Golf is a . . . sport, activity, practice, game?

[MajorOh4]

I've been listening to some of The Golfers Journal podcasts lately and I've run into this idea that the people at TGJ seem to share or at least a few of their contributors do, about golf being a practice, like yoga or meditation, or the idea of golf as an activity, being a different way to spend your time, all to contrast what tour guys do, which is to play it as a sport.

 

I'd like to hear what you all think? What is golf?

[ohioglfr]

I don't know why you post it here  . . . I wouldn't say this is a heated topic.  Outside of tournament play, I'd say golf is a leisure time activity. 

 

There.  I've managed to get someone upset.

[Hawkeye77]

3 hours ago, ohioglfr said:

I don't know why you post it here  . . . I wouldn't say this is a heated topic.  Outside of tournament play, I'd say golf is a leisure time activity. 

 

There.  I've managed to get someone upset.

Or why you think he’s still looking for a response after 18 months? ?

[stryper]

I’ll bite...it’s all of the above, and more.  It’s like how Clark Griswold described Christmas:  it means different things to different people.

[RobertBaron]

I treat it like a sport, but practice sessions especially can be very meditative for me as well. 
 

More often than not when I play a round I take it pretty seriously but I can also play a beer round with friends and just have a good time. 
 

so all in all as someone said above, golf really can be a lot of things. 
 

 

[jons1]

it's life and death... you start with life, and somewhere on the course you start digging your grave, and after 18 you just jump into it and die.  but make sure you have fun.

 

I think it was best summed up as a good walk spoiled ... and you can choose to spoil it, or enjoy it... it's up to you. 

[stryper]

17 minutes ago, jons1 said:

it's life and death... 

 

No, I have to disagree.  Golf is not a matter of life or death...it’s much more important than that ?️

[Chief Illiniwek]

I like to describe it as a discipline.

[mahonie]

...a distraction.

[NoTalentLefty]

It’s like an irritant like, a piece of meet lodged into the gaps of your teeth , trying to dislodge it without a toothpick. You either love the challenge or let it eat away at you. 

[BuzzCat]

Sometimes when I'm grinding on 5 footers on the practice green in preparation for a tournament I think to myself that golf is a "pursuit".

 

Whatever your pursuing is up to you.

[GSDriver]

In the eye of the beholder, depends on the individual.  For some, it's work, others it's fun or a game.

[nsxguy]

On 9/8/2020 at 9:01 PM, Chief Illiniwek said:

I like to describe it as a discipline.

 

Fixed that for ya. 

 

 

[farmer]

For professionals, it's a sport.  They work at it every day and there are very tangible results.  For me, it's been an endless source of entertainment plus a way to escape some of the genuine crap storms I have endured.  

[BrysonD400]

keeps me sane.  self help like the video said.  

[MelloYello]

My main focus is trying to gain control over what's happening so I can improve the results and enjoy the experience more. So, for me it's probably a sport. 

[HappyGilmoresBoots]

There is a physical aspect - muscle control is important in getting consistent shots.  I took a few impromptu lessons last summer with a neighbor (former PGA pro, maintained his PGA membership until just a few years ago, played against a young Jack Nicklaus when they were both juniors), and was able to put a few principles I'd learned in yoga into action when swinging my driver, specifically:  when and how to activate the "love handle" muscles, and feeling the muscles activate across my shoulders and upper back to really dig in and get some power.

Much like yoga (and to a certain extent, hunting and fishing), golf is about exploration - becoming one with the world around you, and understanding your place in the world, while manipulating what you can for a better outcome.  It's very zen for me...and the fact that it is a physical pursuit (especially when walking) helps keep my mind a little disengaged, which is super nice.

[llewol007]

Golf is like anything else in life. Just like exercise can be simply walking or you can be a Crossfit exerciser and it becomes your life. Golf can be a once a year thing, golf can be an activity that you play at leisure or it can become the only thing you can think of on a weekly basis. That is what golf is. An activity that can stay just that or you take it to whatever level you want it to be. With each level, it takes more dedication. To improve, to commit the time to play, to spending the money on different clubs every year or two. All of it comes into play as you choose. I love the game enough to search after the next set of clubs to try out, I dont commit too much time to the driving range since Ive got four kids that I actively am watching over. I get to go out once every week or every other. That is the level Ive chosen to put golf on. For others it is different. To me it has become a lifestyle since I wear golf attire for the most part but not crossfit level where I am at the range every day.