FanNation - The Republic of Sport

I hate to sound like I am bashing golf.......but

The 'sport' has lost all credibility with me.
If a player can win a tournament with a broken leg and torn ACL.....
what does that really say about the 'sport'

Golf is an exibition. OBVIOUSLY you need practice and talent to play
but it is not SPORT
it's like figure skating or gymnastics without the grades

and ps-
I enjoy golf.

Love him or hate him he Stands up when its Ryder Cup time. If he could have used the same mind set for Majors(albeit they are strokeplay) he may have won a couple!

jgb--Tiger is just that amazing, face it!!!

AF Scott,

I don't thing jgb follows too much golf, or has alot of respect for it.

If golf isn't a sport then neither is football which sucks.

Now there's a hot sports opinion, folks!

This sort of mindlessness simply will not end:

"I hate to sound like I am bashing golf.......but The 'sport' has lost all credibility with me. If a player can win a tournament with a broken leg and torn ACL.....
what does that really say about the 'sport' Golf is an exibition. OBVIOUSLY you need practice and talent to play but it is not SPORT it's like figure skating or gymnastics without the grades."
____________________________________________________

Sport: requires years of intense physical training and practice. Injuries are part of the game and while players may often play hurt (see football, baseball,basketball) severe injuries can lead to the end of a season or the end of a career. Unusual hand-eye coordination is required as is severe mental toughness at the highest level. Sport: a competition resulting in a winner and a loser.

Games, pastimes, hobbies: Seldom is a serious physical test. (See poker, chess, billiards, bridge, birdwatching, etc.) Does not always produce a winner and loser. (See hiking, spelunking, surfing.)

So Tiger plays hurt (and he's not the first, by the way) and suddenly one of the most difficult challenges around is suddenly Not A Sport?

I love it when 13-year-olds learn how to type. Keep posting, JGB

I'm sorry, but this isn't even a REAL sport. Just my two cents worth....which to many isn't much!! LOL, but seriously, this is a RECREATIONAL GAME...if they handed out the gloves and made it full contact golf.....that would be interesting. Having players actually targeting players on the fairways when they tee off would be hilarious too. Just an idea.

jgb | 07/02/08, 11:25 AM DEVO | 07/02/08, 07:25 PM


Golf is one of the most challenging sports of all, as it requires both physical prowess and mental toughness. Those that would diss it do not have the mental capacity to play the game at a high level.

DEVO

scroll to your right and then up - then click on "Nascar"

that's more your demographic

Dear god guys save it for another place. Monty is one of the best Ryder Cup participants of all time. His record alone will put him on the European team. Personally I think the US will be better without Tiger and leave the option for a Fred Couples to join the team. Another player that's past his prime on tour but just is class at the Cup.

Devo, I agreed with you about the MMA needing to be revamped, but this isnt the MMA section. Golf is one of the most mentally challenging sports period! Get a clue!

I like this topic. Seems like a genuinely good debate.

Folks, Golf is a game.

Not remotely a sport.

No, it certainly does not require "great physical prowess" anything but.

A sport requires kinetic activity, an opponent (golfers play the course, not one another), strategy and some measure of athleticism and movement.

Golf honestly has none of that.

I should know, have been happily playing for over 20 years. I enjoy it, but c'mon, it is not remotely challanging athletically.

Old ladies, fat guys, smokers, drunks and out-of-shape schmoes (like Monty!) of all ages routinely play the exact same game as the pros every single day of the week. Obviously not as good, but it is essentially the same.



There is not one old lady, fat guy, drunk, smoker or out-of-shape schmoe who could go play in any other major actual sport against actual athletes and last 10 minutes. Nor could you duplicate the same level of athlectism, skill, etc., for a pro sport on you own. For instance, you or I could easily go play Torrey Pines tommorrow if we wanted to. We would not score as well as the pros, but the game is the same.

