In one of his regular podcast appearances, Max Homa said it isn't. My take is that it's not a sport if you don't care if you're lousy. If you want to be good, you have to get your body in shape, because the golf swing is not a natural motion. I'm a 9-hcp, and I'd be way lower if I had more time to work out, beyond just hitting balls.

Feel free to contribute, or put this on ignore, since I'm sure Shocky will be talking about yoga.

this is a long time argument ..

for years, SI used to have bridge covered.. sort as a sport, if bridge is, then it is easy golf surely

as a sport, golf is physical and is competitive, all you need in my opinion to call it a sport ..

frankly, what difference does it make.. you either like it or you don't ..

now, in my opinion you should be asking this about soccer .. bunch of guys running around in shorts and crying everytime they get knocked down LOL

It's more of a sport than darts and bowling. It's less of a sport than basketball or football.

Call it what you will, I can't seem to stop playing it.

Yes, of course it's a sport.

75bear said:

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It's more of a sport than darts and bowling. It's less of a sport than basketball or football.

Call it what you will, I can't seem to stop playing it.

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I agree it is all semantics. Call it a "game" or a "sport"

I also agree that it is a continuum, with the degree of "sport" vs "game" measured by the ability to drink beer while playing it.

And if you walk the course it can be a great workout. You easily cover 4 miles carrying a 20# bag. Not to mention the 50 swings (i don't count the physical effort of putts). Great way to see wildlife too - deer, bunnies, robins, fish, foxes, even a bear once at a Tahoe course.

MilleniaBear said:

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And if you walk the course it can be a great workout. You easily cover 4 miles carrying a 20# bag. Not to mention the 50 swings (i don't count the physical effort of putts). Great way to see wildlife too - deer, bunnies, robins, fish, foxes, even a bear once at a Tahoe course.

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And walking it is more difficult to drink beer while playing, making it relatively more of a sport.

I watched LIV Golf on The CW. And it is definitely a sport. These guys are the best of the best.

It's like an individual version of Quidditch, so yes.

Competitive golf these days is a sport. The guys/gals playing on tours these days are athletes. Great hand/eye coordination, work out fanatics, very flexible, etc. Recreational golf is a game at best.

tequila4kapp said:

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Yes, of course it's a sport.

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Totally. What is the argument for it not being a sport?

Over a beer or two, somebody once told me, "Two words: John Daly." Guess what, no top golfer was, like, the last kid picked for his team, when they were a kid. I don't care what person or what sport. They have incredible hand-eye coordination and body control.

I say this as a non-golfer who tried the sport for about a year when I was in my 20s. Lessons from a pro, multiple trips to the driving range every week, etc, but I just couldn't get to where I wanted to be fast enough. Finally, I said, I'm going to take a break for a few months and then see if I want to come back. Never did. Too bad for me.

Total respect for good golfers.

I agree it's a sport, for the following reasons:

1. Of the sports where you hit a ball with a stick, the ratio between the hitting surface and the size of the ball is the smallest. What that means practically, is a shot hit only a half-inch off the sweet spot has a bad result. And, as Sam Sneak once pointed out to Ted Williams, in golf you have to play your foul balls. Hand-eye coordination is thus at a premium.

2. Because you keep a numerical score of how many shots you hit, there's a clear record of your performance, which adds mental pressure. By contrast, in tennis, for example, you don't have to be objectively good, you just have to be better than whomever you're playing on that day.

3. Golf is difficult because a significant part of what happens during the swing happens behind you, where you can't see it, which is why the swing is hard to execute, and why, as we say "feel is not real."

Homa was mostly being facetious when he said it isn't a sport, because he was comparing it to football and basketball.

When is golf NOT a sport? When I see some middle aged guy who happens to be 50 pounds overweight, smoking a cigar and drinking a beer while trying to swing a golf club in a particular direction. Maybe that's unfair to fat people, but it's clear this guy would rather enjoy his stogie, his Stella and his gut rather than attempt to master the game of golf. At that point, it would be hard to call what he's doing a sport.

