Olympic Golf?

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Can't wait for darts and blackjack to become olympic sports too.

But what the heck, if trampoline can make it, why not golf?

What about bowling!?

Seriously though, I dont think golf has a place in the Olympics.........or BMX for that matter.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

The last few months (while Tiger was hurt) showed that the PGA still has a lot of work to do to grow their game. While Tiger is popular, the game is not. If they really don't think they need to grow their game, they're in for it. Who knows how long Tiger will compete on a regular basis?

I'll GROW YOU!!

[mustache ride]

I wonder how many would fail the drug test?

[metallicat]

It took longer than I thought for the "golf is not a sport" crowd to chime in.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

It took longer than I thought for the "golf is not a sport" crowd to chime in.

It is a sport....................for seniors.

I guess I am a traditionalist when it comes to Summer Olympics.

Everything boils down to money so I am sure they will add golf so old people can see Tiger.

[edn88]

Anyone who plays golf competitively realizes the athletisism to playing the game. Golf is NOT darts, nor is it Blackjack. True there are some out of shape players on Tour, but 90% of the field is fit and needs to be in order to compete week in and week out. Look at Tiger Woods and you will see one of the best athletes on the planet.

I think that the biggest problem I have with golf in the olympics is the venue - most other sports have a standardized playing field, but 18 holes of golf can be different and as such favours different types of players depending on the venue.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

What about bowling!?

Seriously though, I dont think golf has a place in the Olympics.........or BMX for that matter.

Yeah, I'd put it next to skeet shooting. Not what I'd put under the header "faster higher stronger"

If we label what it takes to play golf as "athleticism" then me getting out of bed in the morning qualifies too. To me, a pure skill competition is not a sport. Ie. Shooting three-pointers is not a sport. Basketball is.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by edn88

Anyone who plays golf competitively realizes the athletisism to playing the game. Golf is NOT darts, nor is it Blackjack. True there are some out of shape players on Tour, but 90% of the field is fit and needs to be in order to compete week in and week out. Look at Tiger Woods and you will see one of the best athletes on the planet.

I think that the biggest problem I have with golf in the olympics is the venue - most other sports have a standardized playing field, but 18 holes of golf can be different and as such favours different types of players depending on the venue.

Are you saying that playing golf gets him into shape? A poker player can be in good shape, it doesn't prove anything.

If anything, Tiger needs to do other sports to be in shape so he can compete week in and week out.

[metallicat]

The best way to solve this argument is to get the nay-sayers out for a round. Walking. Carrying your bag. And hitting the ball 150 times.

[edn88]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Are you saying that playing golf gets him into shape? A poker player can be in good shape, it doesn't prove anything.

If anything, Tiger needs to do other sports to be in shape so he can compete week in and week out.

I am not saying golf gets you into shape, but you have to be in shape to play competitively at golf. You have to have hand eye coordination, you have to be strong, you have to be flexible. And you have to practice golf to be really good at it.

Yes there is John Daley, but he is truly a freak of nature. How he can be as out of shape as he is, drink like he does and bring his club around as far as he does is a miracle of human engineering.

I play hockey, softball, ski and play golf. Golf is at least as physical as playing first base in a mixed slow pitch team, and playing 18 holes of golf walking is great exercise (you end up walking about 10KM on full sized golf course). The pros don't carry their bag, but I can tell you if I play 18 holes carrying my bag in the morning at Springbank I am bushed when I get home.

[onetwo_threefour]

For the naysayers, what about archery? It's clearly a 'skills' competition rather than a sport. As are, arguably, javelin, shot put, and shooting events. Many of these either date back to the very beginning of the Olympics or at least have a long history as Olympic events.

I don't play golf or follow it, but I don't think golf would be out of place in the Olympics.

PS I think all posts about golf should have the oilers logo.

[edn88]

Originally Posted by onetwo_threefour

For the naysayers, what about archery? It's clearly a 'skills' competition rather than a sport. As are, arguably, javelin, shot put, and shooting events.

Thanks - I had meant to put that in as a point as well, there are definitely other games in the Olympics that are not all brute strength or speed events. I guess that it is why it is called the Olympic Games not Olympic Sports.

At the end of the day, arguing what is and what is not a sport gets to be pretty pedantic. I personally believe that anything you can compete at is technically a sport. Anything that requires physical excertion is an atheletic competition/display (which can be a sport) and anything that is purely mental is a game. And MW will tell you that a sport is a diversion, recreation or physical activity engage in for pleasure. Golf definitely fits that description.

[Canada 02]

how about Olympic Chess or Bridge?

http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...827716,00.html

The World Bridge Federation (WBF) — representing the card game of bridge — is similarly disgruntled. Like the chess federation, the WBF has been lobbying since 1995 to claim a piece of the Olympic spotlight. In their efforts, both organizations have even offered to submit players to drug testing in order to conform to the Olympics' anti-doping code standards