Golf = Not a Real Sport

[bluehenbillk]

I lost a ton of respect today for golf, maybe I'm just totally naive but let me explain. The Philly market isn't a regular PGA stop even though the US Open will be here in 2-3 years at Merion. The AT&T National was here over the holiday weekend and was a large success from all reports. What I heard today dismayed me, maybe big golf fans here can guide me if I'm off. There were 40K something people per day in the gallery at Aronimink & each day you had to walk through a metal detector & no cell phones, PDA's or camera phones were allowed inside. Is it that much of a distraction to a pro golfer if a cell phone went off in their backswing. What the hell is the difference versus "real athletes" that play football, baseball or basketball who have to perform their craft 50% of the time in front of a visiting crowd that does their best to distract them from their "A-game".

Just think about it, Michael Jordan shooting a free throw in a UNC uniform at Cameron Indoor versus putting on a green.

[andy7171]

Do they allow cell phones at tennis matches?

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I lost a ton of respect today for golf, maybe I'm just totally naive but let me explain. The Philly market isn't a regular PGA stop even though the US Open will be here in 2-3 years at Merion. The AT&T National was here over the holiday weekend and was a large success from all reports. What I heard today dismayed me, maybe big golf fans here can guide me if I'm off. There were 40K something people per day in the gallery at Aronimink & each day you had to walk through a metal detector & no cell phones, PDA's or camera phones were allowed inside. Is it that much of a distraction to a pro golfer if a cell phone went off in their backswing. What the hell is the difference versus "real athletes" that play football, baseball or basketball who have to perform their craft 50% of the time in front of a visiting crowd that does their best to distract them from their "A-game".

Just think about it, Michael Jordan shooting a free throw in a UNC uniform at Cameron Indoor versus putting on a green.

Golf is like fishing. It's an activity and it indeed takes skill to do it but it is not a sport.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Do they allow cell phones at tennis matches?

No but they do allow DIRECT competition with your competitor.

[89Hen]

It's an activity and it indeed takes skill to do it but it is not a sport.

Like MMA.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

It's an activity and it indeed takes skill to do it but it is not a sport.

Like MMA.

Sure thing.

[89Hen]

BTW, I never understood the need to call different things "sports" or "not sports" to classify them. Who cares?

But since you're asking, IMO a sport is a physical activity that doesn't rely on subjective scoring to determine the results. Refs - OK, judges - no way Jose

Unfortunately that leaves boxing out of the equation.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Yeah, not a big fan of golf (because I think they're pretentious cock suckers), but the no-noise thing isn't new. Professional photographers aren't allowed to take photos during a golfer's backswing because of the audible shutter noise in high-end SLRs. This has been circumvented by some photogs by using high-end point and shoots like the Canon G10 that have the technology to have a silent shutter. Some photogs have been barred from PGA events because of shooting during a golfer's backswing.

IMO, golfing does take a lot of precision and skill, but like other sporting events, there are outside distractions (weather, fans, whatever) that the "athletes" need to block out and just play through instead being blubbering vaginas about it.

[grizzaholic]

Golf is what it is. Nothing but giving us all an excuse to get drunk and wear funny outfits.

[89Hen]

IMO, golfing does take a lot of precision and skill, but like other sporting events, there are outside distractions (weather, fans, whatever) that the "athletes" need to block out and just play through instead being blubbering vaginas about it.

After league bowling we sometimes stick around and play "one ball" which is like a skins game where high pinfall on one ball takes the money each frame. While somebody is bowling, you are allowed to phyically distract (hand in front of face, towel thrown across vision) and audibly distract as much as you want, as long as you don't make contact with the bowler. It's VERY hard to throw strikes. I can't imagine trying to do while golfing.

[DJH]

I lost a ton of respect today for golf, maybe I'm just totally naive but let me explain. The Philly market isn't a regular PGA stop even though the US Open will be here in 2-3 years at Merion. The AT&T National was here over the holiday weekend and was a large success from all reports. What I heard today dismayed me, maybe big golf fans here can guide me if I'm off. There were 40K something people per day in the gallery at Aronimink & each day you had to walk through a metal detector & no cell phones, PDA's or camera phones were allowed inside. Is it that much of a distraction to a pro golfer if a cell phone went off in their backswing. What the hell is the difference versus "real athletes" that play football, baseball or basketball who have to perform their craft 50% of the time in front of a visiting crowd that does their best to distract them from their "A-game".

Just think about it, Michael Jordan shooting a free throw in a UNC uniform at Cameron Indoor versus putting on a green.

Golf is like fishing. It's an activity and it indeed takes skill to do it but it is not a sport.

golf is not like fishing.

[Grizalltheway]

Golf is what it is. Nothing but giving us all an excuse to get drunk and wear funny outfits.

Bingo. My first job was working at a golf course, and a good portion of my time was spent cleaning out piles of empty bud light and miller lite cans from the carts.

[andy7171]

Golf certainly is a sport. It's just not a high paced, collision sport like football.
It is much easier to run an angry 300lb nose guard into the ground than hit that little white ball straight.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Golf certainly is a sport. It's just not a high paced, collision sport like football.
It is much easier to run an angry 300lb nose guard into the ground than hit that little white ball straight.

That is exactly why beer is an essential component to any enjoyable golf outing.

[Gil Dobie]

If you don't wear a jock strap for protection, it's not a sport. . . . . . . .

[andy7171]

If you don't wear a jock strap for protection, it's not a sport. . . . . . . .

Who here thinks football players wear cups?

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Golf certainly is a sport. It's just not a high paced, collision sport like football.
It is much easier to run an angry 300lb nose guard into the ground than hit that little white ball straight.

Yes it is a skill, not a sport.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Golf is like fishing. It's an activity and it indeed takes skill to do it but it is not a sport.

golf is not like fishing.

Yeah, it is. It is not a sport and neither is fishing. See how they are alike now?

[89Hen]

If you don't wear a jock strap for protection, it's not a sport. . . . . . . .

Does your wife know you're that sexist?

[andy7171]

If you don't wear a jock strap for protection, it's not a sport. . . . . . . .

Does your wife know you're that sexist?

She's too busy unpinning herself on other issues.

If I cared, I'd challenge Ursus to define SPORT, but I don't so I won't. Carry on.

[JayJ79]

golf is more of a sport than auto racing.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Does your wife know you're that sexist?

She's too busy unpinning herself on other issues.

If I cared, I'd challenge Ursus to define SPORT, but I don't so I won't. Carry on.

If I cared I'd answer it, but I don't so I won't. Carrying on.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

golf is more of a sport than auto racing.

Wrong.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

She's too busy unpinning herself on other issues.

If I cared, I'd challenge Ursus to define SPORT, but I don't so I won't. Carry on.

If I cared I'd answer it, but I don't so I won't. Carrying on.

I got your back bro. A SPORT is SPROUT minus U.

[lizrdgizrd]

BTW, I never understood the need to call different things "sports" or "not sports" to classify them. Who cares?

But since you're asking, IMO a sport is a physical activity that doesn't rely on subjective scoring to determine the results. Refs - OK, judges - no way Jose

Unfortunately that leaves boxing out of the equation.

Except for those matches that result in a KO. No judge needed if you get knocked the fuck out.