Why do we play Golf?
Created | Updated Oct 27, 2005
The sport for old men in very dodgy trousers? NO! A good walk spoiled? Well...usually yes but thats not the point. Its a relaxing way to get out with 3 friends or family members or even random strangers and enjoy the warm summer days? What a total lie. Its a way to go out and trudge around 6000yds of field in the rain, wind and general cold in mid-winter and in the end probably take a heart-attack going up that one hill that seems to 100s of corpses of other poor victims strewn about its bleak and lonely length. So why do we keep doing it? Thats easy (unlike the sport itself) its for the satisfaction when you line up that one drive standing in front of the crowd of 20 guys (all wanting you to drill the club head into the ground and the ball to end up about 3yds ahead of you so they don't look a prat when they do it) and you hit it 250yds straight down the middle. The ping from the driver and the echo around the tee box, which normally gets greeted by a groan and then very fake "great shot".
So whats the problem you may ask. Why do golfers complain so much about their rounds and more to the point why do they spend 6hrs in the bar afterwards, as the wife sits at home with their cold dinner cutting up their shirts, replaying the round? Well thats an easy one too. Its because that 250yd drive you hit was the only good bloody shot you hit all day but because you did it once you then think you are the pro and spend the rest of the day helping other (now) shirtless guys with their swing.
Golf is addictive because every round there is one, for the really good club golfer maybe two, shot(s) that makes you come back. The one that you rememeber 3 months later. We don't rememeber the rain, the wind, the paramedics or the trip to M&S to get new shirts we remember the 250yds drive or the putt that for that moment made us feel like a God.
OK so thats why the people I have known and spoken to like it but what about others. Well it has always been said that boxing was a way of getting out of the ghettos. Men could be found in run down gyms in the Latin American cities punching each others heads in in an attempt to get discovered and be payed to fight in places like Vegas. Golf? Same? Not a chance. To start with 3 woods and a set of irons can cost £500 alone so its not really the sport of the ghetto. In places such as Augusta, Georgia USA only white men are allowed to play the main course. As far as being payed to play competitions goes the vast majority of pros have to pay to get to each event and pay for their accomodation.
I have read a number of reasons why the sport is played and unfortunately alot seem to have one thing in common. To break the white mens strangle hold on the game. A number of women golfers say that they want to reach a similar level to the mens game so they can justifiably demand to play courses such as Augusta. Ladies such as Michelle Wie have played in some mens tournaments but have not faired particularly well. So some play to break male dominance.
Players such as Tiger Woods are breaking down the colour barrier in the game. Augusta could not stop him playing in the Masters and now he has won 4 Masters titles (97, 01, 02, 05). V Singh is World Number 2, T Woods is World Number 1. So some play to overcome racism.
Obviously overcoming things like racism isn't the only reason players like Tiger and Singh play. Infact Tiger does not comment on race at all. They play to win. They play to be the best and they play for the money. Isn't that why everyone plays sport tho. You don't take up soccer becasue you think the ball is a nice shape you take it up firstly because you enjoy it and after that because you would like to be the best at it and make a living playing it.
But golf is special in one aspect, you play to beat yourself. When you play tennis you win by beating 6 opponents when you play golf you have to beat over 100 and the conditions and the course and most importantly yourself. You have to concentrate and block out all your worries in life. Overcome yourself then you have to overcome the other factors.
And of course there is the pure enjoyment of stepping out on a summers evening when its still warm but a cooling breeze is blowing across the course and enjoying the 3hr walk ahead of you as the sun sets on the horizon. Peace, quiet and relaxation and the inevitable swearing as the ball heads of right and nearly takes someones head off because you spent too much time admiring the sunset.
As we can see there are a variety of reasons to play. The most important point is that the sport is played world wide for fun. All children playing today can enjoy the sport because of players such as Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie. So pick up your clubs, shoes and portable ECG and enjoy the walk.
So whats the problem you may ask. Why do golfers complain so much about their rounds and more to the point why do they spend 6hrs in the bar afterwards, as the wife sits at home with their cold dinner cutting up their shirts, replaying the round? Well thats an easy one too. Its because that 250yd drive you hit was the only good bloody shot you hit all day but because you did it once you then think you are the pro and spend the rest of the day helping other (now) shirtless guys with their swing.
Golf is addictive because every round there is one, for the really good club golfer maybe two, shot(s) that makes you come back. The one that you rememeber 3 months later. We don't rememeber the rain, the wind, the paramedics or the trip to M&S to get new shirts we remember the 250yds drive or the putt that for that moment made us feel like a God.
OK so thats why the people I have known and spoken to like it but what about others. Well it has always been said that boxing was a way of getting out of the ghettos. Men could be found in run down gyms in the Latin American cities punching each others heads in in an attempt to get discovered and be payed to fight in places like Vegas. Golf? Same? Not a chance. To start with 3 woods and a set of irons can cost £500 alone so its not really the sport of the ghetto. In places such as Augusta, Georgia USA only white men are allowed to play the main course. As far as being payed to play competitions goes the vast majority of pros have to pay to get to each event and pay for their accomodation.
I have read a number of reasons why the sport is played and unfortunately alot seem to have one thing in common. To break the white mens strangle hold on the game. A number of women golfers say that they want to reach a similar level to the mens game so they can justifiably demand to play courses such as Augusta. Ladies such as Michelle Wie have played in some mens tournaments but have not faired particularly well. So some play to break male dominance.
Players such as Tiger Woods are breaking down the colour barrier in the game. Augusta could not stop him playing in the Masters and now he has won 4 Masters titles (97, 01, 02, 05). V Singh is World Number 2, T Woods is World Number 1. So some play to overcome racism.
Obviously overcoming things like racism isn't the only reason players like Tiger and Singh play. Infact Tiger does not comment on race at all. They play to win. They play to be the best and they play for the money. Isn't that why everyone plays sport tho. You don't take up soccer becasue you think the ball is a nice shape you take it up firstly because you enjoy it and after that because you would like to be the best at it and make a living playing it.
But golf is special in one aspect, you play to beat yourself. When you play tennis you win by beating 6 opponents when you play golf you have to beat over 100 and the conditions and the course and most importantly yourself. You have to concentrate and block out all your worries in life. Overcome yourself then you have to overcome the other factors.
And of course there is the pure enjoyment of stepping out on a summers evening when its still warm but a cooling breeze is blowing across the course and enjoying the 3hr walk ahead of you as the sun sets on the horizon. Peace, quiet and relaxation and the inevitable swearing as the ball heads of right and nearly takes someones head off because you spent too much time admiring the sunset.
As we can see there are a variety of reasons to play. The most important point is that the sport is played world wide for fun. All children playing today can enjoy the sport because of players such as Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie. So pick up your clubs, shoes and portable ECG and enjoy the walk.
