Golf
Is Golf Really a Sport? Here's the Full Explanation
By most conventional definitions, golf is indeed a sport. It requires physical skill, precision, endurance, and mental focus.
Tiger Woods and John Daly//Getty Images
Crucially, golf is played at the Olympics, which is a gathering of the sporting elite across the world every four years. This is a sure sign that officially, golf can be considered a sport.
Some golfers have succeeded at the sport without being in top physical condition, but the game of golf nevertheless meets the dictionary definition of a sport and the best players tend to be in good shape.
What is the Definition of a Sport?
As per The Britannica Dictionary, a sport is “a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other.”
By this definition, golf is certainly a sport.
Succeeding at golf may not require one to be the fastest athlete, but the game requires strength and hand-eye co-ordination which take serious practice to master.
What Physical Training is Required to Succeed at Golf?
In order to gain a competitive edge over their rivals, the top golfers put plenty of energy into improving their physical condition.
In an interview with the Golf Channel, Tiger Woods – the most successful golfer of the modern era – said: “I used to get up in the morning, run four miles. Then I’d go to the gym, do my lift. Then I’d hit balls for two to three hours. I’d go play, come back, work on my short game. I’d go run another four more miles, and then if anyone wanted to play basketball or tennis, I would go play basketball or tennis. That was a daily routine. I’m not doing any of that now.”
This gives some context on one of many reasons why golf is considered a sport – while some may have some success without being particularly athletic, the vast majority of great players have to work very hard on their bodies.
Golf was played at the 1900 and 1904 Olympics, then banned until it made a comeback at Rio 2016.
How Did Some Golfers Succeed Without Being Physically Fit?
Like many sports, golf has undergone a cultural overhaul in recent years.
In the past, physical training was not viewed as a necessary part of the life of a professional golfer.
Famously, John Daly was one of the best golfers in the world while looking notably out-of-shape. Daly, however, was in part a product of his time.
In fairness, Gary Player had already changed some mindsets about the links between the game of golf and physical fitness before Tiger Woods came along. However, according to trainer Joey Diovisalvi, Woods was the one who changed perceptions of physical fitness within the sport more than any other golfer.
Gary Player of South Africa//Getty Images
“Tiger moved the needle at the greatest level I’ve ever seen, to this day. He became so dominant, and then he took fitness to a whole other level himself,” Diovisalvi told the New York Post. “And then the world goes, ‘Holy crap. It’s OK to train for golf.’ ”
In the modern era, Diovisalvi has played a role in shaping the careers of the likes of Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka.
Leonard Solms is a freelance journalist who has been covering local and international sport from South Africa since 2015. Best known for his work for ESPN, he has also written for Al Jazeera, The Continent, New Frame, Planet Rugby and GiveMeSport among several other publications.