IN DEFENSE OF GOLFERS

Golf is a terrific sport to those of us who golf.  This may be hard to understand for non-golfers.  In fact, some say it isn’t even a sport.

However, Merriam Webster defines a sport as: “A contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other.”  And Dictionary.com specifically lists golf as a sport.

So now that we know golf is indeed a sport, let us look at its virtues.  It’s played in the fresh air – unlike basketball, which is played inside a stifling gymnasium.  It’s a quiet, gentlemen’s sport. No shouting or pushing or shoving like basketball.  And there’s no ball-hogging because everyone uses their own golf ball.

I agree that golf should not take the place of a church service, where we worship God with the congregation.  But we can worship our Creator on the golf course – in the midst of His great and beautiful creation.  We see the trees, the birds and squirrels, the sun and clouds and breeze [and sometimes the raindrops].  After all, we don’t worship the Lord only on Sunday mornings, but every waking hour.

Of course Sundays are important for our psychological well-being. God created the world and all living things in six days, and rested on the seventh.  Then he told us to also rest on the Sabbath day.  Golf is a great way to relax and rest and worship on any day!

The quietness on the tees and fairways and greens is very conducive to relaxation. The special sound of the driver striking the ball in the sweet spot and the gentle drop of the ball onto the center of the green are both heard only in golf.  And the gentle rattle of the ball as it drops into the cup is the most satisfying sound of all.

Unfortunately, as Rob Todor wrote on August 9^th, there are golfers who aren’t aware of good golf etiquette. They’re too loud, their attire is atrocious, they interrupt your tee shot by driving up behind you or crossing the fairway ahead of you, they impatiently hit a ball into your group instead of waiting until you’re safely out of range.  My personal concern is the slow group that won’t let you play through.

But be that as it may, patience with other golfers is part of the gentleman’s game.  We treat other golfers the way we want to be treated on the course.  Thus, I believe golf is the only sport where one can apply the Golden Rule while enjoying the competition and the comradery and God’s wonderful creation.

This was posted by Carl E. Gustafson in The-Review – Alliance OH on 08/17/16.