Is golf a 'sport'?

darkman2

Ive always thought of golf as a 'sport' - I dont see how anyone can think otherwise. Yet, after reading through some blogs on Harrington's win, alot of comments where bizarrely suggesting that golf is not a 'sport' Sure its a slow game and is played over days at the top level rather then minutes or hours but I dont understand how some dont see it as a proper sport?

Maybe some of you can shed some light? This is far from the first time ive heard that golf should not be considered a sport. Might seem a strange question but im a bit confused. Ive also saw somewhere else that it is not an Olympic sport partly for this same reason?

Mister Sifter

There's a few reasons why it's not in the Olympics, but none of it is to do with contentions over golf's merits as a sport. Mainly it's to do with the start power of certain golfers. i.e. if Tiger Woods didn't play it would devalue it. There's an argument for the olympic golf being open only to the best amatuers though instead.

The short answer to your original point is, of course it is a sport.

prendy

of course it is a sport. the same comentators probably say test cricket is a sport even though thats played over 5 days.
Golf is one of the most skillfull sports with no two rounds the same.

Mister Sifter

prendy wrote: »

of course it is a sport. the same comentators probably say test cricket is a sport even though thats played over 5 days.
Golf is one of the most skillfull sports with no two rounds the same.

Any links to these blogs? I have an image of them now reeling off the 'good walk spoiled' line alongside these claims. Yawn!

slumped

If the Irish SPORTS Council deem golf a 'sport', AND the International OLYMPIC Committee recognise the Eisenhower Trophy as the Olympics for golf then I think that any argument against it is blown out of the water!

S

stockdam

I'm not sure if there's a definitive definition of a sport. A lot of people see it as something where there's a lot of physical activity and that you should "sweat" during it. They then say that Golf is a game similar to Snooker or Poker.


Anyway it doesn't really matter. It's an activity that is skillful and which is enjoyable.

clg23

stockdam wrote: »

I'm not sure if there's a definitive definition of a sport. A lot of people see it as something where there's a lot of physical activity and that you should "sweat" during it. QUOTE]


I sweat playing golf! Although I should probably go to the gym more...

JerryHandbag

Course its a sport, people who think otherwise are not with it tbh....
But I had to laugh when I saw Pro Gaming on sky the other night...what next? Sitting down watchin telly might as well be considered a sport! :rolleyes:

Golferx

It's a laugh to see what are considered "sports"

e.g. Diving, synchronised swimming, gymnastics, figure skating etc, all such events where the "winner" is determined by other peoples' opinions.

Golf, to me, is the purest sport out there. It's entirely down to you , the elements and the course, and how you score under those limitations.

death1234567

Any game that is played competitivily and that requires skill and/or athletic ability is a sport.

Golf is a sport. Anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong. QED.

raido9

Yes, clearly golf is a sport.

Golferx wrote: »

It's a laugh to see what are considered "sports"

e.g. Diving, synchronised swimming, gymnastics, figure skating etc, all such events where the "winner" is determined by other peoples' opinions.

Golf, to me, is the purest sport out there. It's entirely down to you , the elements and the course, and how you score under those limitations.

Diving, synchronised swimming, gymnastics, figure skating are sports too. They are entirely down to you, the choice of pattern/dive, difficulty of it, tecnique and how you score under those limitations.

ImDave

Golf is a sport, crazy to suggest otherwise. I've read similar type comments to those mentioned by the OP on loads of YouTube videos.

more tea vicar

Golf is a game rather than an athletic pursuit.

A sporting pursuit is usually something that can be wagered on, even greyhound racing or racing tortoises.

To be a good sport you need to enter into the spirit of a game, a race, a bet or some other challenge of wits.

Crazy golf is as sporting and challenging up to a degree as golf itself, just as ping pong can be as frantic a challenge as tennis. Although crazy golf is not quite as athletic as golf unless a fight breaks out, but it is just as sporting.

eunified61

The only think that a sport has to have is an element of play

bigtimecharlie

If there was any doubt that golf is sport, then Tiger Woods has defined it as a sport. How many previous golfers worked out as much as he does?

bobbyss

death1234567 wrote: »

Any game that is played competitivily and that requires skill and/or athletic ability is a sport.

Golf is a sport. Anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong. QED.

I don't know.

I don't play golf myself but I do enjoy the last day of a major but that's about it. But surely to be a true sportsman or woman you need both skill and athletic ability? Half of the golfers I see are very unfit with paunches, many over 40 and well into physical decline.

