Comments on: Why (I guess) people love golf

By: The Grove Project » Tennis and community

The Grove Project » Tennis and community — Sun, 25 May 2008 20:25:20 +0000

[...] Park. Like surfing, one of the great virtues of tennis is that it can be played for free. (See related comments/discussion in “Why (I guess) people play golf”) Wilmington is fortunate to have several nice parks with a generous number of courts, but Empie is [...]

By: Grove Project › Wilmington, NC › Why People Play Golf, Actually (Part I)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:39:12 +0000

[...] an answer as to “Why People Play Golf.” This post is, of course, in direct response to Why (I guess) people play golf, which, quite playfully, muses on the possible reasons men and women would engage in a sport/game [...]

By: Grant

Grant — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:46:41 +0000

David, I’ve played plenty of golf in my life, probably well over 100 rounds and from a very young age. For the past 18 years I’ve probably played tennis on average about 3 times a week. I believe I know both sports well enough to offer an informed opinion. I’ll allow my previous comment to stand on its own.

By: David

David — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:51:26 +0000

Gentlemen gentlemen gentlemen… Were I an asshole I would simply say “You are not golfers so you can’t understand; by all means, go play tennis instead.” and leave it at that. But here’s the rub, as Hamlet would say. A mere comment cannot possibly do my response to this post any justice (which is not by any means a completely negative reaction…). So look for an entire post in the very near future titled “Why People Play Golf, Part I.”

By: Ian

Ian — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:55:52 +0000

Yes…I’m sure you’re right, Grant (re: competitive). I meant to suggest that the nature of the competition in golf — this serialized play and thwarted watching that makes up most of the game — gives us no outlet for our natures, no good way to flush it through the system.

I’m saying post-match tennis beers may go down easier than the 19th-holers.

By: Ranald

Ranald — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:50:02 +0000

…and golfers are bird killers!

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/pga/2008-03-06-isenhour-hawk_N.htm

By: Grant

Grant — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:30:12 +0000

Ian, you can state that golf is an extremely competitive sport and few would argue. My response is that golf isn’t half as competitive as, say, singles tennis, and for one very simple reason. Of the two sports there is only one where you hit a ball, and the ball comes back. At that split second when the ball is returned you have many decisions to make. Golfers hit a ball and move forward never having to contemplate what they would have to do if it was actually returned in their direction. To my mind there is no comparing the two; the physical and mental challenge it takes to win even a single tennis point is daunting. Granted both sports require a skill level and discipline far beyond what non-players can imagine. But only one is akin to physical chess, or boxing for that matter; you hit, and the hit comes back. What are you going to do now?

By: Why (I guess) people love golf » golfxing.com

Why (I guess) people love golf » golfxing.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:49:39 +0000

[...] Original post by ian [...]

By: Ranald

Ranald — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:50:57 +0000

I’m with you. I’ve never understood the attraction to golf. The expense, the time required to play, the petty conversations about the game’s minutiae, the waste of precious space, the exclusivity. It reminds me of a website called whitewhines.com, which is dedicated to those who have the gall to complain about access to abundance and material goods. I can think of a lot of other things I can do with my time than hit a ball around a course for four hours — and pay a premium for the privilege.

I’ve played sports all my life and never been attracted to golf, which doesn’t offer the exercise I crave in other sports.