Is golf a Sport or Skill?

Rocinante wrote:Is arm wrestling a sport?

You have to develop muscles and skill to do it well?  How about competitive eating?  That takes a lot of training to do well.  What about NASCAR? Is driving a car a sport.  Billiards?

No it's not a sport.  Sports require you to elevate your heart rate at some point during the event.  Baseball is barely a sport, and that amount of activity is the cutoff line.  

There will be no argument on this.

Rocinante wrote:Steeplechase is definitely a sport, Greenway. Pay attention.

tGreenWay wrote:

DWags wrote:

You changed the context of my answer. Mods, please cancel all pending hat orders.

MiamiSpartan wrote:

Rocinante wrote:Is arm wrestling a sport?

You have to develop muscles and skill to do it well?  How about competitive eating?  That takes a lot of training to do well.  What about NASCAR? Is driving a car a sport.  Billiards?

No it's not a sport.  Sports require you to elevate your heart rate at some point during the event.  Baseball is barely a sport, and that amount of activity is the cutoff line.  

There will be no argument on this.

And doesn't walking 4-6 miles elevate the heart rate?  Granted, most regular schmoes ride carts, but professional golfers walk several miles each day for 5 days straight (counting the practice round).

Rocinante wrote:Is arm wrestling a sport?

You have to develop muscles and skill to do it well? How about competitive eating? That takes a lot of training to do well. What about NASCAR? Is driving a car a sport. Billiards?

No it's not a sport. Sports require you to elevate your heart rate at some point during the event. Baseball is barely a sport, and that amount of activity is the cutoff line.

There will be no argument on this.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Rocinante wrote:Is arm wrestling a sport?

You have to develop muscles and skill to do it well?  How about competitive eating?  That takes a lot of training to do well.  What about NASCAR? Is driving a car a sport.  Billiards?

No it's not a sport.  Sports require you to elevate your heart rate at some point during the event.  Baseball is barely a sport, and that amount of activity is the cutoff line.  

There will be no argument on this.

My rules for sport are very simple-

1) you have to be active enough to be able to pull your groin during the normal activities of the event. This eliminates golf because unless you're doing something stupid that can't happen.
2) the winner cannot be arbitrarily chosen by a judge. Figure skating? Not a sport. Diving? Not a sport. Boxing? Sport. You had the opportunity to win before the fight is determined by a judge so that no one dies.

Your heart rate isn't necessarily critical, however, I imagine that you would have to elevate it somewhat to pull a groin. My rules clearly place baseball in the sport category.

There will be no argument on this.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Rocinante wrote:Is arm wrestling a sport?

You have to develop muscles and skill to do it well?  How about competitive eating?  That takes a lot of training to do well.  What about NASCAR? Is driving a car a sport.  Billiards?

No it's not a sport.  Sports require you to elevate your heart rate at some point during the event.  Baseball is barely a sport, and that amount of activity is the cutoff line.  

There will be no argument on this.

My rules for sport are very simple-

1) you have to be active enough to be able to pull your groin during the normal activities of the event. This eliminates golf because unless you're doing something stupid that can't happen.
2) the winner cannot be arbitrarily chosen by a judge. Figure skating? Not a sport. Diving? Not a sport. Boxing? Sport. You had the opportunity to win before the fight is determined by a judge so that no one dies.

Your heart rate isn't necessarily critical, however, I imagine that you would have to elevate it somewhat to pull a groin. My rules clearly place baseball in the sport category.

There will be no argument on this.

Rocinante wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

My rules for sport are very simple-

1) you have to be active enough to be able to pull your groin during the normal activities of the event. This eliminates golf because unless you're doing something stupid that can't happen.
2) the winner cannot be arbitrarily chosen by a judge. Figure skating? Not a sport. Diving? Not a sport. Boxing? Sport. You had the opportunity to win before the fight is determined by a judge so that no one dies.

Your heart rate isn't necessarily critical, however, I imagine that you would have to elevate it somewhat to pull a groin. My rules clearly place baseball in the sport category.

There will be no argument on this.

I'm willing to incorporate some of your rules into the final ruling. For instance. I will accept the groin-pull clause, but not the judging clause. That's just ludicrous, Travis.

There will be no argument on this.

DWags wrote:

Tanfan! wrote:It's a sport. You need eye hand but you can also improve by strengthening the golf muscles. The more you play the stronger you get and the farther you can hit it. You can learn to shape shots. You can learn to put spin on the ball to make it check. Putting is another animal. Learning how to read a green is something I suck at. But these are all things that can be taught by a professional. If a game needs a professional to coach you up, it then becomes a sport.

