Granted, it doesn't take as much physical exertion as say, basketball or trying to pinch a loaf when you're constipated, but it requires physical exertion nonetheless. You've obviously never played.
You are correct. When you are that fat and out of shape is is physical exertion just to get out of the car.
IM going to play a Stableford tournament on Sunday. And to those people that say Golf is not a sport , is because you havent played it or your not good at it. Why do you think when major sports figures make it big and start making the big bucks they start playing golf ?? Ive played High School Basketball for 4 years, and Football, and i have to say that when i started playing golf its more challenging and alot more fun..
i've played on organized teams/tournaments for b-ball, hockey, football, soccer, and golf. golf is not a sport. i love it, i've won some junior tournaments. but it's simply not a sport. it's a lot of fun, requires skill, physical ability. but it does not cause me to sweat other than the sweat caused by the heat from the sun. it's a pasttime. it's a hobby. it's a game! it's something i do if i want to relax for a day and hang out with some friends...where as a sport is something i do when i want to hustle and go all out.
I get too angry playing golf. I'm the type of person who would wrap my club around a tree. I know that I totally suck, I have zero expectations, but I can't help but feel frustrated all the same. The only time I can make a good shot is when I'm not thinking about it (ie: in the middle of a conversation, etc..).
How far can you turkeys drive the ball. I'm at about 260-275 consistently now. But I cannot figure out how to get more than that. It's really pissing me off.
I posted this in an earlier golf thread, but I will repeat it here for the benefit of Houston golfers..... I have found the most forgiving golf course in Houston, and perhaps on the planet. It's called Sugar Hill, and it on Bissonnet near Cook Road. Check this out.....no trees, water on only 3 holes, lots of hills to make it feel like a links course. Decent yardage, greens are in good shape. Greens fees are reasonable and include a cart, plus during the summer they have twilight specials. I played there about month ago. I hadn't played a full round of golf in 2 years...I had just been hitting buckets at the driving range near my house. I shot a 92 and didn't lose a single ball. My previous low score for 18 holes had been 105. If you are a golfer in Houston, and you want to feel good about your game, go play this course. It is like hitting in a 40 mph batting cage or dunking on a 7 foot tall rim. It will make you feel like a man!
By that definition, baseball/softball is not much of a sport. 95% of the time you are sitting around doing nothing...waiting for something to happen. Does the fact that once or twice a game, you have to run make it a sport? Sure, golf is not a sport on the level of basketball or football where your level of effort has a huge impact on the game - but not all sports are like that. On a physical level, golf requires athletic ability and full body muscle control in terms of the use of power, timing and finesse on the level of gymnastics and rock climbing (for the uninitiated, two surprisingly similar sports). Phi Slamma Jamma - I carry the ball about 250-270 yards with my driver, and hit a 7 iron about 170 yards. My longest drive this year is a wind-aided 340. Distance is not the problem my friend - it's avoiding the big mistakes. I don't, so my handicap is still stuck at 8. But if you are serious about increasing distance, work on your core strength and your hand/wrist strength. If you can really average 260-275, you aren't very far off of PGA pro-level distances. They get a huge benefit of roll from tour-prepped fairways.
If you have built a consistent 260 - 275 drive... 1) One way you can get more distance is to have your swing analyzed and find imperfections that you can correct 2) Get fitted for the right kind of driver. Must of us hacks aren't at a level where custom club making would help our game much. But if you're at the next level, you gotta get fitted. 3) Forget about getting longer drives. 260-275 is damn good. Be satisfied with it for now and work on your short game. -- droxford
Do you get 260-275 by firing it straight? Cause a little draw/fade does wonders to the distance on the drive. My friend last week hit a freaking 400 drive. He got the LUCKIEST bounce ever and had 100 left on a 500 par 5.
I agree w/ droxford - maximising your launch conditions by getting a driver and ball that fit your swing perfectly can add up to 10% to your distance, depending on how badly you were fit before. SaFe, that reminds me of something similar that happened to me - I had 4 huge bounces off of the same cart path once. It was absolutely nuts. If anyone knows the hole, it stopped in the ditch in front of the green on #8 at Sharpstown.
Thanks for the tips. Much work needed on the short game and Putting. I cannot put backspin on the ball either. I read about it. But hell. Can't do it. I just think I have natural power at with my height and size. I don't get on the course much. But I do hit about 12 buckets of balls a week to take out any stress I have. Right now I'm using a Taylor Made R580 with 10.5. It's made all the difference on the range. I just read the magazines and try to do what they say. I'm scared to have my swing analyzed. But may just do it. No slices or hooks either which is really lucky. One thing I may be able to give advice on, is how to play with a mp3 player at the range. Tuck the cord underneath your shirt at the neck and slide down inside your pocket. It makes the driving range a lot more fun and relaxing. There's no interference with your swing.
I play lots of golf. It's a love hate thing. I keep thinking I will get consistent. I do usually drink on the course, but don't take mulligans, except sometimes on the first tee box if I haven't had time to warm up on the driving range. I won't argue with those who make up their own definitions of sports. My son and I are playing in the biggest 2-man best ball in the state this weekend. There is a big Calcutta on Sunday. I'll be a tense s.o.b. this weekend, but wouldn't miss it for anything.
Okay, just read PhiSlammaJamma's last two posts. Man, what are you trying to accomplish? What will it do for your score if you get another 20 or 30 yards off the tee? All that does is take 20 or 20 yards off your fairway shot. Are you that much better hitting the green from 120 that 150? or 80 from 110? or 50 from 80? If you are hitting 260-270, any real improvement in your game (score) is going to come from your short game. No ifs ands or buts. What is your percentage of hitting the green from 150 or less? Do you want to be Francis or Kidd? How often can you get up and down from 40 yards in? If you are truly getting 260-270 off the tee quite consistently, don't mess with your swing. The lowest common denominator to a good golf swing is a repeatable swing. Throw out all other factors and if you can repeatedly do the same thing with a golf club (with no hooks or slices) you're way ahead of about 95% of all golfers. Nail that short game.
Is golf a sport? No doubt that it is. Some who are humiliated on the course attempt to assuage their insecurities by trying to antagonize some golfers by claiming it isn't. It will only antagonize those golfers who care about what the humiliated think.
Stretch and work on your core muscles. This will increase your ability to make a solid balanced back swing that is not over swinging. When I was playing a lot (in college) I could consistently drive the ball 290 in the fairway 75% of the time.
