Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't play golf. If you did you would understand what it takes. But that's okay, some people need basic things like stepping up to nowhere, others need a challenge.

In what way does golf require exertion? Athleticism? Physicality?

No one's saying that golf doesn't require some skills (to be good at it, at least). It's more like darts, as one pp noted.

But golf is not a sport. Golfers are not athletes.

Funny. Colleges give out athletic scholarships for golf. But I guess we will go with your analysis.
Go play a full round of golf from the back tees and report back.

I give it a D+ on the question evading.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary a sport is:

An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment


The golf swing definitely involves physical exertion. Many professional players spend time in the gym to increase their power and flexibility because of the movement of the swing so golf certainly fits this part of the definition. Interestingly it is debatable as to whether the putting stroke does fit this definition so if golf just consisted of putting then it may not be a sport.

The skill element of golf definitely meets the definition as demonstrated by the wide range of abilities among golfers. In the UK male handicaps go up to 28 while just to enter the Open Championship a handicap of 0 is required which shows just how much skill is involved in golf.

In terms of competition golf is again definitely a sport. At the professional level there are both individual and team events and even casual amateurs can play in competitions or against friends.

One reason why some people do not consider golf a sport is because of the relatively low intensity of a round. Although the swing is a powerful and explosive motion the majority of the time playing is spent walking. Due to this players often do not get breathless or sweaty as in other sports leading to people thinking golf does not require enough effort to be a sport.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't play golf. If you did you would understand what it takes. But that's okay, some people need basic things like stepping up to nowhere, others need a challenge.

In what way does golf require exertion? Athleticism? Physicality?

No one's saying that golf doesn't require some skills (to be good at it, at least). It's more like darts, as one pp noted.

But golf is not a sport. Golfers are not athletes.

Funny. Colleges give out athletic scholarships for golf. But I guess we will go with your analysis.
Go play a full round of golf from the back tees and report back.

I give it a D+ on the question evading.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't play golf. If you did you would understand what it takes. But that's okay, some people need basic things like stepping up to nowhere, others need a challenge.

In what way does golf require exertion? Athleticism? Physicality?

No one's saying that golf doesn't require some skills (to be good at it, at least). It's more like darts, as one pp noted.

But golf is not a sport. Golfers are not athletes.

Funny. Colleges give out athletic scholarships for golf. But I guess we will go with your analysis.
Go play a full round of golf from the back tees and report back.

Anonymous wrote:You don't play golf. If you did you would understand what it takes. But that's okay, some people need basic things like stepping up to nowhere, others need a challenge.

In what way does golf require exertion? Athleticism? Physicality?

No one's saying that golf doesn't require some skills (to be good at it, at least). It's more like darts, as one pp noted.

But golf is not a sport. Golfers are not athletes.

You don't play golf. If you did you would understand what it takes. But that's okay, some people need basic things like stepping up to nowhere, others need a challenge.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The amount of sheer ignorance and arrogance on this thread is astounding. Please do go out and try these "non-sports" for yourself and let us know how it goes. When you come back sore and frustrated from doing it badly, you may rethink your position.

No one's saying that golf (or shooting, etc) don't require skill. But they don't require athleticism, and are not sports. Those activities that use skill like other activities or niche hobbies, but definitely not sports. Golfers are not athletes by playing golf.

Sorry that you're butthurt that other see you this way.

Sure it's a sport. It's a sport that I play competitively. I love that it's a sport that I can share with my husband, my kids, and my parents. It's a sport that I can play and compete in for life, not just for a short window. It's a sport that thanks to handicapping can be played competitively amongst golfers of most abilities. It's fine to not like it (I can't stand, say, Olympic shooting) so I just change the channel and move along. Golf is an old old sport and is a great (re)addition to the olympics.

I mean I guess if you say so. I am also an astronaut, because I say so

Congrats! Do others celebrate you for being an astronaut like the Olympic committee has chosen to celebrate the sport of golf?

No, because I'm not afraid to call it not-a-sport. But maybe I can petition stair-climbing to be an Olympic event, since it requires about 1000x the exertion and athleticism as those golf "athletes."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The amount of sheer ignorance and arrogance on this thread is astounding. Please do go out and try these "non-sports" for yourself and let us know how it goes. When you come back sore and frustrated from doing it badly, you may rethink your position.

No one's saying that golf (or shooting, etc) don't require skill. But they don't require athleticism, and are not sports. Those activities that use skill like other activities or niche hobbies, but definitely not sports. Golfers are not athletes by playing golf.

Sorry that you're butthurt that other see you this way.

Sure it's a sport. It's a sport that I play competitively. I love that it's a sport that I can share with my husband, my kids, and my parents. It's a sport that I can play and compete in for life, not just for a short window. It's a sport that thanks to handicapping can be played competitively amongst golfers of most abilities. It's fine to not like it (I can't stand, say, Olympic shooting) so I just change the channel and move along. Golf is an old old sport and is a great (re)addition to the olympics.

Golf is not a sport.

