the golf swing.  Especially because so much of the mechanics of the golf swing are dependent on a persons physical ability, in some cases physical abilities that may be extraordinary.

I think the opposite is more true: the point of mechanics is to allow a golfer to properly express his athleticism.

[billchao]

I think people, such as yourself, see it as intellectually solvable because it's one of the few solitary sports. It's just you and the ball… there is no offense or defense, nobody else to consider. I think people have attempted to "solve" golf intellectually for quite a long time.

I started a draft that pretty much said this. In golf, the golfer is theoretically capable of accounting for all the possible variables, so if he makes a mistake, it's on him. People try to think their way through a golf shot and forget that there's an athletic component involved. I also think a lot has to do with the emphasis on the mental game and course management, too. People believe they can think their way through this game because that's what they've been taught over the years. There are a lot of field disciplines that are similar to golf (javelin throw comes to mind), yet people don't approach them the same as they do for golf.