Definition Argument Essay: Golf: Sport or History?

Abiel Valencia

English 106

1/31/16

Diane Goodman

Golf: Sport or History?

The origin of Golf can date back to Roman time, to a game called paganica, where partakers used some sort of bent stick to hit a leather ball that was stuffed with material. Although the modern game of Golf started in the 15th Century, Scotland to be exact, not in the United States, where it is played mainly in the world today. Golf has 25.7 million players and is an Industry worth 76 billion dollars, which is what the sport industry makes annually. Golf in this day in age is not considered a sport, but because of the background, such a historical game that has been around for centuries, should be considered a sport today. Golf is a sport because it requires physical exertion, it is a competition, and it requires mental endurance.

         Although Golf isn’t commonly considered to be a game, it is better categorized as a sport. Golf is a sport because it requires physical activity. One of the important factors in golfing if not THE most important factor, is the swing. The swing is the make or break in Golf, because it is the main physical activity that Golfers partake in. “Golf swings are complicated movements that require coordination of all major body segments (Zhang, Shan, 2014, P.1)”. Completing this maneuver requires not just skill, but an amount of physical activity, with the whole body moving as one to complete the skill. “Well-executed golf swings must be both powerful and accurate; the swing must be at full speed yet precise enough to ensure a square hit (Zhang, Shan, 2014, P.1)”. It is not easy to play golf, and it is not something that any person can do, it takes skill and patience, as well as practice and hard work to master a swing. A factor that is not discussed about when Golf is mentioned is that the physical fitness required to play Golf. According to Pro-Con, “Golfers who play a nine-hole course (2-2.5 miles) without a cart while carrying their own clubs burn 721 calories (613 calories if a caddie carries the bag of clubs which weighs 30-50 pounds on average)”. This proves that golf takes physical activity due to weight that must be carried from hole to hole on a course that ranges on an average of 6500 yards. Physical exertion is required in the game of Golf, thus making it a sport.

Another reason that Golf is a sport is that it is a competition. Competition is the activity or condition of competing, in the game of golf, individuals compete for a first place position amongst each other, and play for a prize of a trophy or some sort of cash money prize. Golf has 25.7 million players and is an Industry worth 76 billion dollars, which is what the sport industry makes annually. Competition doesn’t always have to be played for a prize, for example, there are golf courses in many cities across the United States for professionals and non-professionals who like to play just for fun, and enjoy the sport. Although people just enjoy to play for love of the game and simple fun, it can be competitive amongst friends and for practice as well.  

 Finally, Golf is a sport because it requires mental endurance. “Golf is a game played and enjoyed by millions, yet this enjoyment can quickly turn to frustration when psychological factors become overwhelming (Barnicle, Barnes, 2014, P.1)”. The game of Golf is a game that requires the mental stamina then any other sport, the athlete must mentally prepare just as much as physically, it is up close and more personal then any other sporting event. Normally, the Golf fan base is within feet of the Athlete participating in an event, so the pressure is on, knowing there are thousands of people focused on you and you can hear them speak and breathe, the mental stamina is tested like no other to focus and concentrate.