How is your length old man? I've probably out on ten pounds since last year, but my length is easy one club up. I think it's because I'm 54. I do a light workout. Do t kill it, but I've lost length. Using a five whee I used a six or seven. Kind of frustrating.

DWags wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:

You changed the context of my answer. Mods, please cancel all pending hat orders.

On phone. Didn't mean to.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Rocinante wrote:

I'm willing to incorporate some of your rules into the final ruling. For instance. I will accept the groin-pull clause, but not the judging clause. That's just ludicrous, Travis.

There will be no argument on this.

I don't like the idea of the winner of a "sport" being 100% independently determined by a third party. Sure, every sport has elements of that to some degree because of officials, but the winner is usually black and white to even the most casual observer. The judged ones (I will not call them sports) are not because the points are arbitrarily assigned.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

My rules for sport are very simple-

1) you have to be active enough to be able to pull your groin during the normal activities of the event. This eliminates golf because unless you're doing something stupid that can't happen.
2) the winner cannot be arbitrarily chosen by a judge. Figure skating? Not a sport. Diving? Not a sport. Boxing? Sport. You had the opportunity to win before the fight is determined by a judge so that no one dies.

Your heart rate isn't necessarily critical, however, I imagine that you would have to elevate it somewhat to pull a groin. My rules clearly place baseball in the sport category.

There will be no argument on this.

I agree that when judges are involved, it's precluded from being a sport: gymnastics, diving, "competitive dance", cheerleading, synchronized swimming, etc.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

My rules for sport are very simple-

1) you have to be active enough to be able to pull your groin during the normal activities of the event. This eliminates golf because unless you're doing something stupid that can't happen.
2) the winner cannot be arbitrarily chosen by a judge. Figure skating? Not a sport. Diving? Not a sport. Boxing? Sport. You had the opportunity to win before the fight is determined by a judge so that no one dies.

Your heart rate isn't necessarily critical, however, I imagine that you would have to elevate it somewhat to pull a groin. My rules clearly place baseball in the sport category.

There will be no argument on this.

I agree that when judges are involved, it's precluded from being a sport: gymnastics, diving, "competitive dance", cheerleading, synchronized swimming, etc.

DWags wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
I agree that when judges are involved, it's precluded from being a sport: gymnastics, diving, "competitive dance", cheerleading, synchronized swimming, etc.

Bob, are you saying competitive dancers aren't elite, or don't have to be elite athletes?



And riding a bike does?

Tanfan! wrote:

DWags wrote:
How is your length old man? I've probably out on ten pounds since last year, but my length is easy one club up. I think it's because I'm 54. I do a light workout. Do t kill it, but I've lost length. Using a five whee I used a six or seven. Kind of frustrating.

Honestly I'm down a full club. But I don't play very often anymore. When I played often I was driving from 270 to 280 consistently. Now I'm down to 250 to 260. I'm 57 so that might explain it. I got down to a 7 as my handicap. Now I suck balls and I'm double that. It's all about the short game. That's where you cut strokes. Chipping putting. I coujd check the ball at one time. Now I just hit it fat and fuck up.

DWags wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
I agree that when judges are involved, it's precluded from being a sport: gymnastics, diving, "competitive dance", cheerleading, synchronized swimming, etc.

Bob, are you saying competitive dancers aren't elite, or don't have to be elite athletes?



And riding a bike does?

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

DWags wrote:

Bob, are you saying competitive dancers aren't elite, or don't have to be elite athletes?



And riding a bike does?

No one said that they aren't athletes. Far from it, they are definitely athletes, no one doubts that. But their activity is not a sport. I'm not sure what it is. Game? Art? Activity? Activity might be best.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

No one said that they aren't athletes. Far from it, they are definitely athletes, no one doubts that. But their activity is not a sport. I'm not sure what it is. Game? Art? Activity? Activity might be best.

why are you so angry?

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

No one said that they aren't athletes. Far from it, they are definitely athletes, no one doubts that. But their activity is not a sport. I'm not sure what it is. Game? Art? Activity? Activity might be best.

why are you so angry?

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

DWags wrote:

Bob, are you saying competitive dancers aren't elite, or don't have to be elite athletes?



And riding a bike does?

No one said that they aren't athletes. Far from it, they are definitely athletes, no one doubts that. But their activity is not a sport. I'm not sure what it is. Game? Art? Activity? Activity might be best.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:why are you so angry?

:( I didn't be angry I don't think

DWags wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

No one said that they aren't athletes. Far from it, they are definitely athletes, no one doubts that. But their activity is not a sport. I'm not sure what it is. Game? Art? Activity? Activity might be best.

