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Is golf really a sport? If a 77 year old man can beat a young man, is it considered a sport? Take the other sports for example, football, baseball, etc., there is no way an old man would be able to take down somebody at one of the sports listed above. Yeah, I know it takes skill and hand/eye coordination, all that good stuff. But still. There's no running, jumping, no major strength involved... I don't think it is a sport, kinda like bowling isn't a sport either. I love golf and play all the time, it's just a question me and my friends always argue about. I know I'll probably get slammed for even asking since this is on a golf forum, but I'm just curious if anybody else thinks the same way. Be gentle...

I believe it is a sport. Playing (walking) 4 rounds in the heat can be very hard and draining.

I think it is a sport. It's the hardest sport as well. To be good, you can't just walk on and have natural talent unless you are one of those chosen few(Tiger, etc.). You MUST have some athleticism and you have to be 100% precise with every action you make. A lot of the pros could have easily been good at other sports and succeeded easily. Golf is most definitely a sport if you are trying to get better at it. You have to work and practice, practice, practice. There are so many complex parts to the game and it takes TONS of work to improve at them. The age thing isn't that much of a factor IMO. My 55 year old uncle can plain out WHOOP MY *** in a game of basketball and I am only 16. If you are good at a sport, you are good at it.

Just because you can play with a bulge around your belt line doesn't mean you don't need athletic skills to play.

Great Hand eye cordination and an athletic swing is a must, to do well.

I'd be willing to bet that most pro/good amatuer golfers can throw strikes, hit hard line drives, catch pop fly's, and make free throws.

It's a Sport and a Game.

Therefore, it is a Sporting Game.

Sure it's a sport, I was sweating buckets this weekend.

By definition, a sport is "an activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively."

So, yes, golf is a sport.

But...

Do I consider golf a sport when compared to a sport like basketball, football, or even tennis? No. An unfit 350-lb man can ride a golf cart, pound a 6-pack per nine, smoke a pack of cigarettes, shoot even par and beat out everyone in his group (John Daly, anyone?). But to perform the equivilent (shooting even par) in something like basketball (20pts and 10 rebounds in a 5-on-5 game?) or tennis (a straight-set victory over an equally-skilled opponent) would be virtually impossible.

I kind of go along with that. Personally I think it is a sport.

Go back 20 years and I think it was more of a game then??? Todays golfers (most of them) are athletes. Top condition for sure.

I sort of put it in the same catagory as bowling. Overall the golfers are better athletes but these sports/games are sort of similar in that you do them alone and not part of a team. They are non contact and at the pro level during the round you are not sweating and catching your breath (unless its the US Open at Oakmont about 10 years ago.)

Mind you that would take tennis out of the sports catagory and tennis is without a doubt a sport with super conditioned athletes.

What. I just wrote about 10 lines here, none of which make sense!!!


brianf

I can't name names, but I'm sure there's some 77 year old shaolin monk out there who can take a beating to a young man.

I think of it as an individual sport. Everyone plays against the course (even in match play) and you see how you did in the end and compare yourself to others.

i put golf in the sporting activity category, it's in the same group as bowling (leagues favorite) , fishing, and hunting. it is a sport, but not neccessarily against other people, or teams. it's how you treat the game.
for the pros, that's different, truly a sport.

I wouldn't put golf in the hunting or fishing category because of the skill set required for golf. While they are also sports, they fall more in the line of leisure activities. As intense as they are, unless you are big game hunting or deep sea fishing for larger catches, there isn't a real skill set involved. Bow hunting does require a bit of eye/hand coordination, but not the same level as golf, where you have to have a kiniesthetic awareness of your body in space. This awareness is what puts it more on the level of sport, though it may not be the same as baseball or football and more like bowling. To me, most activities where eye hand coordination, balance, and certain amounts of strength and dexterity are involved are sports.

Why should a definition of SPORT be limited to the attribute of "taking someone down" ... of brute strength? Making a full turn, executing a shot, hingng the wrists properly, driving the legs and body thru the ball are very physical. I've heard people say, "Golf...I'll take it up when I get old." Those guys are clueless as to what it takes to even be considered mediocre.

Golf is a sport. Comparing an individual sport to a team sport is apples and oranges. Is skeet shooting a sport? Bowling? Archery? Chess? Car racing? Draw the line wherever you want, but a contest matching your skill against an opponent is a sport.

Then why do we call it "going to a basketball game", "football game" or "baseball game"? Fact of the matter is a sport takes physical activity to play, fit or not, that comes to an objective conclusion where there is a clearly defined winner. I have seen out of shape basketball players, baseball players, and football players. Does that make those games any less of a sport? Golf may seem leisurely, but make a few bets and it becomes competitive and leisure is thrown out the window. Those activities that I do not consider a sport are those that uses judges. If you have to argue as to the winner should be due to form, that ain't a sport. I consider the Spelling Bee more of a sport than figure skating, diving, or gymastics because although it is less physically exertive, it takes a lot of endurance and mental toughness AND there is a clearly defined winner.

Well then ... let's consider ALL of them Sporting Games!