Bear8 said:

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When is golf NOT a sport? When I see some middle aged guy who happens to be 50 pounds overweight, smoking a cigar and drinking a beer while trying to swing a golf club in a particular direction. Maybe that's unfair to fat people, but it's clear this guy would rather enjoy his stogie, his Stella and his gut rather than attempt to master the game of golf. At that point, it would be hard to call what he's doing a sport.

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MilleniaBear said:

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And if you walk the course it can be a great workout. You easily cover 4 miles carrying a 20# bag. Not to mention the 50 swings (i don't count the physical effort of putts). Great way to see wildlife too - deer, bunnies, robins, fish, foxes, even a bear once at a Tahoe course.

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I saw 2 bald eagles mating last week at Corica Park in Alameda!

In my opinion, these are the top 5 televised sports:

1. football
2. NASCAR
3. pickleball
4. spelling bee
5. golf

Why is it a sport? Because you have to use musculature to either score, beat a time or reach a distance. In that way, it is the same as baseball, football, basketball, swimming, track and field, tennis, or soccer.

Big C said:

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tequila4kapp said:

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Yes, of course it's a sport.

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Totally. What is the argument for it not being a sport?

Over a beer or two, somebody once told me, "Two words: John Daly." Guess what, no top golfer was, like, the last kid picked for his team, when they were a kid. I don't care what person or what sport. They have incredible hand-eye coordination and body control.

I say this as a non-golfer who tried the sport for about a year when I was in my 20s. Lessons from a pro, multiple trips to the driving range every week, etc, but I just couldn't get to where I wanted to be fast enough. Finally, I said, I'm going to take a break for a few months and then see if I want to come back. Never did. Too bad for me.

Total respect for good golfers.

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The reason its asked is because you can ask yourself is croquette a sport? Bowling? And then what about darts? Billiards? Chess?

At some point, an activity fails to be a sport and falls into the "activity" category. Golf can be both. And yes, to be a top golfer, you have to be an athlete. But do you think golf athletes get into top shape playing golf? Nope. They pursue much more strenuous sports to get in shape, and I would assume that includes weight lifting, yoga, and cardio like running or cycling.

But is it a true "sport" if you have to participate in OTHER sports to get in top shape? I'd say its debatable. Running, football, cycling, soccer, basketball require a TON of hours playing those sports to be in shape for those sports. Golf, too, requires a lot of time to perfect... but does that make it a sport? Chess, darts and billiards require a TON of time playing too, but they obviously aren't sports.

So perhaps we need a relative scale of how "sporty" sports are!

And the poster who questioned if soccer is a sport with all the flopping? You've obviously never played the sport then because it requires more fitness than most other popular sports. Endurance, sprinting, agility, and an amazing skill set required makes soccer one of the toughest sports. You can be totally out of shape and play 18 holes of golf without problem. Same with many other activities. Baseball, too, can be played perfectly fine by someone who couldn't play 20 minutes of soccer without suffering cardiac arrest!

But again, to be a top player in pretty much ANY sport or activity today - regardless of how hard it is for the average person to play - requires being a top athlete. This isn't debatable.

wifeisafurd said:

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Competitive golf these days is a sport. The guys/gals playing on tours these days are athletes. Great hand/eye coordination, work out fanatics, very flexible, etc. Recreational golf is a game at best.

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Lots of athletic activities are not "sport."

Cal Strong strongly believe that a sport requires both an offense and a defense. Golf no have that.

Cal Strong! said:

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wifeisafurd said:

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Competitive golf these days is a sport. The guys/gals playing on tours these days are athletes. Great hand/eye coordination, work out fanatics, very flexible, etc. Recreational golf is a game at best.

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Lots of athletic activities are not "sport."

Cal Strong strongly believe that a sport requires both an offense and a defense. Golf no have that.

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So swimming and track and field are not sports? You are entitled to your opinion, but I doubt many share it.

