Is golf a sport?

Elisa (No)

Believe it or not, whether golf is a sport or not has been an 'age-old' argument. In fact, many today still believe golf is not a real sport for many good reasons. Firstly, 'skill doesn't mean sport' nor does skill make an athlete. Instead, golf is a skill like bowling, darts, or auto racing and requires little movement. 

Larry Atkins from the Chicago Tribune claims that golf should not be considered a sport or even compared to other sports, stating, 'Tiger Woods' feat of winning his third Masters tournament and seventh major professional golf championship was a great achievement. However, it's a big mistake to compare his feats to other sports.' Some even claim golf is more of a luxury game, not a sport, as one can play it while eating donuts if they really want and not even break a sweat. 

The definition of a sport itself disqualifies golf, as golf does not include much physical activity. Yes, it is a game, but that doesn't make it a sport either. According to AskMen, golf doesn't require fitness, the Olympics doesn't consider it a proper event, and it's elitist. Furthermore, there is no 'defense' involved, as it's a game of leisure.

As Medium writes, 'Golf is a soul-crushingly boring activity that is almost exclusively played by overprivileged, out-of-shape, non-athletes while heavily intoxicated.' While these words may seem harsh, they don't take away from the fact that many love and enjoy golf just as it is. Still, enjoying golf as a game of skill will never make it a proper sport. 

Curtice (Yes)

First, let's begin with the dictionary definition of a sport. Merriam-Webster defines a sport as 'a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other.' Golf certainly meets that definition.

Golf requires a certain level of skill, flexibility, physical exertion, and coordination, even when not competing at an elite level. Golf requires a high level of precision to perform at even a mediocre level. The necessary development of skill and training is as much or even more than many other sports, such as football, basketball, or tennis. Many suggest that practicing two to three times per week is necessary to improve one's golf game. Plus, there is a ball. At the same time, many activities are considered a sport that doesn't include a ball, swimming, or track and field events, to name a few; very few activities that DO include a ball are not considered a sport.

Golfers will walk around six miles per round. Granted, most weekend golfers use golf carts, but few courses require them. Even when using a golf cart, players still walk around three miles just walking to tee boxes and greens and approaching their ball in the fairway or, even worse, the rough or woods. Doing this goes on for hours and can be physically draining on players, taking a toll no matter what even while the players must continue performing with precision and skill. As when viewing any other sport as a physical activity, we call it playing. The same goes for golf, which is a sport. So get out and start 'playing golf' today!