Golf

[riflearm2]

I would like to hear from all of you who have previously argued with me that golf is a sport . . . and one that takes a high level of athletic ability.

A 51 year old just won last week's event. 51 years old. What other sport can a 51 year old win at the highest level? Would a 51 year old run for 200 yards and lead the league in rushing any Sunday? Would a 51 year old pitch a complete game shutout or hit three bombs in an MLB game? Would a 51 year old go for 45 points in an NBA game?

Golf isn't a sport. It is a game which requires very little athletic ability but a high level of skill. It isn't much different from cross-stitching.

 

[i am herdman]

End of thread coming shortly

Meet George Foreman, heavy weight champ at age 45

 

[i am herdman]

Hi rifle, my name is Herschel Walker and I am 50. After football I compete in MMA in my spare time. Check my body out.

 

[i am herdman]

Hi rifle, I made it to the bigs and at age 49, I won a game .

Jamie Moyer

 

[i am herdman]

Yo rifle, I was born in 1976. I've got jock straps older than you.

 

[i am herdman]

Dang, I was born in 77. Duncan has me beat

 

[i am herdman]

 

[i am herdman]

 

[riflearm2]

This isn't apples vs. oranges. This is apples vs. seagulls

Vince carter, whom I know personally and is a big contributor to Cookman football, is 37 or 38. That is more than a decade younger than Davis love or whoever it was that won the tournament. Same with Duncan.

Moyer won a game at 49 years old. That is not only 2 years younger than 51, but is entirely different than winning an entire golf tournament. Herschel? He isn't winning an MMA tournament against some of the best fighters in the world like love just did.

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

Scored 15 goals and 26 assists in his last NHL season...at age 51.

 

[ThunderCat98]

Merriam-Webster disagrees with Rifle:

http://i.word.com/idictionary/sport

 

[banker6796]

Davis Love didn't win against the best either. That was a very watered down field as the only people who played were those yet to qualify for the Fed Ex cup. It was the equivalent of a triple A game or cfl versus NFL.

 

[i am herdman]

This isn't apples vs. oranges. This is apples vs. seagulls

Vince carter, whom I know personally and is a big contributor to Cookman football, is 37 or 38. That is more than a decade younger than Davis love or whoever it was that won the tournament. Same with Duncan.

Moyer won a game at 49 years old. That is not only 2 years younger than 51, but is entirely different than winning an entire golf tournament. Herschel? He isn't winning an MMA tournament against some of the best fighters in the world like love just did.

Excuse Maker. Some sports are obviously more physical that others and people have a shelf life in each sport. You asked for examples and I gave them. Obviously a golfer might have a longer shelf life than a boxer, wrestler, tennis player, or motocross racer. But, there are older guys that have competed at a high level in various sports. George Foreman knocked Moorer out to win the title at 45.

 

[i am herdman]

Davis Love didn't win against the best either. That was a very watered down field as the only people who played were those yet to qualify for the Fed Ex cup. It was the equivalent of a triple A game or cfl versus NFL.

Not completely accurate. The Wyndham is turning into a good event because of the timing. Guys are trying to make the playoffs. There were 11 major winners in the Wyndham. True many of the biggest ranked guys were not there, but it was a quality field. Not a top tier even but ahead of several other events. You could have put Jordan Spieth in that field and he might not have won.

 

[banker6796]

Snedeker, 12th in points, was the highest ranked player in the field. Love, who was 120 going in to the event won, now ranked 73, gore was second raising his ranking to 95, Schwartzel was third raising his ranking to 93, Casey, who finished 4th was ranked 19th and moved up one spot.

Only two of the top 20 players were in the field, none in the top ten. You know in golf there is the top 20 then a huge drop off and then another huge drop off around 50. The top 10 guys have won 18 tournaments this year. The players ranked from 21 to 259 have won 17 tournaments this year and most of those were ones where guys 1-10 didn't play.

 

[-CarlHungus-]

God Bless Herdman for that Ric Flair icing on the cake.

The Undertaker just beat Lesnar, too. Let's not forget that.

 

[i am herdman]

Snedeker, 12th in points, was the highest ranked player in the field. Love, who was 120 going in to the event won, now ranked 73, gore was second raising his ranking to 95, Schwartzel was third raising his ranking to 93, Casey, who finished 4th was ranked 19th and moved up one spot.

