Over the past two months I’ve had the pleasure of talking golf with family and friends. One debate that always comes up is whether or not golf is a true sport.
I argue yes, but with an asterisk. A sport is defined as a competitive physical activity. To that extent, bowling is a sport, as is horse racing, although I have little respect for the “athletes” of those sports relative to, say, a rugby or hockey player.
But golf is sort of stuck in the past for the way people outside of the sport think about it. Golf still has this reputation that you needn’t be fit to play. I think this still holds true, but at a pro level it’s imperative to be in top physical condition. One also needs to be more emotionally and mentally stable (which comes with good health) to get that extra edge. Of course, with that said, only in golf and a few other “sports” can one drink beer and improve one’s game. So, I think golf is still a quasi sport, but the days of John Daly are over.
I think it would benefit the game if golfers, such as Daly, were afforded more personality on the course. The days of old golf etiquette need to come to an end. I’m not talking about doing away with silence on the tee box and such, but there still persists an archaic flavour to the game that even the likes of youngsters Ricky Fowler or Rory McIlroy can’t shake. The custodians of golf need to engage youth better and there needs to be more edge to the sport.
Nicknames keep the game fun
As I play the Richmond Country Club more I am beginning to learn some of the colloquial terms that get bandied about. For instance, head pro Mark Strong noted the three tall firs halfway down the third fairway are known as “the sisters.”
Apparently, they pose a lot of problems for people, but I love a good drive right over them, as I’m a lefty.
I’d like to introduce two new terms. Members can take them or leave them; I’m just throwing them out there:
A cabbage ball — This is an out of bounds shot into the farm field, where cabbage is grown.
Hungry Hank — Hungry Hank is the term I use for a relatively young sequoia tree that pokes out on the 18th fairway. I have a tendency to hit Hungry Hank a lot so he’s known to eat my balls.
I’m sure I’ll think of some more sayings over the summer and I’m eager to learn some more established favourites.
Richmond’s two executives offer short game help
The other day I golfed at Mylora public golf course, a par-57 executive class that’s good for your mid- and short-range games. The course isn’t a standout but it’s excellent value for what you pay and there’s a brilliant sunny patio for a post-game snack. Country Meadows’ executive course is another good choice for short game practice before summer and it too has a patio.
Don’t ignore ball choice
Golf balls. You probably have a mish-mash of them in your bag or you scramble to find a few here and there before rushing out for a casual game. I didn’t realize how complicated the choices can be if you’re an advanced golfer.
Ball dimples can alter flight trajectory, the cover offers different feels (hard or soft) and the core can provide different spins.
While you can research the choices at home, I’ll present three economical options next week.
