Are Pro Golfers Athletes?

No.

Webster' s dictionary defines athlete as: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.

Golf simply does not require the physicality per the definition. Granted, some pro golfers are strong, agile and have stamina but the sport does not require these attributes. Hence, being skilled at golf does not make one an athlete. I find it a bit awkward when guys like Zach Johnson, Patrick Reed et.al describe themselves as athletes.

I had a post laid out but I just can't do it.

What'shisname can dunk a basketball, and whooshisface is built like a linebacker. So yes, yes they are.

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Trained navy seal

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just a few.

I can't either

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Of course they are. Just look at the police blotter. Arrests and drug use is nearly as common as the NFL. If that doesn't spell athlete, nothing does.

Is cheerleading a sport?

Vindog, your logic is garbage.

No. Not at all. And the fact so many guys try to be "an athlete" by living in a gym is embarrassing golfers.

As long as those large checks clear, you can call pro golfers whatever you want.

Vindog, your logic is garbage.

Things are lookin' up!

So a pitcher or some dude running back and forth on a hardwood court are more of an athlete?

Hey it's this again!

Someone is built like a linebacker, someone can dunk a basketball, someone fits in a medium shirt now, someone played point guard on his 8th grade basketball team.

Seriously considering voicing a bunch of political and religious opinions in the hopes that a moderator will close this before it gets to a hundred pages.

So a pitcher or some dude running back and forth on a hardwood court are more of an athlete?

Don't be disrespecting David Wells now.

It all comes down to if you believe golf is a sport. People who play sports are athletes. Period. Golf is without a doubt a sport so yes golfers are athletes. Even John Daly and Beef are athletes. They are doing an athletic act. Too often people get things like speed, jumping ability, acceleration, and strength confused with athletic acts these are simply things that enhance your ability to complete athletic acts not the acts themselves. Athletic acts are things like throwing a football, hitting a baseball, shooting a basketball, and yes hitting a golf ball.

Beef is the most athlete

If shot putters are considered athletes, then I don't see why golfers aren't. Just because you aren't running 100 meter sprints, it doesn't mean you don't need a level of strength and aerobic conditioning at the top level.

Define athlete.

just look at the new guns now they are all fit and very athletic.

koepka, fowler, Dj , rors etc. tell me they arent athletic?

Brooks Koepks is definitely an athlete. I would contend the PGA Tour has never seen a build like that. You can tell he's just naturally gifted with that frame. He has very athletic swing. I saw him in person last summer at a Tour event (and posted about it then) I had never seen a more powerful golf swing in my life.

Brooks Koepka is the kind of guy who would walk in just about anywhere and be the alpha dog. He should play Brad Pitt in Achilles 2.

Some other ones are not athletes, but not gonna mention names.

Yes they are athletes

It's the hardest game in the world to be great at too. You have to be a Swiss Army knife in terms of skills.

No 3pt specialists or defenders in golf. No one to carry you on an off day. Different playing field every time you tee up.

Put some respect on golfs name! I played basketball and tennis at a high level but I promise that golf wears you out more. 5 hour tournament rounds are a grind, to do that over 4 days is a journey. It's not exactly an easy movement on the body either.

Not buying into the hype of pros in the gym being super built or their former high school sports teams mattering much. But there is nothing wrong about guys training for their well being, flexibility and endurance. Bit of strength training can just be a passion and to feel somewhat manly. No big deal.

Yes many of them are athletes. Bit of gym time is good. Golf is very hard on your mind and your body.

IMO a world class athlete can:

- Dunk a men's basketball on 10 ft rim

- Run at least a 4.7 40

- Bench 225 minimum 15 times

- Pitch a baseball 85 MPH +

- Break 80 at Pebble Beach from the whites

Tough I know. :)

No. Not at all. And the fact so many guys try to be "an athlete" by living in a gym is embarrassing golfers.

Pathetic take. Eating well and being in shape is always better than the alternative, despite what the SJW body acceptance movement wants you to believe.

No.

