Why do so many people think Golf isn't a sport?

Question

It takes the most time, Its hard as hell to get right, and yes you do have to be physicaly fit to play....John Daily compared to a fooball offensive lineman

It takes the most time, Its hard as hell to get right, and yes you do have to be physicaly fit to play, most players spend time in the gym working upperbody and hours on the course....John Daily compared to a fooball offensive lineman

Answer 1

A lot of people don't think of golf as a sport because it is not your typical team sport, such as baseball, football, soccer etc. The truth is that those people are just ignorant and think that golf is all about driving carts and smoking cigars. Golf is, believe it or not, one of the hardest sports to ever learn and play. To listen to people say that golf isn't a sport makes me laugh, because simply put...they have no idea.

Answer 2

I completely agree with you. If someone hasn't played, and hasn't tried to improve (which takes a lot of work) then they don't understand. I guess it also could depend on what level you are playing at. If your young and are playing in high school/college then yeah it is a sport because you are determined to get better. Now, if you are an older adult and go out on the weekends, have some beers and bet some money... just to have fun then it is still a sport but it is then considered more of a hobby. Golf is really hard on the knees and shoulders. I agree that you have to be physically fit, if you are a big 40 or 50 year old guy that doesn't really exercise, then you will probably get a cart but younger people on teams in high school and college.. WALK for 4+ hours and depending on where you live, it can get hot! Also, you are carrying a bag on your back the whole time. The professional golfers even walk. My uncle is on the PGA Tour and he works out all the time. I am on my high schools golf team, and monday - thursday we would practice or play but friday we would lift weights and run. Being a golfer isn't just going up and hitting the ball and hoping that it will get close to the hole.
It drives me crazy when people think it isn't a sport.

Anyway, I'm glad you think it is a sport :)

Answer 3

Why does everyone get so offended about golf not being a sport? I've been playing golf for over 20 years and it's my favorite game. I don't know if it's a sport or not, but if it is then so is bowling, darts, lawn bowling, and any other game that requires some sort of physical movement and thought. Before everyone starts saying that you have to be fit to play golf then you're making the game way to hard. Walking 18 holes is one of the most over exaggerated feats people speak of when defending golf. If you can't walk five miles in 5 hours with a 30 pound pack on then it doesn't matter if golf is a sport or not because you're not an athlete. (My apologies to anyone who can't walk due to physical limitations)

Answer 4

I don't know if the other folks really answered the question of
"Why do so many people think Golf isn't a sport? "

Because those people don't play golf. Not tried it at the range or went to miniature golf - play golf 2 or 3 days in a row. Carry their own bag and walk for 4 hours while swinging a club.

They don't have an appreciation for all the reasons tha the other folks here answered. Even if John Daly is chubby, Craig Stadler and his son, Phil Mickleson could wear a men's bra - yes. But until you have carried your bag and played 18 holes in the Maryland humidity and heat in the summer w/ 95 degree days for 4 days straight, you can't get an idea that golf is pretty physically demanding even if you don't have to run, shoot or tackle.

Answer 5

Before I really began playing on a consistent basis, I used to think that way or more along the lines that a golfer wasn't an athlete. When ESPN had their 25 greatest athletes of all time, I had a hard time with Jack Nicklaus being in the top 10. That was before I became a fiend for the sport. That is what most people's problem is. They don't play.

Answer 6

It certainly is a sport.

No, there is no running, but strength and flexibility, as well as hand-eye coordination and tempo make golf a sport.

People who say that it isn't a sport either don't like golf or they are just no good.

Answer 7

Along with my nephew and some other 'Rowdy friends' we play a style of the SPORT of golf which we fondly term, full-contact golf. In this version of the commonly more sedate game filled with it's own peculiar form of etiquette, the aim of the game is to fully harrass your opponent. It's kinda like how they rate the action of a quarterback in football termed loosely 'Hurried'. During one of our recent rounds, we had a full scale wrestling match on the second tee before any drive could be attempted. On the third tee, I was surprised with the old trick whereby my nephew sneaked up behind me and crouched down at which point, Don shoved me over his lowered body. On the back nine, during a pseudo version of golf cart bumper cars, mine overturned completely and I came away with a bloddy stream coming from my forehead. Luckily I was not seen by the staff and we quickly uprighted the cart and went laughing on our way to find and hit any ball we found. We did have to scare a few deer off the 14th fairway but a few rounds from Jimmy's deer rifle took care of that little delay.
The way we look at it, who give's a dam if others call it a sport or not is immaterial since we're having more fun than boy scouts having a panty raid on the girl scout camp.
Bottom line-enjoy yourself and the game. I've played every sport known to man and I will rate golf as the hardest of all to master. The mind game alone is worth the effort.

Answer 8

I consider it more of a concentration, recreation game more than a sport. This was a game where fat guys with bad outfits would stand on the green and putt away at a little ball and did not have to really "work" at anything. They did not have to run, use their muscles, anything. They just stood there, smoke, hit the ball, look and see how far the ball went and then get into their carts and drive to their next destination. The only reason why they would call it a "sport" now is because of Tiger Woods. He puts some type of "sport" into it by getting fit and wearing clothes that match! LMAO, also he shows some type of grace into this game. But calling it a sport? No. It is not.

Answer 9

I agree it should be treated like a sport. I mean you have to practice a lot and your have to be extremely good. How come just because your don't run around your are not playing a sport.

Answer 10

as far as an exercise sport is concerned, you need to sweat get tired, be running around etc. But you could say the same about darts and billiards, or lawn bowl.

Golf is unique because you challange yourself to beat the course or you own score, you have a handicap system which meas you could play with the likes of tiger woods, even thou you will get your *** kickes severley, it's the handicap system which will allow you to challange your true potential.
It's the best sport, wish it wasn't so expensive though.