You or I could not go play in an NHL, NFL, MLB or NBA game tommorrow. We would be hopelessly embarrased, over-matched, have nothing to offer our teams and would most likely be seriously injured in no time. There is just no comparison.)

Any one of them (or you) could play in any major golf tournament tommorrow. Sure they would lose and lose badly, but there would be no real difference in the "competition". There would simply be a few more bad players.

Just like if we played the games of bowling, pool, darts, poker, etc aginst the pros.

Sorry to be a wet blanket but lets face it, exactly zero pro golfers could play competitively in other sports. It would simply be embarrasing.Yet any other pro athletes can play a reasonably good game of golf (most do often times with a beer in one hand and a cigar in the other).

Many, many activities and things that are not sports are routinely called sports. No big deal, but just because many people say its so, does not make it so.

Think for yourself, people. Too many sheep in this world.

Golf is a fun game. There is certainly no shame liking golf or being really good at it. Like I said I have played it pretty much year round for 20 years, but if you are getting a workout playing golf, if golfing seems like a strenuous activity to you, then you my friend are simply out of shape.


I'm just saying lets not get crazy and start considering these guys on par with actual athletes.

Now, how could golf become a sport:

If the players ran to their shots and a perhaps palyed against a time clock. Then one must have some strategy and physical endurance.

If players specifically played against those in their groupings: Lets say a golfer could at any time hit an opposing plyer's ball away at any time, once every nine holes. Then another element of strategy and actual personal competition would be introduced. (when would be a good time to try this? ould you regret it later? etc.).

If perhaps some physical contact, like run blocking or even limited tackling were introduced then golf would actually meet the requirements to be a sport:

Actual competition, kinetic movement, some athletic, physical stamina, strategy. Lets face it, if pro golfer could run, block and perhaps even tackle while running & playing against a clock then no, the average schmoe (or you and I) could not play with them.

Yes, golf would then qualify as a full fledged sport (and be about 1000% more interesting to watch on t.v. as well.)

Bandit -

see my advice above for DEVO

Wow, quite the case you present there, johnnycakes.

Well thought out.

its a sport when you look down at your feet and start sweating even before hitting the ball because the blood in skin gets hot. People without patience (i.e. footballfans) who probably don't play quarterback (the most dynamic position on the field) would have no commonalities with golf.

its the ultimate test of physical and mental awareness. Precision is paramount and consistency is lifeblood. Golf is the greatest game.

bandit i am about to smash you:

1) Golf requires the most physical prowess on the basis that it is such a precision sport, even the smallest margin of error, can prove consequential. Physical ability (i.e. prowess) is a premium in terms of kinetic energy and psychological consistency are a must to produce an accomplished shot at will.

2) "Considering golfers play a course and not other player.." While this statment is only half true because golfers play each other in storke play--it must also be known that golf can be considered tougher because they do play a course and not each other directly. Reason being is a golf course will always be the most consistent opponent whereas another golfer is capable of human error.

3) consider the inverse of your claim that no golfer could play another sport... I bet your more golfers are proficient at any sport you throw at them compared to anyone else thrown a golf club. Hale Irwin played footbal at colorado and won the us open.

4) the competition in golf comes from pressure just as in any other sport. When you throw a bunch of hacks vs a scratch player its no contest at all because the superior player is not challenged. Pressure is only present upon a challenge.

You seem to be the sheep as your thinking is very flawed towards the very plagueing, mainstream, on-the-surface thinking--which you acknowledged--but have unsuccesfully removed yourself from.

I hate to sound like I am bashing golf.......but

The 'sport' has lost all credibility with me.
If a player can win a tournament with a broken leg and torn ACL.....
what does that really say about the 'sport'

Golf is an exibition. OBVIOUSLY you need practice and talent to play
but it is not SPORT
it's like figure skating or gymnastics without the grades

jgb | 07/02/08, 11:25 AM
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I think you should take a "MULLIGAN" on your comments !!! P.S. I LOVE GOLF !!!

Still golfed when I was 824 years old, i did.