Teed Off

I had occasion over the weekend to engage in age old debate: Is the game of golf really a sport?

It's not the first time I've had this discussion / argument, but it always seems to bring up the same time worn comparisons.

Golf is not a sport because it doesn't require significant physical prowess. Golf is not a sport because a 65 year-old man should not be able to compete against a 25 year-old. And my personal favourite: only in the game of golf could a cigarette-smoking, fat guy compete on a professional level (I'm assuming that reference is directed at John Daly, but we'll get to him later).

Truth is, most sports vary widely in terms of the physical and mental demands of the athlete. You wouldn't expect a 340 lb left tackle to run the 100 metres in 5 seconds. In much the same way that you wouldn't expect a pole-vaulter to wrestle a 340 lb linebacker to the turf. A gymnast probably couldn't hit a fast-ball past first base while some home-run hitters wouldn't last ten seconds on the parallel bars. So does that mean that these sports are not 'real' sports?

People have often said that golf is more of an activity than a sport. These are people who have never picked up a golf club in their lives unless they were cleaning out their garage. While it may be true that golf does not require the need to run (unless you're Sergio Garcia, or someone yells 'fore'), the physical demands of a properly executed golf swing are considerable. To reach a competitive level requires a tremendous amount of practice and refinement, and like other sports, being physically fit will give you an advantage on the golf course.

What distinguishes golf from other sports is the necessity to balance one's emotions while also employing strategy and a multitude of calculations prior to virtually every shot. Golf is heavily weighted towards the mental aspect of athletic performance, nonetheless hand-eye coordination, flexibility and physical strength are essential to success.

Then there is the age argument: golf is a game that can be played well into our retirement years, therefore it is not a sport. I've never really understood this notion. Age can be a factor in golf, particularly at the professional level. With a few exceptions, many older golfers cannot compete consistently at the same level as their younger counterparts.

There have been occasions when older players have performed well in golf (see Jack Nicklaus, 1986 Masters), however this phenomenon is hardly unique to the sport, just ask Mark Recchi. Many 'experienced' adults continue to engage and compete in physically demanding sports such as tennis, racquet ball and soccer. Does that mean they aren't real sports either?

Of course, there is no substitute for raw talent in any sport. You can practice ceaselessly, hire the best coaches, study the most effective techniques, but in the end, like all things, some people have it, some don't. Which brings me back to John Daly. At his best, Daly has a natural ability to hit the ball long and straight. He also has an excellent short game and (if you can believe it) a powerful ability to focus. Daly was never the picture of physical prowess, but despite our image of him he was able to generate tremendous power and control in his golf swing. Even the most physically fit athlete would have trouble accomplishing what Daly has in his career.

So just because Daly, and others like him are not the poster children for physical fitness, does that mean golf is not a 'real' sport? There have been plenty of athletes over the years who may not have looked the part but were able to perform at an elite level. More than a few chubby athletes can be sighted on a football field or baseball diamond. As for bad habits, like smoking, just ask a few athletes from the seventies how often they lit up in the locker room, some still do.

You don't have to like golf, you can even call it boring to watch, but unless you've walked 7 thousand yards in spikes then you don't know Jack about the sport.

Oh, and just for the record, a little dictionary excerpt...

sport

[spawrt, spohrt]
–noun

1. an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.