Only two of the top 20 players were in the field, none in the top ten. You know in golf there is the top 20 then a huge drop off and then another huge drop off around 50. The top 10 guys have won 18 tournaments this year. The players ranked from 21 to 259 have won 17 tournaments this year and most of those were ones where guys 1-10 didn't play.

There is not a huge drop after 20. Not anymore. Don't know how you come up with that. I would say there are 200 guys in the world that if they got hot could win a PGA tournament on any given weekend. That is how deep golf is now.

Defending Fed Ex Champ Billy Horschel is ranked 24 in the world. Martin Kaymer is 20 and just lost his PGA tour status for not playing in enough events. He has three majors and 4 WGC titles. The top 50 is stacked.

The Wyndham was a decent field, not a top event. But, a decent field. No way it is like a CFL team vs a NFL team. Lord God a NFL team would totally obliterate that team Cato plays for. Jordan Spieth would not have run away with the Wyndham. Hell, he might not have won it. I don't care who you are it is hard to shoot 17 under in a PGA tournament.

 

[big_country90]

Golf is more of a skill, like throwing darts, learning an instrument, or ice sculpting. You dont have to be athletic at all. Just practice a lot, get your hand/eye coordination down pat, and keep doing the same things over and over again, and eventually you will be good at it.

 

[riflearm2]

Scored 15 goals and 26 assists in his last NHL season...at age 51.

And that ranked him 146th in the NHL in points. Thank you for proving my point.

Excuse Maker. Some sports are obviously more physical that others and people have a shelf life in each sport. yOu asked for examples and I gave them .

You gave examples of 37 and 38 year old basketball players who aren't winning anything in the NBA. You do realize the difference between 51 years old and 37 years old, right?

You gave an example of a 49 year old who won ONE game pitching. That is entirely different than winning a legitimate golf tournament.

You gave an example of a 45 year old boxer (which is still a significant 6 years younger than 51) who won the heavy weight title because his promoter paid bribes in order to change rankings. He then knew he had no chance, so he refused to fight anyone of worth and was stripped of the title just months later.

You can claim you gave examples, but all of them, with the exception of foreman, was not anywhere close to a valid comparison. And the foreman one is a long stretch at best.

 

[i am herdman]

Well, so according to you tennis players are more athletic than Ray Rice?

 

[riflearm2]

Well, so according to you tennis players are more athletic than Ray Rice?

Who are you talking to, and what does this relate to?

Are you drinking tonight? Like in the abortion thread, I have no idea what is promoting your comments.

 

[MichiganHerd]

I'm going out on a limb, and guessing Rifle can't golf worth a shit; thereby, justifying his inept abilities by downplaying the sport of golf.

 

[riflearm2]

I'm also not very good at bowling, horseshoes, pool, and darts. Does that mean I don't call those "sports" because I'm not good at them or because they require far more skill than any athletic ability?

As I stated, and BC agreed, golf is overwhelmingly a skill. Sure, hand-eye coordination and club speed take some athletic ability, but primarily, in an overwhelming nature, golf is a skill requiring very little athletic ability.

 

[MichiganHerd]

Does pitching a baseball require great athletic ability, or is it simply a skill of being able to pinpoint placement of the pitches, and keeping hitters off balance with a mix of speeds?

What about a punter or place kicker in football?

What are your thoughts concerning the sport of cricket? Believe it or not, there's a large group of Indians that gather on the grounds of Stryker off Portage Road in Portage that play cricket all day long on Saturdays, weather permitting. I parked and watched them for 10-15 minutes a few weeks back, and that sport gave me the impression it takes a great amount of athletic ability.

Lastly, what about table tennis?.... athletic ability? I say yes, due to playing quite a bit in my earlier years.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Golf is a sport I think. Like, baseball, it takes excellent hand and eye coordination. I think it does take some athletic skill. Obviously the game is played by millions but only a small percentage are actually good at it.

Is NASCAR a sport? No, no athletic skill whatsoever. Is Horse racing a sport? No, The animal does all the work. Is Cycling a sport? The bike does all the work. Basketball - any dolt can run up and down the floor, bounce a ball and throw it up to a hoop. Sounds like that doesn't take much skill or athleticism, but we know different.

