Posted on 08/29/2003 10:42:38 AM PDT by robjna
The following is forwarded not to offend tennis, basketball, football or soccer fans. It is, rather, an attempt to put everything in its proper perspective.
Ever wonder why golf is growing in popularity and people who don't even play, go to tournaments or watch it on TV?
These truisms may shed some light.
Golf is an honorable game, with the overwhelming majority of players being honorable people who don't need referees.
Golfers don't have some of their players in jail every week.
Golfers don't scratch their privates on the golf course.
Golfers don't kick dirt on, or throw bottles at, other people.
Professional golfers are compensated in direct proportion to how well they play.
Golfers don't get per diem and two seats on a charter flight when they travel between tournaments.
Golfers don't hold out for more money, or demand new contracts, because of another player's deal.
Professional golfers don't demand that the taxpayers pay for the courses on which they play.
When golfers make a mistake, nobody is there to cover for them or back them up.
The PGA Tour raises more money for charity in one year than the National Football League does in two.
You can watch the best golfers in the world up close, at any tournament, including the majors, all day, every day for $25 or $30.
The cost for a seat in the nosebleed section at the Super Bowl will cost around $300 U.S. or more.
You can bring a picnic lunch to the tournament golf course, watch the best in the world and not spend a small fortune on food and drink. Try that at one of the taxpayer funded baseball or football stadiums. I brought a Coke into Oriole Park at Camden Yard last year, and an usher came to my seat and told me I had to dispose of it, or I would not be allowed to stay in the stadium.
In golf you cannot fail 70% of the time and make $9 million a season, like the best baseball hitters(.300 batting average) do.
Golf doesn't change its rules to attract Fans.
Golfers have to adapt to an entirely new playing area each week.
Golfers keep their clothes on while they are being interviewed.
Golf doesn't have free agency.
In their prime, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and other stars, would shake your hand and say they were happy to meet you. In his prime, Jose Canseco wore T-shirts that read 'Leave Me Alone'.
You can hear birds chirping on the golf course during a tournament.
Ladies are welcome players.
At a golf tournament, (unlike at taxpayer-funded sports stadiums and arenas) you won't hear a steady stream of four letter words and nasty name calling while you're hoping that no one spills beer on you.
Tiger Woods can hit a golf ball almost three times as far as Barry Bonds can hit a baseball.
Golf Courses don't ruin the neighborhood.
Finally, here's a slice of golf history I thought
Why do full-length golf courses have 18 holes, and not 20, or 10 or an even dozen?
During a discussion among the club's membership board at the venerable St. Andrews in 1858, one of the members pointed out that it takes exactly 18 shots to polish off a fifth of Scotch. By limiting himself to only one shot of Scotch per hole, the Scot figured a round of golf was finished when the Scotch ran out.
Now you know!
Tiger's routinely in the 300-320 yard range from what I understand, when he's hitting it straight, which hasn't happened nearly as often as he'd like lately.
Yeah, but when I first started playing as a teenager, I would get so frustrated I'd throw my club down the fairway farther than the ball went, or slam it down and make a big dent in the turf at the tee box. Took me a few years to grow up.
Golf is a test of your character. It's you against you. When you play bad, there's no excuses, no one to blame, no place to hide. You go out and shoot a good round one day, thinking you've got the game licked, then, watch out, your game falls apart the next day. So frustrating. The closest sport worthy of being called "God's Game", IMHO, with baseball being second.
I was at a local LPGA tournament a few years ago. Julie Inkster and her playing partner had just holed out. The sun was in my face as I walked to the next hole. I almost crashed into her because she was walking so fast, and I didn't see her. I said, "sorry" under my breath, she said "scuse me" under her breath. The FlyVet was a bit embarrassed.
I can beat my playing buddy whose driver alone cost more than my whole bag of clubs.
Because there are alot of people out there who haven't learned that money in Golf is won from 100 yards in.
Because no matter how bad a round you have, all you can remember later is the one really good shot you made that day.
Because contrary to popular opinion, golf does not have to be an expensive sport.
Because just when you think you're in a groove and got it all figured out, golf will remind you what humility means.
yea, you hit the greenside bunker from 400 yards, must have been a hurricane at your back. Oh, that's right, your playing partners were back by the 150. Lies.
Maybe you would like to have a long drive contest. Me vs. You. 6 balls. Longest in the fairway for $10,000. Or maybe you would like to contact the manager for the Penley Shafts Long Drive Team to discuss the distances I hit a golf ball.
You are an idiot because you think your behaviour was warranted, or maybe even cool. In fact, it shows lack of respect for the group on the green and indicates that you are the type of golfer that nobody would want to play with. Why did you feel the need to leave your playing partners 150 yards behind you and disturb the putting of the group on the green?
No, I proceeded ahead of my partners to guard against my ball being stolen as no one would think the ball would belong to the group behind them. I was also not interfering with their putting in any way. I drove up on the cart path next to the green (next to their carts) and proceeded to walk toward where I thought my ball was (and I was a good 30 yards from the green in being sure to not disturb them) and it was the guy on the green who was rude. He, with a real bad pissed off attitude (which is common among those who think they are 70's golfers but shoot 100+), is the one who was rude.
Any time you want to play for cash or hit some drives for cash let me know.
Some interesting comments. I cant really comment on some of the sports mentioned because Im not american, i do notice golf courses are springing up everywhere in england. but the people who play on them would still rather go and watch a football (soccer) match over playing any day.
you have obciously never watched snooker. that is the most gentlemanly sport you can get. you will never hear a professional swear. sportsmanship is a major part of the game
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