do you think golfers are world class athletes?

Question

do you think golfers are world class athletes? should they be consider atletes at all

Answer 1

i do think golfers are athletes, anyone who says they arent has never played the game. i certainly am more spent after playing 18 holes than after playing softball.

that being said, golfers are NOT "world class" athletes. i dont believe cyclists are either, for similar reasons.

as good as lance armstrong or tiger woods are at their given sport, those sports talent pools are extremely small. every kid plays football, basketball, and baseball, so making it to the top is a much steeper climb.

most world class athletes, if they had spent their youth pursuing cycling or golf instead of their given sport, would have been successful using the same talents they used to get the top of their given sport. the vice versa does not apply- tiger or lance armstrong probably would not have risen to the top levels of other sports. even if they did, they certainly would be hard pressed to successful, and definately would not dominate the way they did in their respective sports.

just to be clear, i'm not saying that kobe or tomlinson etc could hop on a bike and win the tour de france or take 2 swings and win the masters. i'm saying if they had pursued cycling or golf from a young age, they and other top athletes would be better than most of the current top 100 in those sports. i seriously doubt tiger or lance armstrong would have made a serious impact on any other sport, much less dominate.

Answer 2

Yes.....but with a lot of subtle differences most people don't notice or realize.
While lacking sheer brawn, they still have to perform the physical tasks required of the game.....technique, endurance(5+hrs trudging through the heat and humidity while still maintaining the ability to repeat that technique through 18holes), mental toughness and the ability to adapt when conditions warrant it. And everyone says...they make it look SO easy!
I'll be the first to admit you won't find a pro golfer playing middle linebacker or point guard, but very few of these guys are in lousy shape. Granted, there are some, but not many. Furthermore, name ONE sport where a player calls a penalty in himself....even if no one else had (or could have) noticed. I can just see an NFL game..."Pardon me Mr official....I just held #90 and my team should be penalized 10yds. Yeah right.
Another point....most professional sports have contracts (based on previous performance)...these guys get paid based on what they do this week. That adds to the mental toughness and will to succeed. Other than the Gary Player remarks (of which there is no proof) the only issue to mar the sport are the occasional hangovers.

Answer 3

well i looked up the definition of athlete on yahoo's dictionary: "A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts."

i dont know about golfers being "world class" athetes, but they should be considered athletes at least.

Answer 4

i watched the bridgestone invitational this week. a lot of golfers hit a lot of bad shots in thick rough. including tiger. i watched him mash a ball out of the rough and on to the putting green. he eventually saved par. these guys are in great shape. look at tiger's body. he could easily pass for a shortstop in baseball or a 2 guard in basketball. i used to think they were old guys who wore funny clothes. but they have to walk usually a 7000 yard course in just over 5 hours. thats the equivalent of 3 and half miles. and still play a tournament.

Answer 5

Of course they are. Have you ever heard about Tiger's work out routine. Not only that because it requires so many different skills Tiger and many others would be world class athletes at many sports.

Answer 6

Yes. If archers and shooters (both in Olympics) are athletes, Golfers DEFINATELY are too!

Answer 7

YES!!! i saw that thing on yahoo too! golf takes a tremendous amount of skill. nascar drivers are considered athelets and all they do is drive around in circles.

Answer 8

.They are involved in a sport which takes a tremendous amount of skill,of course they are athletes.I suppose you think baseball players are athletes.

Answer 9

yeah i think that they should... i mean golf is a sport- and u need techniques and stuff to be good at golf and other sports so yes they are athletes

Answer 10

No...Riding around in a cart hitting a little ball with a stick, whats so athletic about that? Over paid underworked endorsement whores..
ex..Jon Daley - Drunk, Tiger Wood is just his Sponsers Little *****!