When you imagine a sport, your mind should conjure up the mental image of athleticism, valor, and unique gifted physical abilities. A competitor of a sport should have some semblance of physical prowess and capability to excel and be considered an athlete. Does Golf fit this description? Not in my opinion.
No doubt, some professional golfers can be categorized as being physically fit - even exceptionally so. They will train themselves and try to improve their fitness in order to outlast their opponents, but by nature golf isn't too physical nor is it overly demanding. But do they HAVE to be fit to play this game and excel? Not really. As long as they have enough endurance to walk for a few hours, that seems to be the extent of the physical requirements. Even then, that's what golf carts were invented for right? To take the muscle out of the walking part of golf.
No, I would imagine that golf should be considered more of a game. It's probably fun, and it obviously involves a certain amount of skill to make it to the professional level. But really, it's more about repetitive skill than being a true athlete. Kind of like pool, or bowling (no, bowling is not a sport).
Now I'm sure there are some golfers who will take offense to this; but you have to stop and reflect that to really participate in this game you don't have to have any physical fitness. As long as you have the strength to hit the ball, and the skill to do it accurately, you're pretty much set. Compare this to other true sports like basketball, swimming, tennis, etc. which require a high level of competitiveness that reaches the extremes of physical conditioning. The bodies are pushed beyond the limits of physical endurance, and this is what set's one competitor above another. And this is in addition to skill!
So I guess I don't see this physical aspect of golf - I just think of it as a game, not really a sport.
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