By Jordan FarrI resisted learning golf for years because of a preconceived notion. It's a notion that's rather widespread, but... I eventually found out... totally erroneous. It's the notion that golf is boring.
If you google "golf is boring" you'll come up with aproximately 160,000 results. There are Facebook groups and YouTube videos entitled "Golf is Boring". Yes, I'm afraid it's a pretty popular notion.
Golf is defined as: "a game played on a large open course with 9 or 18 holes; the object is use as few strokes as possible in playing all the holes" ...while the definition of boring is: "so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness". ~ Now... after just a few lessons, a primer on golf etiquette and a couple of forays onto a local par three... there's no way I see a connection between those two definitions.
I think most of those who say “golf is boring” don't actually understand the game, but are making assumptions based on two things: how easy the professionals make the the game look vs. how difficult the game actually is.
People watch televised PGA and LPGA tournaments and consistently see tee shots that soar and putts that roll in from afar. {Yawn}. Announcers speak in hushed tones and the golf clap is soft and civilized. Then those same people then decide to try the game... because after all it looks so easy. And of course, nothing works. ~ Golf IS tedious when your tee shots repeatedly sputter and even your short putts miss cup.What's true is that golf is a mental game as much as a physical one, and yes, some might consider golfers to be... mathletes... the nerds of the sports world. In order to see the fun and fascination in the game of golf one has to dig just a bit deeper... get to know the nuances of the game, the functionality of the equipment, the shaping of shots and the strategies that will eventually lead to those elusive birdies.
That's what I'm discovering now and it's anything but boring... in fact, it's actually pretty awesome. ~ So what about you? Do you think golf is boring?
Photos: Maria Verchenova via Chicago Sun-Times / Strategy diagram via ProGolfer Digest
Challenging, yes. Infuriating, often. Boring, never!
ReplyDeleteI'm part of the choir, but golf is far from boring. As far as playing, it's the most challenging sport I've participated in. (That's from someone who also loved and lettered in basketball.)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're enjoying it, Jordan. Welcome to the club.
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ReplyDeleteas ONLY BORING PEOPLE GET BORED, my response to, "golf is boring" is to agree, and then do everything i can to pursuade that person NEVER to show up on a course, especially one that i might be playing on
saving golf one dolt at a time
anyway be well
frankD
ftliquordale FLA
Armchair is right. Other than hitting a round baseball with a round bat, golf is the most difficult skill/game/sport to get really good at.
ReplyDeleteWhether during my playing days or watching, golf is not boring at all to me. I watch more hockey and golf than anything (yes- I know- that sounds a little odd.)
I love watching golf almost as much as I like playing. But I agree that those who don't know anything about it will probably find it boring. That's the same with any sport though, definitely baseball.
ReplyDeleteThough I don't play golf myself... tennis is my sport... I do enjoy watching it, in fact, given the choice I'd prefer to spend a summer day at a golf tournament than a tennis tournament.
ReplyDeleteYou're right golf growl. I am a big hockey fan, but it is a difficult game to follow on TV unless you know it well and anticipate where the puck is going. A casual hockey will many times find hockey boring on the tube.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post--I had that expereince but several women gave me the best advice: take a few lessons. Frustration gone and boredom gone--I had my own direction and my own goals. Its been two years and I love golf now.
ReplyDeleteDiane at
www.neverupneverinLove.blogspot.com
Useful information , great post . Thanks for sharing !!
ReplyDelete