Lawnmowing is more of a sport than golf is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The amount of sheer ignorance and arrogance on this thread is astounding. Please do go out and try these "non-sports" for yourself and let us know how it goes. When you come back sore and frustrated from doing it badly, you may rethink your position.

No one's saying that golf (or shooting, etc) don't require skill. But they don't require athleticism, and are not sports. Those activities that use skill like other activities or niche hobbies, but definitely not sports. Golfers are not athletes by playing golf.

Sorry that you're butthurt that other see you this way.

Sure it's a sport. It's a sport that I play competitively. I love that it's a sport that I can share with my husband, my kids, and my parents. It's a sport that I can play and compete in for life, not just for a short window. It's a sport that thanks to handicapping can be played competitively amongst golfers of most abilities. It's fine to not like it (I can't stand, say, Olympic shooting) so I just change the channel and move along. Golf is an old old sport and is a great (re)addition to the olympics.

I mean I guess if you say so. I am also an astronaut, because I say so

Congrats! Do others celebrate you for being an astronaut like the Olympic committee has chosen to celebrate the sport of golf?

Anonymous wrote:The amount of sheer ignorance and arrogance on this thread is astounding. Please do go out and try these "non-sports" for yourself and let us know how it goes. When you come back sore and frustrated from doing it badly, you may rethink your position.

Golf is right up there with darts in athleticism. Like darts, golf is something you do when you drink beer. Sun sweat is not workout sweat.

Golf is a hobby or a liesure activity, like strolling on the veranda.

Not a sport and certainly not an olympic sport.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it does not require exertion needed to break a small sweat, it's not a sport.

Nerves and sun-related sweat do not count. Therefore golf is not a sport.

So the following Olympic events are not sports based on your definition:
Archery, Diving, Equestrian, Golf, Sailing, Shooting.

Diving is a sport - it requires athleticism and physicality.

The others require strategy and mental skills - like chess. Activities and hobbies, but not sports.

Equestrian events require a great deal of core strength and muscle control, particularly jumping. Horseback riding is a surprisingly good work out.

Sailing also requires a little athleticism.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why oh why did they add golf to the Olympics?!?

I can think of 100s of other sports better than golf...like skateboarding.

Golf is not a sport. It is an activity or hobby...like computer programming.


Heck, even a video game tournament would be better.

Agreed. Golf is a hobby, not a sport. It requires no, or next-to-no athleticism.

Not true.

+1 that was a ridiculous statement.

Golf requires about the same athleticism as sweeping the floor.

+1 It's true.

+2 or, to quiet the golfers, sweeping the floor and cleaning the house with no AC. That's about all the physical strength you need.

To be more specific, gold requires the athleticism of sweeping the floor combined with the hand eye coordination of a typical teenage video game.

How the F did they decide it was an Olympic sport?!?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The amount of sheer ignorance and arrogance on this thread is astounding. Please do go out and try these "non-sports" for yourself and let us know how it goes. When you come back sore and frustrated from doing it badly, you may rethink your position.

No one's saying that golf (or shooting, etc) don't require skill. But they don't require athleticism, and are not sports. Those activities that use skill like other activities or niche hobbies, but definitely not sports. Golfers are not athletes by playing golf.

Sorry that you're butthurt that other see you this way.

Sure it's a sport. It's a sport that I play competitively. I love that it's a sport that I can share with my husband, my kids, and my parents. It's a sport that I can play and compete in for life, not just for a short window. It's a sport that thanks to handicapping can be played competitively amongst golfers of most abilities. It's fine to not like it (I can't stand, say, Olympic shooting) so I just change the channel and move along. Golf is an old old sport and is a great (re)addition to the olympics.

I mean I guess if you say so. I am also an astronaut, because I say so

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The amount of sheer ignorance and arrogance on this thread is astounding. Please do go out and try these "non-sports" for yourself and let us know how it goes. When you come back sore and frustrated from doing it badly, you may rethink your position.

No one's saying that golf (or shooting, etc) don't require skill. But they don't require athleticism, and are not sports. Those activities that use skill like other activities or niche hobbies, but definitely not sports. Golfers are not athletes by playing golf.

Sorry that you're butthurt that other see you this way.

Sure it's a sport. It's a sport that I play competitively. I love that it's a sport that I can share with my husband, my kids, and my parents. It's a sport that I can play and compete in for life, not just for a short window. It's a sport that thanks to handicapping can be played competitively amongst golfers of most abilities. It's fine to not like it (I can't stand, say, Olympic shooting) so I just change the channel and move along. Golf is an old old sport and is a great (re)addition to the olympics.

OK, so while we are at it, are we taking out archery, curling, what about men's field hockey?

Give it a rest - if you don't like it, don't watch it. The coverage is on about 10 different channels.

Anonymous wrote:The amount of sheer ignorance and arrogance on this thread is astounding. Please do go out and try these "non-sports" for yourself and let us know how it goes. When you come back sore and frustrated from doing it badly, you may rethink your position.

No one's saying that golf (or shooting, etc) don't require skill. But they don't require athleticism, and are not sports. Those activities that use skill like other activities or niche hobbies, but definitely not sports. Golfers are not athletes by playing golf.

Sorry that you're butthurt that other see you this way.