The Grove Project

Why People Play Golf, Actually (Part I)

As someone who plays golf as much as he possibly can, I feel called to attempt 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 that, to the non-golfer, appears all but useless and, simply, a waste of time. Mark Twain even once said that golf is “a good walk spoiled.” Comments in reply to said post indicate a similar ponderous confusion and, indeed, a frustration with golf in comparison to other activities of leisure such as tennis, jai alai, or perhaps badminton. Rather than address these commentaries independently, I think the best way to post is, one, to begin as did Ian with Pine Grove Road, which splits the Wilmington Municipal Golf Course, and, two, to keep this in the form of list thereafter.

*BUT, as a preface, let us distiguish between the two most readily noticeable types of golfers up front. There are pros, who make millions a year, yes, competing with eachother and to whom all rules of athletic competition apply. And then, there are the rest of us; the rest of us who play for the love of playing… and to whom the reasons to follow below, solely apply.

So Pine Grove: after moving to Wilmington a few years ago, I quickly found the agony that is driving to work daily on College Road. Luckily, I soon found a bypass to work by taking Pine Grove Road, a route which took me through Wilmington Municipal Golf Course (a fact that will lead to reason #1 “Why People Play Golf” shortly). It allowed me a wonderful view and source for peace that far outshines the speedy, agitating morning traffic of College. More importantly, the course itself was designed by Donald Ross and built in 1926 to provide the public a championship course that was affordable. Donald Ross, for those who don’t know, is a legend. All over the US, Havana, Cuba, Canada, and in California especially, it can cost up to $200 to play one of his designs. Among the highlights of his courses are Pinehurst and Forest Hills in Augusta, Georgia. We Wilmingtonians are lucky in that, despite constant inflation, the rise of the dollar and other economic trends, we can play one of Ross’s masterfully designed courses for a mere $18… a dollar a hole walking. In the winter, one will not find greener grass anywhere more prominent than on the fairways of “The Muni.”

So here we go (please note that subjective reasons are quite comparable to other sports in perspective only):

Reason #1 :

Golf is relaxing (see last full paragraph). Plus, it takes the better part of a day to play 18 holes when crowded. For those who golf often, what is to pass after leaving the first tee-box is a therapeutic, however often emotionally charged, game that cannot be played without patience, fortitude, and the willingness to champion one’s fellow players when they do well. Many a clap on the back are to be witnessed when, after focusing on a green and finding the perfect line to the hole, a properly engineered putt yields the all too powerful “birdy” (finishing the hole one-stroke under par). Exhilarating and calming all at once!

Reason #2:

Whatever way one chooses to argue this point, it can be said that golf is truly the only game in which the player’s greatest, toughest, and harshest opponent is his or her own psychology. Golfers don’t play against each other. Golfers play against themselves. Competition, the all too common reason for most of humanity’s major sufferings, has no place on the golf course itself. It may only find a home in the golfer’s mental need to better his or her last outing. For example, you will never see a golfer’s head bowed in defeat because he or she scored lower than another golfer (remember, pros not included!) . To the contrary, most golfers feel happy for fellow golfers who score low… it means they had a good day. You will see a golfer bowed in defeat ONLY because they did not meet their own expectations.

Reason #3:

It never rains on the golf course.

Reasons #4 through [ x ] to be continued when time allows…