What was Tom Watson doing at the Open? How old is he ? 65? When was the last 65 year old the winner of anything? Can you be a sportsman at 65?

Why do they allow old golfers to play in prestigious golf tournaments? It does not seem fair on younger golfers who are denied a place and who could make a better go of it. Didn't Sir Nick Faldo himself say during the week of the Open that basically he was kidding himself playing in it last week at his age? That says it all.

Guffy

bobbyss wrote: »

I don't know.

I don't play golf myself but I do enjoy the last day of a major but that's about it. But surely to be a true sportsman or woman you need both skill and athletic ability? Half of the golfers I see are very unfit with paunches, many over 40 and well into physical decline.

What was Tom Watson doing at the Open? How old is he ? 65? When was the last 65 year old the winner of anything? Can you be a sportsman at 65?

Why do they allow old golfers to play in prestigious golf tournaments? It does not seem fair on younger golfers who are denied a place and who could make a better go of it. Didn't Sir Nick Faldo himself say during the week of the Open that basically he was kidding himself playing in it last week at his age? That says it all.

So when does football stop becoming a sport? There's a older ashes also, when does cricket not become a sport? Is Rugby or american football not a sport when it is played by fat guys?

Don't play golf but tbh this is a nonsense discussion. Of course golf is a sport.

vienne86

bobbyss wrote: »

I don't know.

I don't play golf myself but I do enjoy the last day of a major but that's about it. But surely to be a true sportsman or woman you need both skill and athletic ability? Half of the golfers I see are very unfit with paunches, many over 40 and well into physical decline.

What was Tom Watson doing at the Open? How old is he ? 65? When was the last 65 year old the winner of anything? Can you be a sportsman at 65?

Why do they allow old golfers to play in prestigious golf tournaments? It does not seem fair on younger golfers who are denied a place and who could make a better go of it. Didn't Sir Nick Faldo himself say during the week of the Open that basically he was kidding himself playing in it last week at his age? That says it all.

Pro golfers are pretty fit nowadays - I would class them as sportsmen/women. The arguments about Tom Watson (who almost won the Open a few years ago), Sir Nick and others being included in the field got a good thrashing out on boards las week!

bustercherry

TBH there is an argument a healthy male below 40 tipping around with a mid teens and above in comps is playing the game rather than competing in a sport. It's one of the few sports that compensates for not putting any effort in.

WHIP IT!

bustercherry wrote: »

TBH there is an argument a healthy male below 40 tipping around with a mid teens and above in comps is playing the game rather than competing in a sport. It's one of the few sports that compensates for not putting any effort in.

.. not putting any effort in to what??

Rikand

Nice thread resurrection.

Golf is a sport

bobbyss

gufc21 wrote: »

So when does football stop becoming a sport? There's a older ashes also, when does cricket not become a sport? Is Rugby or american football not a sport when it is played by fat guys?

Don't play golf but tbh this is a nonsense discussion. Of course golf is a sport.

What was the 65 year old Watson doing at a major golf tournament? He didn't make it on merit, that's for sure. The British Open is supposed to be THE Open. The Wimbledon of golf. You would not find the tennis suits inviting (inviting indeed) Boris Becker to compete. Why? Because he is past it. I find it hard to take golf seriously as a sport when you have paunchy pensioners puffing about the place. Watson could hardly bend down to pick the ball out of the hole for God's sake!

I think athleticism is an integral part of sport.

PARlance

bobbyss wrote: »

I don't know.

I don't play golf myself but I do enjoy the last day of a major but that's about it. But surely to be a true sportsman or woman you need both skill and athletic ability? Half of the golfers I see are very unfit with paunches, many over 40 and well into physical decline.

What was Tom Watson doing at the Open? How old is he ? 65? When was the last 65 year old the winner of anything? Can you be a sportsman at 65?

Why do they allow old golfers to play in prestigious golf tournaments? It does not seem fair on younger golfers who are denied a place and who could make a better go of it. Didn't Sir Nick Faldo himself say during the week of the Open that basically he was kidding himself playing in it last week at his age? That says it all.

Well... you've bumped a thread that is 7 years old.... Tom Watson nearly won The Open since then.

You're confusing an athlete with a sportsman imo.

Russman

Good luck hitting the ball 330yds with no athleticism.

Of course it's a sport, it's just not football or rugby. Sports are different, requiring different mixes of skill and athleticism. Is archery a sport ? Is Masters Football a sport ?