The thing I like about golf is the players have to succeed to earn their income. Sure they get endorsements; but the if they don't win, no endorsements for the most part. Unlike the other pro sports, a dude can sit on the bench all year and yet make millions. Thats BS.

I'd say Tiger Woods can play some hoops, hit a basbeall, etc. But is Charles Barkley a 1 Handicap? Is Brandon Phillips a 1 Handicap? Different strokes for different folks.

 

[herdit44]

As I stated, and BC agreed, golf is overwhelmingly a skill. Sure, hand-eye coordination and club speed take some athletic ability, but primarily, in an overwhelming nature, golf is a skill requiring very little athletic ability.

bc? that's the horse you're running with in an argument?

 

[CockyHerd]

This is such a lame thread......

Sport -
1. an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

 

[WV-FAN]

pure athlete

 

[imherdfan]

Argument just for the sake of an argument...

 

[wvkeeper(HN)]

People who say NASCAR is not a sport because it does not use a ball and a stick say that without ever trying to drive a 4,000 lb car with no power steering 3" away from someone for 4 hours.

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

And that ranked him 146th in the NHL in points. Thank you for proving my point.

I assume the goalies were not 51. An old man schooled a young goalie 15 times. Works for me.

 

[riflearm2]

Does pitching a baseball require great athletic ability, or is it simply a skill of being able to pinpoint placement of the pitches, and keeping hitters off balance with a mix of speeds?

this is perfect. see, golf is one specific thing repeatedly - striking a stationary object with a club. the athletic ability is limited at being able to get good club speed and hand-eye coordination. nothing else in golf takes an ounce of athletic ability. the rest is skill and repetition.

the best comparison between golf and baseball would be looking at the only thing golf is (hitting a stationary ball with a club and aiming it to a certain location) compared to the closest thing to that in baseball . . . hitting a moving object at speeds up to 102 MPH that can also dance through the air and be thrown all over and trying to place it in certain areas. even at the most fundamental of comparisons, baseball requires a much harder skill, not to mention more athletic ability. but, then you have to throw everything else baseball has into the equation . . . the basepaths, running after fly balls, turning double plays, off-balance throws, hand quickness, agility. the comparison isnt even remotely close.

What about a punter or place kicker in football?
.

this isnt a bad comparison. they both are striking stationary objects intended at driving them into a specified area. both require balance and speed (arm and core speed for a golfer, leg and core speed for a kicker). they both require a ton of skill. no matter how athletic you are, you wont naturally be good to a high level at kicking or golfing. both take a ton of repetition and skill work.

the difference? that is golf. there is nothing more to it than that. that isnt football. that is one position which is on the field one play for every twenty (for both teams) plays.

?

What are your thoughts concerning the sport of cricket?

i dont know enough about it, but based on the running involved, it already means more athletic ability than golfing.

table tennis? no. that is a skill, not a sport. it requires hand-eye coordination, quickness, and skill work.

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

People who say NASCAR is not a sport because it does not use a ball and a stick say that without ever trying to drive a 4,000 lb car with no power steering 3" away from someone for 4 hours.

Stock cars beat the living shit out of you. A F1 car is a Rolls Royce compared to a stock car.

 

[riflearm2]

Golf is a sport I think. Like, baseball, it takes excellent hand and eye coordination. I think it does take some athletic skill. Obviously the game is played by millions but only a small percentage are actually good at it.

I.

the same can be said about pool. millions play it throughout bars across the country, but very few are actually good at it. does that mean it is a sport? no. it is much more a skill.

Is Cycling a sport? The bike does all the work. .

some of you guys are mind-blowing. cycling takes a high level of cardiovascular ability, strength (check out a legitimate biker's legs), and balance. it is much less reliant on a skill and much more reliant on athletic ability. golf is much more reliant on a skill and much less on athletic ability.

