"GOLFING" - is it a word?

[Buckeyebowman]

Since this was initiated in January, I'll attribute it to SAD (Seasonal Affected Disorder). I will acknowledge some of the recent posters in saying that English is one of the more screwed up languages on the planet. It's very versatile, but that is part of it's problem. I've heard it said many times that English is the hardest second language to learn.

Years back there was a comedian whose name escapes me now, who had a whole routine of making fun of the English language. He'd point out similarities in spelling with differences in pronunciation like, cough, rough, and slough. But his capper was the words go (goe) and do (doo). As he put it, "It's as simple as the words go and do! Words comprised of two letters apiece that aren't pronounced alike! Hey! Let's go do something!"

I figure golfing is the least of our worries.

[tmclennan]

iI'm going to  my grave with this but golf is a game and therefor you play a game.You don't tennis you don't football you don't basketball- you PLAY these games you morons.These games became sports due to public demands but you don't tennis you don't baseball -you play these games.There is no argument to refute this and I challenge anyone to do so.You play a game like golf and anything other interpretation is invalid.Webster is wrong and they won't respond to me because they can't defend their moronic internal limits 

[iacas]

Yes.

You can "serve" a ball in tennis, but "serve" can also be a noun (or an adjective).

You can also "golf" a ball. You'll hear it during baseball games… "Man, he really golfed that one out of the dirt."

You can't "tennis" because "tennis" can't be used as a verb. "Golf" can be used as a verb.

That said, I rarely use "golf" as a verb (or a gerund).

P.S. People certainly use "bowl" as a verb (and thus use the word "bowling"). Nobody goes to "play bowl" or "play bowling."

[DaveP043]

13 hours ago, tmclennan said:

iI'm going to  my grave with this but golf is a game and therefor you play a game.You don't tennis you don't football you don't basketball- you PLAY these games you morons.These games became sports due to public demands but you don't tennis you don't baseball -you play these games.There is no argument to refute this and I challenge anyone to do so.You play a game like golf and anything other interpretation is invalid.Webster is wrong and they won't respond to me because they can't defend their moronic internal limits 

As much as I dislike the use of the term ("I went golfing yesterday"..." no you didn't, you played golf"), there's no question its a valid word.  But really, for a newcomer to TST to begin his posting career by insulting those who disagree with him, that's just poor form.  

[David in FL]

13 hours ago, tmclennan said:

iI'm going to  my grave with this but golf is a game and therefor you play a game.You don't tennis you don't football you don't basketball- you PLAY these games you morons.These games became sports due to public demands but you don't tennis you don't baseball -you play these games.There is no argument to refute this and I challenge anyone to do so.You play a game like golf and anything other interpretation is invalid.Webster is wrong and they won't respond to me because they can't defend their moronic internal limits 

Interesting first post....  

Welcome to the forum.  

[RandallT]

1 minute ago, David in FL said:

Interesting first post....  

Welcome to the forum.  

I saw that in the queue for approval last night, and it was the strangest sensation that I felt like I had read that exact screed somewhere else before. Like deja vu. I thought it was on this same thread years ago. I held off approving (due to spam, we're making first posts be approved) until I could see if I had seen those same words posted somewhere else before. Guess I was losing my mind, because google yields nothing.

I am generally pro-grammar/vocab/spelling police, but in this case, meh. I must be getting hip, because new twists on the language don't bother me as much anymore. Except anything with a # is instantly viewed with disdain. 

[Hacker James]

or in Italy(and many countries), you will hear the term used when trying to converse in English, example:  "So, you like the golf".   or on this site "Is anybody enjoying the drink tonight".

[woodzie264]

20 hours ago, tmclennan said:

iI'm going to  my grave with this but golf is a game and therefor you play a game.You don't tennis you don't football you don't basketball- you PLAY these games you morons.These games became sports due to public demands but you don't tennis you don't baseball -you play these games.There is no argument to refute this and I challenge anyone to do so.You play a game like golf and anything other interpretation is invalid.Webster is wrong and they won't respond to me because they can't defend their moronic internal limits 

Wow - angry much? Pretty sure most will consider any reputable dictionary as more of an authority than you (or me). So, finding "golfing" listed in them, I think we have an answer. Also, @iacas made an intelligent argument refuting your statements, so by using the rationale of your post, the two of us are morons? Not sure that sort of posting is going to hold up as being rational or mature. Good luck making friends here

[JonMA1]

22 hours ago, tmclennan said:

you don't football

Especially if you're the Atlanta Falcons.

[woodzie264]

36 minutes ago, JonMA1 said:

Especially if you're the Atlanta Falcons.

Now I didn't have a dog in that fight, but that was funny

sorry! Off topic!

 

[RandallT]

11 minutes ago, woodzie264 said:

Now I didn't have a dog in that fight, but that was funny

sorry! Off topic!

 

Especially after he endured (without so much as a single complaint) a month of the moderators tormenting him with the "I HEART ATLANTA" avatar. Classic

[CCC]

Walk - walking. Golf - golfing.

Mic drop.

[JonMA1]

 

1 hour ago, RandallT said:

Especially after he endured (without so much as a single complaint) a month of the moderators tormenting him with the "I HEART ATLANTA" avatar. Classic

Well you know... I did ask for it. 

It's kind of hard to taunt the Super Bowl runner-ups when my team didn't even make the playoffs.

Sorry 

Where were we... oh yeah, we were internetting about golfing.

[acerimusdux]

On 2/9/2017 at 9:46 PM, tmclennan said:

There is no argument to refute this and I challenge anyone to do so.You play a game like golf

Are bowling, curling and hurling not games?

[Missouri Swede]

When my wife said, "have fun golfing today," I did not question the grammar. 

At all. 

[iacas]

17 minutes ago, Missouri Swede said:

When my wife said, "have fun golfing today," I did not question the grammar. 

At all. 

You sir are a wise man.

[GolfLug]

I say "I am going golfing" routinely. But then English is a second language for me... 

[tmclennan]

Where I am trying to go with this is that in fact GOLFING is the vulgar of the noun.Golf is a game and to that end you play a game.You play chess to don't chess or go chessing.Many of these GAMES have become major sports but that doesn't mean that golfing is a word-it even sounds wrong.Do you tennis?No you play tennis.do you baseball or football?No, you play these games.Swimming is a sport but you don't play "swim".You don't play"ski" because its not a game,you ski or go skiing because its a sport.Some one pulled out curling, but even here the standard holds-its not a game.If someone has an exception I'd love to hear it.