And that's my point, is golf a sport? Certainly athletes play it. But the best golfers just have this, feel, or whatever, that it seems you're almost born with.

DWags wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

No one said that they aren't athletes. Far from it, they are definitely athletes, no one doubts that. But their activity is not a sport. I'm not sure what it is. Game? Art? Activity? Activity might be best.

And that's my point, is golf a sport? Certainly athletes play it. But the best golfers just have this, feel, or whatever, that it seems you're almost born with.

MiamiSpartan wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
I agree that when judges are involved, it's precluded from being a sport: gymnastics, diving, "competitive dance", cheerleading, synchronized swimming, etc.

Agree about the judging, but sport or not sport, some of those take absolutely incredible athletic ability to perform at a reasonably high level. I knew several female gymnasts at MSU quite well, and gained an absolute ton of respect for them. Tiny little things, but fucking badasses. I can't really call it a "sport" per se, but a high level athletic competition for sure.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:no - if you can smoke and/or be obese while doing it, it's not a sport.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

DWags wrote:

Bob, are you saying competitive dancers aren't elite, or don't have to be elite athletes?



And riding a bike does?

I suppose they could be athletes - but I don't consider events where people are judged "sports".

and, yes, absolutely - cyclists are not only athletes but at the higher levels, it's the most grueling sport in the world.

that's all - I know, I'm angry. I hope you'll take that into consideration when replying.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

DWags wrote:

And that's my point, is golf a sport? Certainly athletes play it. But the best golfers just have this, feel, or whatever, that it seems you're almost born with.

no - if you can smoke and/or be obese while doing it, it's not a sport.

LooseGoose wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:no - if you can smoke and/or be obese while doing it, it's not a sport.

DWags wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:no - if you can smoke and/or be obese while doing it, it's not a sport.

Like biking?  I see puffy people riding bikes all the time.  

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

DWags wrote:

Like biking?  I see puffy people riding bikes all the time.  

sure - like I told someone earlier, you can be an obese diabetic with a 2 pack/day habit and shoot basketball in the driveway. It doesn't make you a basketball player any more than riding your bike to buy a pack of Marlboro Lights makes you a cyclist.

DWags wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I suppose they could be athletes - but I don't consider events where people are judged "sports".

and, yes, absolutely - cyclists are not only athletes but at the higher levels, it's the most grueling sport in the world.

that's all - I know, I'm angry. I hope you'll take that into consideration when replying.

Have you ever wrestled? that's grueling. Have you ever watched someone try to fouette or grand jete? Or not only doing it once, doing it many times, for hours? If you're looking for grueling, that's it. My point is, if you're looking for grueling, it is, with the added pressure of having to perform in front of someone. I was like you, only focused on sports I played. Didn't realize how tough cross country was, or wrestling, or swimming. Never considered them. But grueling does come in many different forms.

DWags wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
sure - like I told someone earlier, you can be an obese diabetic with a 2 pack/day habit and shoot basketball in the driveway. It doesn't make you a basketball player any more than riding your bike to buy a pack of Marlboro Lights makes you a cyclist.

Or riding your bike on trails. Not a big deal really.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

DWags wrote:

Have you ever wrestled?  that's grueling.  Have you ever watched someone try to fouette or grand jete?   Or not only doing it once, doing it many times, for hours?  If you're looking for grueling, that's it. My point is, if you're looking for grueling, it is, with the added pressure of having to perform in front of someone.   I was like you, only focused on sports I played.  Didn't realize how tough cross country was, or wrestling, or swimming.   Never considered them.   But grueling does come in many different forms.

no - that's a very private act between two consensual adults.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:Not a sport by any stretch of the imagination.

No doubt they are athletes. Calm down wags.

DWags wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:Not a sport by any stretch of the imagination.

No doubt they are athletes. Calm down wags.

I'm trying to get bob to be less angry. What's up with you lately? Work suck? Can I help?

DWags wrote:

Tanfan! wrote:

Honestly I'm down a full club. But I don't play very often anymore. When I played often I was driving from 270 to 280 consistently. Now I'm down to 250 to 260. I'm 57 so that might explain it. I got down to a 7 as my handicap. Now I suck balls and I'm double that. It's all about the short game. That's where you cut strokes. Chipping putting. I coujd check the ball at one time. Now I just hit it fat and fuck up.

Yeah, I'm about 230 -240 driver. I started playing irons off the tee now, "old man golf". I score a bit lower, but I'm trying to keep it straight and such. You do lose distance in your 50's don't you.