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!
Who do you think pays for Municipal Golf Courses?
Golf doesn't change its rules to attract Fans.
You mean like having a woman play in a men's tournament?
Golfers have to adapt to an entirely new playing area each week.
In baseball, no two outfields are the same.
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.
Unless you're Colin Montgomery.
Tiger Woods can hit a golf ball almost three times as far as Barry Bonds can hit a baseball.
How far can Tiger Woods hit a baseball with his driver? Or how far could Barry Bonds hit a pitched golf ball?
Yes and no. While there are "Rules officials" they are not out there watching every shot taken, as in other sports where the refs are paying constant attention.
And in golf players call penalties on themselves and even disqualify themselves! You will NEVER have a player in another sport go to the ref and say, "actually I was out, you got the call wrong," "That was a ball sir, not a strike," "I really did fumble that ball," etc...
Golf has changed its rules over time because of technology, both to embrace and advance it, and to slow down its influence and incorporation into the sport.
The USGA and the Royal and Ancient do not change the rules in an attempt to increase ticket sales and TV viewership.
I love, and play, golf, but there's no way Tiger can drive a golf ball 1,350 feet.
As a avid golfer I have to agree. I don't know how you define sport, but my contention is, if you can smoke and drink while your playing it is a game, not a sport. Which also leaves out baseball BTW. :^}
Who do you think pays for Municipal Golf Courses?
How many PGA Tour events are on Municipal golf courses? How many NFL, NBA, MLB teams play in non taxpayer funded facilities?
Golf doesn't change its rules to attract Fans.
You mean like having a woman play in a men's tournament?
Not a single rule was changed.
Golfers have to adapt to an entirely new playing area each week.
In baseball, no two outfields are the same.
The bases are still 90 feet apart, and the pitchers mound is still 66' 6" from home.
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.
Unless you're Colin Montgomery.
Colin brought it upon himself, and it really has dropped off the past couple of years.
Tiger Woods can hit a golf ball almost three times as far as Barry Bonds can hit a baseball.
How far can Tiger Woods hit a baseball with his driver? Or how far could Barry Bonds hit a pitched golf ball?
This is a comparrison that should not have been included. A useless and worse than apples vs. oranges argument.
Then they love it.
Then they -
Hole 1: Feel so-so about it
2: Hate it
3: Hate it
4: Love it
5: Feel so-so
6: Love it
7: Need a beer because "This game f^%$ing sucks a$$"
8: Love it
9: Hate it
10: Love it
11: "It's OK"
12: "What a$$hole decided THAT was a good place for a lake?!?!?"
13: Love it
14: "How the f&^% did that putt break left?!?!"
15: Love it
16: Hate it
17: Hate it
18: "WTF? Another hole?"
....and after a couple at the 19th:
"So, we on for tomorrow, or what?"
All in no particular order.
On the flip side of that, during last week's Amateur Open, a player actually sank a putt without earning a stroke. Damnedest thing.
He had marked his ball on the green, and he had trouble getting it placed again without it rolling away. He finally got it to stay in place, his opponent verified it was placed truly and then it just took off and rolled right into the hole.
SD
On TV it's gaining in popularity, while participation is declining by the public. Go figure.
Tournaments played there are by invitation of the municipality. No golf assn. has ever demanded the taxpayer pay for the venue.
You mean like having a woman play in a men's tournament?
Sorry, it was within the rules.
Many of the people who tried to play because it was trendy have dropped out because it is too hard and too expensive. I am grateful for that.
Even in Seattle, where the Golf season is around 7 months out of the year, the 3 Muni's pull over a million profit.
That equals 450 yards. Can he do it? Not sure. Can other golfers do it? Yes. My longest in Long Drive competition is 401 yards, 12.5 inches. On the golf course I have driven par 4's over 420 yards. And last year in RE/Max World Long Drive Championship qualifying there was a drive over 500 yards!
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