. Basketball - any dolt can run up and down the floor, bounce a ball and throw it up to a hoop. Sounds like that doesn't take much skill or athleticism, but we know different.

this seems to be going over your head. sure, anybody can run down the court and pick up a ball and shoot it while jumping, just like anyone can go out and hit a golf ball. the basketball player with no athletic ability is going to struggle getting up and down the court fast enough, struggle with strength boxing out and getting through screens, struggle jumping to get rebounds or get off shots, and struggle with just about every aspect of the game. an unathletic but skilled basketball player would mean somebody who is a strong dribbler and great shooter. but, if he isnt athletic, he wont amount to shit because he cant get free from a defender to get open for a shot, cant get his shot off because he cant jump, cant play defense, and his dribbling ability is meaningless since he isnt fast enough to beat anyone off the dribble. compare that to an unathletic but highly skilled golfer . . . a highly skilled golfer, regardless of his athletic ability, is going to be pretty damn good. why? because it requires far more skill and far less athletic ability than sports.

The thing I like about golf is the players have to succeed to earn their income. Sure they get endorsements; but the if they don't win, no endorsements for the most part. Unlike the other pro sports, a dude can sit on the bench all year and yet make millions. Thats BS.

I'd say Tiger Woods can play some hoops, hit a basbeall, etc. But is Charles Barkley a 1 Handicap? Is Brandon Phillips a 1 Handicap? Different strokes for different folks.

the first paragraph has nothing to do with golf being a sport other than that you are biased in favor of it.

the second paragraph . . . charles barkley is a highly athletic individual. almost all NBA players are. he is/was a 10 handicap and a pretty strong golfer. many NBA players would make great NFL prospects because both sports require a high level of athletic ability. michael jordan was able to play AA baseball. he, contrary to popular belief, wasnt awful. he wasnt a star, but his athletic ability allowed him to be decent and hit around .225 i believe while doing alright in the field and on the basepaths.

without much practice, would any of those guys (MLB, NBA, NFL) be good at golf? absolutely not. why? because their immense athletic abilities are almost entirely useless in golf, an activity which relies on very little athletic ability.

 

[MichiganHerd]

All I know is that back in the 70's, when I attended the 4th of July festivities out at Charlie McCoy park, there was some fabulous tobacco spitting contestants. I think it takes a special kind of athlete to spit out a big goober of bacca juice 16 feet.

 

[i am herdman]

Who are you talking to, and what does this relate to?

Are you drinking tonight? Like in the abortion thread, I have no idea what is promoting your comments.

You are basing it on age. Most tennis players are done at what? Late 20's. Ray Rice was an all pro at what 40?

 

[riflearm2]

You are basing it on age. Most tennis players are done at what? Late 20's. Ray Rice was an all pro at what 40?

Yes, I'm basing it on age. That's the point. We all can agree that athletic ability substantially declines beginning at a certain age. A 51 year old can succeed at a high level in golf because it requires far less athletic ability than real sports.

I'm not sure who you are referencing with the Ray rice thing. The only ray rice I know played for Rutgers and knocked out his GF on camera in an Atlantic city elevator.

 

[i am herdman]

Sorry. Ray Lewis. I got the wife puncher mixed up with the guy who killed that guy.

 

[banker6796]

Rifle, you glossed over the assertion that golf and pitching are similar by making it about baseball in general by discussing hitting, running, etc.

I feel the comparison to pitchers, especially those in the AL is pretty valid. Both are a repetitive motion meant to deliver a ball to a specific target. Both require the ability to manipulate the ball's trajectory, rotation, and path. You could argue that golf is actually harder because you have a tool between you and the ball with no direct contact. You also have to be able to adjust for terrain, both in the position of the ball (uphill, downhill, side hill, on grass, in sand) and the position of the target (uphill, downhill, around a bend). A pitcher directly manipulates the ball, always throws it the same distance and always off the same height mound.

The level of physical output by a pitcher in 7 innings is not much different than a golfer in 18 holes. The pitcher may run occasionally to cover first or back up a play and repeat their motion 100 or so times. A golfer will walk 4 miles or so, up and down hills, and repeat their motion 70 times or so.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

People who say NASCAR is not a sport because it does not use a ball and a stick say that without ever trying to drive a 4,000 lb car with no power steering 3" away from someone for 4 hours.

Its takes no athletic skill whatsoever. The machine does all the work. Same with horse racing, the animal does all the work. Jockeys are not athletes.

You just described driving on the I-5 in LA! lol!