# Is golf really a sport?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 29, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076 "2007-04-29T19:16:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/1 "2007-04-29T19:16:18Z")
The only game slower and less eventful is, I think, baseball.
Peace,
mangeorge
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### Author:  [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/2 "2007-04-29T19:17:53Z")
Is baseball a sport? If so, I think you have your answer.
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/3 "2007-04-29T19:26:40Z")
[QUOTE=Red Barchetta]
Is baseball a sport? If so, I think you have your answer.
[/QUOTE]
Professional baseball is, for me, questionable. š
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### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/4 "2007-04-29T19:29:32Z")
Nah. Golf is a game. Itās a seriously freaking hard game that requires a lot of athleticism.
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### Author:  [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/5 "2007-04-29T19:36:01Z")
While the OP might sound like the basis of a debate, it always ends up in an argument over the definition of the word āsportā. Thereās barely even a point to mentioning a particular activity until the exact definition is agreed on, because everyoneās definition is a little bit different.
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### Author:  [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/6 "2007-04-29T19:38:42Z")
> [@Mark Twain](#):
>
> \*\* [Golf is a good walk spoiled.](http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/1082) \*\*
Hmm, works for me! š
I used to caddy, and caddies WORK!
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/7 "2007-04-29T20:04:01Z")
Here is the American Heritage definition of sport:
> [@](#):
>
> sport (spƓrt, sprt) KEY
>
> NOUN:
> Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
> A particular form of this activity.
> An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
> An active pastime; recreation.
The same site has a MUCH more extensive definition of āgameā that is inclusive of the term āsportā:
> [@](#):
>
> game 1 (gm) KEY
>
> NOUN:
>
> An activity providing entertainment or amusement; a pastime: party games; word games.
>
> A competitive activity or sport in which players contend with each other according to a set of rules: the game of basketball; the game of gin rummy.
> A single instance of such an activity: We lost the first game.
> games An organized athletic program or contest: track-and-field games; took part in the winter games.
> A period of competition or challenge: It was too late in the game to change the schedule of the project.
>
> The total number of points required to win a game: One hundred points is game in bridge.
> The score accumulated at any given time in a game: The game is now 14 to 12.
> The equipment needed for playing certain games: packed the childrenās games in the car.
> A particular style or manner of playing a game: improved my tennis game with practice.
> Informal
> An active interest or pursuit, especially one involving competitive engagement or adherence to rules: āthe way the system operates, the access game, the turf game, the image gameā (Hedrick Smith).
> A business or occupation; a line: the insurance game.
> An illegal activity; a racket.
> Informal
> Evasive, trifling, or manipulative behavior: wanted a straight answer, not more of their tiresome games.
> A calculated strategy or approach; a scheme: I saw through their game from the very beginning.
> Mathematics A model of a competitive situation that identifies interested parties and stipulates rules governing all aspects of the competition, used in game theory to determine the optimal course of action for an interested party.
>
> Wild animals, birds, or fish hunted for food or sport.
> The flesh of these animals, eaten as food.
>
> An object of attack, ridicule, or pursuit: The press considered the candidateās indiscretions to be game.
> Mockery; sport: The older children teased and made game of the newcomer.
So I would say yes. Checkers could be a sport ā as moving the pieces does constitute physical exertion. Especially jumping. š
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/8 "2007-04-29T20:17:14Z")
I like Merriam-Websterās definition much better;
From m-w:
> [@](#):
>
> 1 a : a source of diversion : RECREATION b : sexual play c (1) : physical activity engaged in for pleasure (2) : a particular activity (as an athletic game) so engaged in
Mmmm. Sport.
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/9 "2007-04-29T20:19:31Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia]
Nah. Golf is a game. Itās a seriously freaking hard game that requires a lot of athleticism.
[/QUOTE]
Only if youāre the caddie. (Note for the humor-impaired: thatās a joke.)
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/10 "2007-04-29T20:25:18Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge]
The only game slower and less eventful is, I think, baseball.
Peace,
mangeorge
[/QUOTE]
How is professional football any faster than baseball or golf? Ask yourself:
1. How long does an NFL game take? How much of that time is actually spent playing football?
2. How long does a baseball game take? How much of that time is actually spent playing baseball?
3. How long does it take a golf pro to shoot 18 holes of golf? How much of that time is actually spent playing golf?
I think you will find the football game takes longer than the baseball game and about the same as the golf round, and they all have about the same amount of actual play.
