From the early 15th century, golf has been an activity that has stood the test of time and is one of the most widely played casual games in the world.
Golf began in Scotland in 1457, where it was initially banned for being a distraction to military personnel. The game has evolved from the leisure activity it is to one of the most publicized sports in the world, with its own TV network. Professional golfers make anywhere between $6,000 to $6,000,000 dollars on a tour, which is nothing to shake a club at.
Though we may automatically think of golf as a sport, golf is still not recognized as much as it could be. As a member of the women's golf team at my former high school, golf was NOT considered a sport and I was required to take 2 physical education classes compared to the 1 that other high school athletes had to take. The Olympic committee JUST reinstated golf to the Tokyo 2020 games, making this the 2nd time that golf has EVER been a part of the games. So why is golf in limbo when it comes to talking about sports?
1. Golf seems to fit more into the "game" category than the "sport" category:
Golf has long been a game of skill and chance as well as a single person activity, while most sports are team sports where chance does not come into play nearly as often.
2. Golf activity is not as rigorous as other sports.
Golfing is not typically an activity that gets the blood pumping unless you're running from geese or gators on the fairway. The average golfer burns around 300 calories per hour while playing, assuming they walk the course. Compare this to soccer, where the players burn an average of 900 calories per game.
3. Golf does not require a defense against an opponent:
This point is questionable. Though it is true that golf has often been considered a game against one's self, golf can be played against another person or a team. High school and college teams compete against one another all the time.
The above 3 points are those that challenge whether golf should be considered a sport or not. I believe golf is definitely a sport and I'll give you 3 reasons why you should think so too.
1. Golf matches the definition of a sport:
Websters defines a sport as "physical activity engaged in for pleasure". I can attest that golf is definitely a pleasurable activity and can definitely be physically engaging. Walking 18 holes with a bag of clubs is definitely a workout.
2. Golf requires muscle coordination and hand-eye coordination
You'd be surprised just how much strength it takes to get the ball out into the fairway. Muscle strains and injuries are common in big hitters and in regular golfers trying to increase their drive distance. Hand-eye coordination is also key in getting that dimpled ball off the tee.
3. Golf has commonalities with many other sports:
Golf has a huge following, its own TV network, tournaments all over the world, and hundreds of world-champion athletes who bring home the BIG BUCKS. This is no different than all the big names in baseball, basketball, and football. Golf is just as strict as other sports with drug-policies and game rules.
The next time dad or grandpa turns on the golf channel, I challenge you to sit and watch a couple holes. Golf is more interesting that you may think. It's not just some game where you hit a ball around and get it into the hole. Golf is a game of skill and chance, with its fair share of drama, triumphs, and amazing instant replays.
