Why I love golf.

[BowmanvilleJim]

There are a number of reasons but one of the big ones is that there is no cheating. Yes, a player could cheat when no one is watching but most don't. Other sports actually encourage cheating and it's considered part of the game and I don't like that.

As a parent and as a coach I spend a lot of time trying to teach the kids that we play with heart and sportsmanship and it is disappointing that so many sports teach kids that you can and should cheat to get ahead.

Kids take those lessons and apply them in other areas of their lives. Just look around you. How many people think it's ok to cheat on their taxes, take things from work or keep the money when the cashier gives you back to much change.

Ok, my rant is done.

[Bellyhungry]

There are a number of reasons but one of the big ones is that there is no cheating. Yes, a player could cheat when no one is watching but most don't. Other sports actually encourage cheating and it's considered part of the game and I don't like that.

As a parent and as a coach I spend a lot of time trying to teach the kids that we play with heart and sportsmanship and it is disappointing that so many sports teach kids that you can and should cheat to get ahead.

Kids take those lessons and apply them in other areas of their lives. Just look around you. How many people think it's ok to cheat on their taxes, take things from work or keep the money when the cashier gives you back to much change.

Ok, my rant is done.

Do you work for the government or the public sector?

[caddishack]

most don't is probably correct, however I would call it bending the rules. 4' gimmies / grounding clubs in bunkers / bettering lies in sandor rough / the list is endless. Is it cheating? I guess it depends if your playing for money.. Years ago me and my buddies had a rule that you were allowed one mulligan per 9.

[BowmanvilleJim]

Do you work for the government or the public sector?
What difference does it make?

[Bellyhungry]

What difference does it make?

Answer the question! Damn it! :D

OK OK...I actually forget why I even ask that question. I suppose I meant to type 'government or PRIVATE sector'. But it doesn't matter now because I don't even remember why. Kids, this is what sun and heat would do to you without hat and sunscreen outside.

[Zuggy]

Hi,
Here are my two cents.

If you have to cheat, then you believe that your not good enough to make the shot. If your not good enough to make the shot, then you deserve the stoke. If you deserve the stroke, then your handicap should change.

[cdnputter]

I love the game because it's only me against the ball and the conditions of the course. It's a contact sport for 70-90 minutes and the rest should be a nice walk on a manicured property.

[swansong]

Not to get off topic...but you had a rant, so I'll have one too :) If golf is such an honest endeavor persued by honest people...why in the world do you have to let someone else keep your score during tour events like you're some sort of dishonest cheater?

I've never understood that.

Golf prides itself on the honesty of it's players to call penalties on themselves...but they aren't honest enough to keep their own score??

And as far as "cheating" on taxes or not giving back extra change...
When the gov stops pissing our money away on useless shite and stops lying to us, and WalMart and other corps start leaving some of their money in my community instead of shipping it all out of the country and not selling products created in countries that use child labour, and start paying their workers a living wage, then I'll start being a little more honest with them.
If I get back too much change from a locally owned business I will always give it back.

Hell...if I was a church goer I would snag cash out of the thing they collect donations in. If the Catholic church can come up with 600,000,000.00 dollars to buy their way out of a class action sexual abuse suit surely they have enough money already.

Rant over...

Back on topic... I love golf (and I don't toss the "L" word around haphazzardly) because it is, by far, the most humbling thing I do. No matter how full of myself I am I can head out to the course and be reminded that I am only human.
And it really is a good feeling to be honest when no one is there to see you. And isn't that when integrity means the most...when no one is there to see it?

[Hacksaw]

I love the game because it's only me against the ball and the conditions of the course. It's a contact sport for 70-90 minutes...

Seconds? One per stroke?

[cdnputter]

Seconds? One per stroke?

Let's say one minute per stroke. :D

And that includes pre-shot routine. :rofl::rofl::rofl: