Kevin Petty’s sports column in the Feb. 26 Daily frustrated me to no end. I found his argument about golf not being a sport completely without basis, especially considering the fact that he admitted in the column that his golf experience was limited to playing a few rounds of miniature golf, which although fun, is not really golf. I feel it was very irresponsible of him to make the claim that golf was not a sport when he himself has not tried it.

As a golfer myself, I can say with utmost confidence that golf takes a lot more physical talent than many sports. It is also a sport based in mental abilities as well. I think any good sport combines both of these qualities, and does not have to be limited to a person’s physical strength and agility. To be a good golfer you have to possess many physical qualities that apply to other sports as well. One is hand eye coordination. Anyone who has tried to strike a golf ball with a seven iron, and tried to hit it far will tell you that it is no easy task.

In addition, it takes a lot of physical self-control to perfect your swing to the point that you can strike the ball efficiently and consistently. It takes almost every muscle in your body to hit a golf ball. Your arms, legs, hips, waist, shoulders, torso and even your neck are all involved in a good golf swing.

Anyone telling you that golf is not physically exerting has obviously never gone out and played 18 holes in extreme heat behind four players who are playing so slowly that you make it through a can of Budweiser a hole. Golf is not a sport where you exert all of your energy at once, rest for a few moments, exert some more energy, rest some more, and so on and so forth. Golf is a test of stamina. I know people who won’t play golf anymore because it is too physically trying. They can’t stand standing out in the heat that long trying to put a little ball in a little hole. It is too much for them.

I challenge Mr. Petty to go out to his local golf course this summer and attempt to play 18 holes in 90 degree weather. I’m sure that when he gets to the clubhouse at the end of the course, he will not feel as if he had just been out for a long stroll.

Daniel G. Schroeder

Junior

Political Science