I think the writer of this is wrong for
one reason it is a sport that takes more physcal and mental chanlege than you would know if you played the sport. I think that anyone would tell you after a round of walking and putting you all and all into your round that you are out of it just as much as any basketball or football player.

"Golf is not a sport."

Tell that to these folks: http://www.canadagolfguide.com/artman/publish/2009-Canada-Summer-Games.cfm

Competitive golf (18 holes for four straight days) is taxing on the body and the mind. Try it...round up three buddies and play four rounds of stroke play. Take no gimmies and play by ALL the rules. You'd change your mind, I think.

Worse yet, try that 54 holes in one day tournament. If you're married, do it only once...and be prepared for six months of doing the dishes. Mice to see ya Marv!

Golf is an activity. I live in Canada in a greatly reduced season, approx. 7 months, early April to early November. I am a five handicap. I am 47 years old and last year I played 110 rounds in five countries. I also managed to work fulltime for 6 months of the year. The rounds were played as follows: 26 in US - in four different States, Texas, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, 4 in Bermuda, 4 in Dominican Republic, 4 in Jamaica, 6 in Nova Scotia, Canada and the remainder in Ontario, Canada. I have traveled as much as a touring pro and at my own expense. If I were getting paid for these rounds I would play far more. About 10 rounds were in competition, obviously only for fun but we are serious about winning and all rules are followed. It is not a physically demanding sport. I put as much effort into my rounds as any pro, I do not have the natural talent as a pro but the effort is just as great. Growing up I played hockey and baseball. Hockey is a sport, where a physical toll is taken on your body. Baseball is also an activity/"pasttime". Why do you think they play 25 - 28 games per month? It is like golf, an activity. Football is the most physically demanding sport of all, just talk to any ex-nfl'er or college veteran. Their bodies are damaged beyond belief. They endure pain on a daily basis, from after their careers are over till their premature deaths. I began playing golf at 30 years of age, because I could no longer play a physically demanding sport like hockey where injuries caused me to miss time from my fulltime job. The worst golf injuries I've sustained were blisters on my heels from a new pair of shoes, when I walked 36 holes while carrying my own bag. My swing speed has slowed down over the last 4 years to 114 from a high of 119. I still manage to get the ball out there 270 - 290 on a regular basis so my body does endure a bit of torque strain. Give me a break about golf being a sport! I love it more than any other activity/sport I have ever played but don't try to compare it with truly physically demanding sports. Golf is tiring no question, but when a 48 year-old Fred Funk can defeat 23 year old Adam Scott, how can it be a compared to the real sports football, hockey or basketball? ( I only played high school basketball so I can't comment too much but those guys take a lot of abuse and punishment when a 300 lb Shaq decides he is going to the basket and they are trying to stop him).

Tour players make so much money OFF the field that playing in countless tourneys doesn't really pay.

It's all about the money.

It's hard to blame them in a way. They make so much money that they would rather be home with their families. It's not an easy life. But, I do want to see the top players play more.

Rebel