Anthony Wilkins Blog
(October 2014)–From time to time the sporting world decides to take stock and create arguments to determine which activities are worthy of being called sports. Unfortunately golf ends up getting questioned more often than not so lets take a deeper look at why. Here is the actual definition of the word sport: an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.
If we simply base our conclusion on the definition of what a sport is then golf easily fits the bill. But let’s look even further into why I would consider golf to be a sport where many people would not. When people think of sports they think of activities where its competitors are running around frequently (baseball, football, tennis). We all know that the only time that you may see a golfer run is from a bear in the woods or to avoid being struck by lightning. But even though golfers hardly ever run they can walk a few miles during a practice round as well as a competitive round.
When it comes to needing skill to participate in an activity I think golf is at the top of the list. The counter intuitive, lack of aggression, full level of focus needed to consistently hit a golf ball rivals any sport in the world. Many other sports rely simply on increasing levels of aggression which often overrides the need to be completely focused on the task at hand.
Physical prowess is another aspect of being a sport that golf can check off. Many people outside of the sport of golf look simply at what the average golfer has looked like in the past and equates them with being out of shape or not in peak physical condition. There are many other athletes across a few sports such as a lineman in football and some very ‘healthy’ baseball players who perform at an all-star level. The misconception of the overweight & out of shape golfer has changed quite a bit over time and now golfers young and old have added consistent fitness and nutrition programs to their everyday lives. This has not only enhanced their current level of play but also has allowed golfers to extend their playing careers further than when they were simply swinging a golf club each day.
Although not part of the definition, the last thing that makes golf a sport is the fact that mental toughness is just as big a part of the game as any other sport. There are many times over the course of a round that a golfer is put under more pressure than normal. Each time he/she has to answer the bell without faltering and suffering the consequences. Just like in many other sports, when the game is in its late stages and winning is on the line the pressure is ramped-up even more. A golfer’s ability to remain cool under that pressure will allow him/her to thrive when many others would wilt.
Using these simple parameters, golf is most definitely a sport where its participants compete just as hard as players in any other sport.
Well, until next time!
Anthony L. Wilkins is a national Academy of Sports Medicine & Titleist Performance Institute Certified Personal Trainer an avid golfer from New Jersey who currently resides in the metro Atlanta area with his wife and son.
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