Golf has its share of image issues... there's no denying that. ~ It's often thought of as elitist and exclusionary, because at one point in history, it clearly was. In addition, there's the popular perception that it's excruciatingly boring... and for those who haven't played... who don't know a thing about it... I suppose it is quite boring. There are even some who question golf's very status as a sport. ~ And the oversize midsections on a number of today's tour players are often sited as proof... proof that golf is no more than a game, like darts... or maybe Monopoly.
After all, they say, "if golf were a sport, men so out-of-shape as... say Tim Heron, or Guy Boros... or Northern Ireland's Shane Lowery, could never have won a competition... not to mention several.
Passionate golfers naturally don't like the idea of their sport's credibility being questioned and it's sometimes suggested that these hefty hitters are to blame... and that these men would be well advised to lose some poundage for the sake of golf's good name. Either that or they should just bow out... leave the game.
A couple of days ago when PGA Tour champion and British Open winner, Mark Calcavecchia announced that the time had come for him to move on to the Champions Tour, there was a bit of a brouhaha at the popular golf blog, Wei Under Par when enterprising editor Stephanie Wei suggested it was high time the corpulent Mr. Calcavecchia retired and stopped reinforcing golf's reputation as an activity where the elderly and elephantine could excel. Ms. Wei wrote the post with the same sarcastic wit she's known... and loved... for, but clearly this topic hit a bit too close to home for some readers, and the comments were quite... um,
So the question is definitely an interesting one: Are portly players bad for golf? Do they, as Steph suggests, "give naysayers extra ammo to mock golf as a sport"?
I'm all for mocking golfers, but there's something about the tone of Stephanie's articles (especially her latest one on Calc) that really grinds my gears...
ReplyDeleteAll the negative comments I read at Steph's blog were from (overweight?) men. Apparently women who blog can write opinions as long as no white guy toes are crushed. I'm offended by Steph's back peddling.
ReplyDeleteFolks obviously love Steph's style or she wouldn't have so many readers--or comments. I think it's interesting that the readers are okay by sarcasm on numerous other topics, but this one was an issue.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I've always enjoyed watching Mr. Calcavecchia and don't agree that golfers have to be thin. Clearly his record proves that.
I've said this a thousand times, but I'll say it again. I LOVE that golfers come in all different sizes and shapes. It's a sport that anyone can play. Any golfer who has been involved in a golf competition knows it's a sport. The suggestion that it's not is as silly as saying women need to wear golf skirts that reach their knees, IMHO.
It's funny, I've had readers and followers on twitter repeatedly suggest I GAIN weight to play better.
Golf would be considered a sport if someone was hitting a ball back at you.
ReplyDeleteso the ignorance has spread - how sad.
ReplyDeletethe reason Calc is still on the PGA Tour is because he EARNED it. You don't pass an appearance test to get your card - you have to play great golf.
god help any of you if/when some guy rejects you for something based on your looks. you women scream and cry (or worse - send money to crackpots like Martha Burk)
"bad for golf" - ignorance is bad for everything
There seems to be something of a gender divide on this issue, not to mention the generational one. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI've played my fair share of guys that were bigger around the waist than me and could, for lack of a better term, kick my ass up and down the links.
ReplyDeleteAs a portly fellow, Craig Stadler, once said so brilliantly to a young guy talking about his college accolades, "Just so you know, nobody here gives a damn if you're an All-American, or if you even to college at all. All anybody here here wants to know ... can you play stick."
I think that quote applies for your pant size as well. I'd pay a ton of money to be 40 pounds overweight and be able to post 67 every round.
Well said, Shane.
ReplyDeleteLangston - the only reason there is a gender divide is because if someone (a man) points out a Christina Kim or Laura Davies, he is immediately labeled a "woman hater" who is mean and nasty and shouldn't be allowed to live on this planet. (lol)
Diane... don't forget, Steph's comments would affect players like Laura Davies as well. (And it's no secret I'm a Davies fan!)
ReplyDeleteAs an older guy who isn't overweight, Steph's comments bugged me a bit for the same reason that the "golf isn't a sport" guys bug me. Nobody says baseball isn't a sport, even though those guys spend half the game sitting on the bench and a lot of the rest of the game standing motionless in the field. Nobody says football isn't a sport just because some of the linemen are well over 300 lbs and just plain fat. In each case, the players have certain skills that they use to play the sport.
The big men (and women) of golf have skills and strength, both of which help them compete. They're on their feet for four or more hours, covering three to four miles, so they have some endurance as well. Maybe we've all become too concerned about what other people think about how golfers look, rather than about the game. Since most of those critics have never even tried the game (heck, a lot of 'em never leave their couch), I tend to ignore them.
Whenever the "golf isn't a sport" thing comes up, I like to point out that, according to the Olympic Committee, ping pong is a sport. It involves skill and lightning-fast reflexes. So maybe there's a bit more to sport than just running around.
Thought I would weigh in. Umm. Anyway- as with most guys who are 65, my washboard abs have been replaced by washtub abs. But I'm not too bad. I could definitely lose a bit around the middle.
ReplyDeleteI don't burn too many calories and I eat a good amount. Yet my weight is stabilized. Golfers burn a lot of calories during a day. How many calories do they ingest? If you perform in the public eye, I think you should care at least a bit about your appearance.
With SW, we were joking a bit about Guy Boros' size. His Dad carried a few extra pounds ( not anywhere near his son) but always looked "natty." I guess I'm dating myself with that term. I would think a public figure and athlete would care a bit about public appearance and also health.
the fat men are killing the tour
ReplyDeleteLet the "PORTLY" live the dream!! :)
ReplyDeleteIf there is a concern about the image and perceived exclusivity of golf why on earth suggest that a way forward is to promote the idea it's only for the beautiful people.
ReplyDeleteThe very fact that all shapes and sizes can produce great golf should be something to celebrate.
i can see where someone would post an inflamatory opinion to direct interest to themselves - yes i get that
ReplyDeletewhat is BAD for GOLF today is SLOW PACE OF PLAY - wake up people of all sizes and pick up the pace !!!
anyway good luck to Stephanie and as for Calc i hope to see you once again at Tiburon/Naples this coming november
frankD
ft lauderdale
the real story here is - what does one say when they have nothing else to say ?
ReplyDeletei do not sense stephanie to have purposely directed her initial comment regarding calc as anything other than comical, but she now has learned there is nothing more serious than a joke that doesnt go over
and as a history student apparently forgot the greek festival Dionysia and plays showing us that fine line between comedy and tragedy
even more unforgivable is her failure to give a shout-out to the goombahs of wooster street in her reunion in new haven
however i did learn something from her series on "know your asians" which may come in handy separating north and south korea players
and i attribute her constant attack of TW with the fact she couldn't get into either stanford or ASU and had to settle for yale, not that i blame her for that
anyway such are the limitations of linear non-contemporaneous discussion boards
frankD
ft lauderdale
princeton '81