Webster' s dictionary defines athlete as: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.

 

Golf simply does not require the physicality per the definition. Granted, some pro golfers are strong, agile and have stamina but the sport does not require these attributes. Hence, being skilled at golf does not make one an athlete. I find it a bit awkward when guys like Zach Johnson, Patrick Reed et.al describe themselves as athletes.

I think it depends how you read that definition. The way I read it was more like this:

Athlete: a person who is trained or skilled in

1) exercises

2) sports

or

3) games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.

In which case, golf would fall under category 2.

To the main point of the argument though, pro golf requires coordination/feel/timing/proprioception or whatever you want to call it - the ability to put the clubhead on the ball in a very consistent manner over and over again. In my mind that isn't a very "athletic" demand - it's a skill demand. However, adding a component of speed, which I would consider to be a requirement for athleticism, sure seems to help a lot!

My answer is that some pro golfers are athletes, some aren't. You don't have to be "athletic" to be a good professional golfer, but I do think you're at an advantage if you possess "athleticism," ie, speed, strength, stamina.

Also, I totally agree with a poster above....working out at the gym doesn't mean you are an athlete. Golf is so far behind in this aspect. The European Tour posted a ridiculous picture this morning from Brooks Koepka's coach Claude Harmon III that totally shows how much most golfers just don't get it.

To be clear, I'm not bashing Brooks or Joey D for what is happening here (though I would question it...lol). What I am bashing is the fact that many of the most audible voices in our sport think that this type of thing makes one an athlete. Actually Claude, this type of thing makes you an average gym-goer.

The original Greek term meant one who participates in a contest.

IMO a world class athlete can:

 

- Dunk a men's basketball on 10 ft rim

- Run at least a 4.7 40

- Bench 225 minimum 15 times

- Pitch a baseball 85 MPH +

- Break 80 at Pebble Beach from the whites

 

Tough I know. :)

Nice!

Who could do all those?

Bo could do 4 out of 5 in his prime easy.

No.

Webster' s dictionary defines athlete as: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.

 

Golf simply does not require the physicality per the definition. Granted, some pro golfers are strong, agile and have stamina but the sport does not require these attributes. Hence, being skilled at golf does not make one an athlete. I find it a bit awkward when guys like Zach Johnson, Patrick Reed et.al describe themselves as athletes.

 

I think it depends how you read that definition. The way I read it was more like this:

 

Athlete: a person who is trained or skilled in

 

1) exercises

2) sports

or

3) games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.

 

In which case, golf would fall under category 2.

 

To the main point of the argument though, pro golf requires coordination/feel/timing/proprioception or whatever you want to call it - the ability to put the clubhead on the ball in a very consistent manner over and over again. In my mind that isn't a very "athletic" demand - it's a skill demand. However, adding a component of speed, which I would consider to be a requirement for athleticism, sure seems to help a lot!

 

My answer is that some pro golfers are athletes, some aren't. You don't have to be "athletic" to be a good professional golfer, but I do think you're at an advantage if you possess "athleticism," ie, speed, strength, stamina.

 

Also, I totally agree with a poster above....working out at the gym doesn't mean you are an athlete. Golf is so far behind in this aspect. The European Tour posted a ridiculous picture this morning from Brooks Koepka's coach Claude Harmon III that totally shows how much most golfers just don't get it.

 

 

 

To be clear, I'm not bashing Brooks or Joey D for what is happening here (though I would question it...lol). What I am bashing is the fact that many of the most audible voices in our sport think that this type of thing makes one an athlete. Actually Claude, this type of thing makes you an average gym-goer.

sorry for the offtopic but

he worked out on the morning of round 4? i heard the commentator mention he went to the practice range right after the gym! i thought i heard wrong.

damn! i was always told to never work out before a round better yet on the day itself!

If Albert Pujols and CC Sabathia are considered athletes then the modern pro golfer ought to be too.

Vindog, your logic is garbage.

Vin's logic is garbage???????

Oh Dear Lord, welcome to the board!!!

Regards?

RP