The consensus as I have observed it is the same as the OP's. I don't hang around a lot of golfers, none of my friends and few of my acquaintances know the first thing about golf, but it is very hard for them to see golf as a sport when compared to the popular sports that everyone knows. And I have to admit, I have found myself agreeing with them more and more recently. No doubt, guys like Tiger are athletes plain and simple. However, I do see a fair amount of guys on tour who look like they struggle to roll off the couch in the morning. Golf requires no significant level of athletic prowess. To be a great golfer, you are probably also a great athlete, but as seen on tour and on golf courses across America, you don't need to be athletic to play good golf. I believe that golf is a sport but you can't ignore the guy who looks at John Daly or Jason Gore or Tim Herron etc. and wonders why on earth these guys are considered professional athletes. However, it makes no difference to me whether my friends consider golf a sport or not, it's something I will enjoy regardless.