[skippy, remotely]

i took the "history of sport" in university and i think there were four qualifications to "sport."
i forget them specifically, but remember at least two being "competitiveness" and "athleticism."

Apparently your prof didn't own an English dictionary and was unfamiliar with the etymology and meaning of the word "sport."

The idea that competitiveness or athleticism are involved is modern. The original meaning of sport was simple recreation, i.e. play. The word continues to be used in that sense -- for example, "sport fishing" does not imply that one is fishing competitively or athletically, but that one is fishing for fun rather than for a living.

So the question's moot. Golf is both a sport and a game. People who are trying to say it is not a sport are trying to enforce a restrictive meaning of "sport" that doesn't reflect actual English usage.

[Detrious]

Now you just hang on one minute there!!

Don't you ever EVER accuse me of using correct English!!

And as to the sport/game debate, I would just like to direct you to this site;

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.golfknicker.com/?gclid=CJeo2KXY84gCFQhREgodlQJkHQ">http://www.golfknicker.com/?gclid=CJeo2 ... EgodlQJkHQ</a><!-- m -->

I rest my (slightly shaky) case

D

[GBV]

i took the "history of sport" in university and i think there were four qualifications to "sport."
i forget them specifically, but remember at least two being "competitiveness" and "athleticism."

Apparently your prof didn't own an English dictionary and was unfamiliar with the etymology and meaning of the word "sport."

The idea that competitiveness or athleticism are involved is modern. The original meaning of sport was simple recreation, i.e. play. The word continues to be used in that sense -- for example, "sport fishing" does not imply that one is fishing competitively or athletically, but that one is fishing for fun rather than for a living.

So the question's moot. Golf is both a sport and a game. People who are trying to say it is not a sport are trying to enforce a restrictive meaning of "sport" that doesn't reflect actual English usage.

oh c'mon...then typing this message is a sport. what's the point of the word at all then?

[joshwayy]

As someone who is in the business of golf...I would argue that golf is both. It is a sport when there is both intense competition, and intense physical coordination. Coordination…not condition. Having taught hundreds of beginners the game and having played competitively, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt the best conditioned player with equal coordination (skill) will prevail the majority of the time. Granted- Lumpy is the antithesis of Tigger in terms of his conditioning, but that shows in the money list too. And there is definitely the use of defensive strategy...i.e: Match play (the way the game was invented to be played)

The real difference in this discussion is competitive golf vs. recreational golf. Statistics show that 70% of people who play recreational golf do not have an established handicap and don’t even keep score, and 60% of people consume alcoholic beverages while they play, so while professional golf and even competitive golf on the amateur level is sport, recreational golf is a game.

[GBV]

fair enough, but i think being "in shape" equals "better at" in most endeavors that require movement. two words: john daly.