Cal Strong! said:

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wifeisafurd said:

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Competitive golf these days is a sport. The guys/gals playing on tours these days are athletes. Great hand/eye coordination, work out fanatics, very flexible, etc. Recreational golf is a game at best.

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Lots of athletic activities are not "sport."

Cal Strong strongly believe that a sport requires both an offense and a defense. Golf no have that.

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Tiger Wood play sport in which he can both be offensive and defensive. Thus golf, according to Cal Strong, is a sport.

Seems to be a sport, one criteria is that you have to sweat while playing due to physical activity. The only way a player in golf sweats if he or she is walking the course while carrying a bag on a hot day. I think golf is an activity that requires considerable skill to be successful, but it just doesn't seem to be a sport. Much like bowling or billiards or croquet or bocce.

GMP said:

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Cal Strong! said:

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wifeisafurd said:

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Competitive golf these days is a sport. The guys/gals playing on tours these days are athletes. Great hand/eye coordination, work out fanatics, very flexible, etc. Recreational golf is a game at best.

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Lots of athletic activities are not "sport."

Cal Strong strongly believe that a sport requires both an offense and a defense. Golf no have that.

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So swimming and track and field are not sports? You are entitled to your opinion, but I doubt many share it.

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That why track and field is called "athletics" not sport.

This no offense to swimming or shot-put. But if they no have defenses, they not sports.

There lots of sports that are not particularly athletic. And there lots of athletic activities that are not sports.


Strong and strongly athletic activities (not sports):
Cheerleading, dance, swimming, gymnastics, marathon running, yoga, weightlifting.

Not-particularly athletic activities often mistaken for sports:
Auto-racing, target shooting, hot dog eating, dressage, bowling.

Not-particularly athletic sports:
Hunting, chess, etc.

Sports that happen to be athletic:
football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, boxing, soccer, wrestling, rugby, etc. (they all have defenses)

NB - There are defensive aspects to some of the events in t&f that would qualify those events as sports.

75bear said:

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MilleniaBear said:

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And if you walk the course it can be a great workout. You easily cover 4 miles carrying a 20# bag. Not to mention the 50 swings (i don't count the physical effort of putts). Great way to see wildlife too - deer, bunnies, robins, fish, foxes, even a bear once at a Tahoe course.

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I saw 2 bald eagles mating last week at Corica Park in Alameda!

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Is that a sport or an activity?

Sport or no sport...it gave us one of the greatest scenes in motion picture history...I dare say...

Cal Strong! said:

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GMP said:

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Cal Strong! said:

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wifeisafurd said:

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Competitive golf these days is a sport. The guys/gals playing on tours these days are athletes. Great hand/eye coordination, work out fanatics, very flexible, etc. Recreational golf is a game at best.

---

Lots of athletic activities are not "sport."

Cal Strong strongly believe that a sport requires both an offense and a defense. Golf no have that.

---

So swimming and track and field are not sports? You are entitled to your opinion, but I doubt many share it.

---

That why track and field is called "athletics" not sport.

This no offense to swimming or shot-put. But if they no have defenses, they not sports.

There lots of sports that are not particularly athletic. And there lots of athletic activities that are not sports.


Strong and strongly athletic activities (not sports):
Cheerleading, dance, swimming, gymnastics, marathon running, yoga, weightlifting.

Not-particularly athletic activities often mistaken for sports:
Auto-racing, target shooting, hot dog eating, dressage, bowling.

Not-particularly athletic sports:
Hunting, chess, etc.

Sports that happen to be athletic:
football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, boxing, soccer, wrestling, rugby, etc. (they all have defenses)

NB - There are defensive aspects to some of the events in t&f that would qualify those events as sports.

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I still don't agree with your definition. But within your definition's universe, you have some interesting classifications. For example:

• What is defensive about hunting? Are you referring to the animals? LOL....if so, I think a caveat here should be that to be a sport, all participants should be willing.
• Marathon running has some defensive aspects, when you are talking world-class marathoners.

Yep, I like this. I've argued that if you can't tell who won just by watching, it's not a sport. Downhill skiing out, until we get Hot Dog the movie's version. Gymnastics, out.