What a dumb question. \*\*Of course \*\* itās a sport. A sport, broadly (but best) defined, is a contest of physical skill. If you donāt think golf requires skill, try it sometime.
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/11 "2007-04-29T20:58:32Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay]
How is professional football any faster than baseball or golf? Ask yourself:
1. How long does an NFL game take? How much of that time is actually spent playing football?
2. How long does a baseball game take? How much of that time is actually spent playing baseball?
3. How long does it take a golf pro to shoot 18 holes of golf? How much of that time is actually spent playing golf?
I think you will find the football game takes longer than the baseball game and about the same as the golf round, and they all have about the same amount of actual play.
What a dumb question. \*\*Of course \*\* itās a sport. A sport, broadly (but best) defined, is a contest of physical skill. If you donāt think golf requires skill, try it sometime.
[/QUOTE]
Aha! A baseball fan.
A couple games Iād hold up as sport? How 'bout (get it, āboutā) basketball, or soccer. Definitely tennis. Marathons? Boxing, but that oneās barbaric.
Iāll not retort for the ādumbā crack, here in MPSIMS. Where we donāt ask actual _questions_ as much as we just throw stuff out there for casual discussion. š
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### Author:  [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/12 "2007-04-29T21:02:37Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay]
What a dumb question. \*\*Of course \*\* itās a sport. A sport, broadly (but best) defined, is a contest of physical skill. If you donāt think golf requires skill, try it sometime.
[/QUOTE]
And if you donāt think its physical, try it in 100 degree heat with a bad back.
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/13 "2007-04-29T21:13:00Z")
[QUOTE=Dangerosa]
And if you donāt think its physical, try it in 100 degree heat with a bad back.
[/QUOTE]
š
Good one!
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/14 "2007-04-29T21:30:15Z")
[QUOTE=Dangerosa]
And if you donāt think its physical, try it in 100 degree heat with a bad back.
[/QUOTE]
OTOH, how much of a sport can it be if you CAN play it in 100 degrees with a bad back? š
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### Author:  [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/15 "2007-04-29T21:41:17Z")
[Robin Williams thinks it is](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3636435540043947603)š
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/16 "2007-04-29T21:42:08Z")
Thatās the phrase I was looking for, RJ.
Gettinā old sucks.
Not really. š
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### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/17 "2007-04-29T21:49:04Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim]
OTOH, how much of a sport can it be if you CAN play it in 100 degrees with a bad back? š
[/QUOTE]
Well, you CAN play baseball in 100 degree weather with a bad back. Youād just suck at it. Plenty of people suck at golf; nobody watches them on TV.
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/18 "2007-04-29T23:51:06Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay]
I think you will find the football game takes longer than the baseball game and about the same as the golf round, and they all have about the same amount of actual play.
[/QUOTE]
Iāve noticed for a while now that you have an odd definition of action. You seem to think that 22 guys going full bore is equivalent to a single guy hitting a ball with a stick. _Time_ is not synonymous with _action_. Multiply the total amount of action time by the number of players actually doing something and football has an order of magnitude more action than baseball. Golf? Virtually no action even compared to baseball.
As for the OP, I do not consider golf a sport because there is no defense. Iād classify it as a competition, like weightlifting and cheerleading.
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### Author:  [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/19 "2007-04-29T23:52:41Z")
[No,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=315444) it is not. :mad:
Tripler
Allow me to modify: _hell_ no.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-golf-really-a-sport/402076/20 "2007-04-29T23:55:02Z")
[QUOTE=Ellis Dee]
Iāve noticed for a while now that you have an odd definition of action. You seem to think that 22 guys going full bore is equivalent to a single guy hitting a ball with a stick. _Time_ is not synonymous with _action_. Multiply the total amount of action time by the number of players actually doing something and football has an order of magnitude more action than baseball. Golf? Virtually no action even compared to baseball.
As for the OP, I do not consider golf a sport because there is no defense. Iād classify it as a competition, like weightlifting and cheerleading.
[/QUOTE]
No defense? that would make virtually all track and field, swimming, skiing, etc., not sports. I donāt think that works, but of course YMMV.
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