Gunga la Gunga said:

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Yep, I like this. I've argued that if you can't tell who won just by watching, it's not a sport. Downhill skiing out, until we get Hot Dog the movie's version. Gymnastics, out.

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Mikaela Shiffrin is worth watching, not only for her skiing skills, but she also is eye candy.

No it is not. Nor is bowling, auto or horseracing

"And the poster who questioned if soccer is a sport with all the flopping? You've obviously never played the sport then because it requires more fitness than most other popular sports. Endurance, sprinting, agility, and an amazing skill set required makes soccer one of the toughest sports."

not to mention the acting ability that the players have.. many are worthy of academy awards

again, endurable, agile people running around in shorts LOL

dimitrig said:

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75bear said:

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MilleniaBear said:

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And if you walk the course it can be a great workout. You easily cover 4 miles carrying a 20# bag. Not to mention the 50 swings (i don't count the physical effort of putts). Great way to see wildlife too - deer, bunnies, robins, fish, foxes, even a bear once at a Tahoe course.

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I saw 2 bald eagles mating last week at Corica Park in Alameda!

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Is that a sport or an activity?

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Great question.

I've thought long and hard about this very topic ever since it happened, and here's how I see it.

If the 2 bald eagles are procreating, it's an activity. They've ingrained this inner natural instinct, and the survival of eagles for the past many millions of years has depended on this critical activity.

But if the 2 bald eagles got a little tipsy off a magic field mushroom, and they instead can't keep their talons off each other leading to them bumping uglies, then we've now entered sport territory.

Unfortunately I didn't notice the deed until I heard the mating cries on the 7th hole, at which point I looked up and the deal was quickly consummated. So I can't say for certain which category this particular act falls into.

Fun fact: Female bald eagles are 25% larger than males.

~ name this pass-time, blood-sport, death-wish, 2nd-oldest profession

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldest_profession_(phrase)

GMP said:

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Cal Strong! said:

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GMP said:

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Cal Strong! said:

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wifeisafurd said:

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Competitive golf these days is a sport. The guys/gals playing on tours these days are athletes. Great hand/eye coordination, work out fanatics, very flexible, etc. Recreational golf is a game at best.

---

Lots of athletic activities are not "sport."

Cal Strong strongly believe that a sport requires both an offense and a defense. Golf no have that.

---

So swimming and track and field are not sports? You are entitled to your opinion, but I doubt many share it.

---

That why track and field is called "athletics" not sport.

This no offense to swimming or shot-put. But if they no have defenses, they not sports.

There lots of sports that are not particularly athletic. And there lots of athletic activities that are not sports.


Strong and strongly athletic activities (not sports):
Cheerleading, dance, swimming, gymnastics, marathon running, yoga, weightlifting.

Not-particularly athletic activities often mistaken for sports:
Auto-racing, target shooting, hot dog eating, dressage, bowling.

Not-particularly athletic sports:
Hunting, chess, etc.

Sports that happen to be athletic:
football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, boxing, soccer, wrestling, rugby, etc. (they all have defenses)

NB - There are defensive aspects to some of the events in t&f that would qualify those events as sports.

---

I still don't agree with your definition. But within your definition's universe, you have some interesting classifications. For example:

• What is defensive about hunting? Are you referring to the animals? LOL....if so, I think a caveat here should be that to be a sport, all participants should be willing.
• Marathon running has some defensive aspects, when you are talking world-class marathoners.

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Agree with it or not, Cal Strong has a strong and clear definition. It seem like the other approach is just based on a subjective gut feeling. Cal Strong prefer objectivity and clarity in such matters.

Cal Strong no know much about marathon running. If it has a defense, it counts as a sport. Cal Strong knows competitive cycling has strong defensive aspects.

If you standing on a platform with a rifle shooting at animals who have just been released for you to shoot, that not hunting. It just target practice. And it weak. Real hunting requires a chance that the bear or shark will eat you or escape. That a sport.