Golf, A Game or a Sport?

That's the question.

Depending on who you are and how you think, you could answer either way and probably be right. Don't believe me? Well, let's look at both separately.

What is a game?

Most people look at a game as an activity of some sort that is a fun an enjoyable experience to share with others so something like that anyway...right. Disagree? Comment!

Here is the actual definition of a game:
a competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators

Interesting...the definition almost sounds like a sport.

Now, what's a sport?

I would say a sport is something definitely competitive and requires athletic performance. By athletic performance, I'm talking about a level of performance that not everyone can just decide to get off the couch one day and poof they're an athlete. I'm talking about athletic training, endurance, agility, etc.

Let's see what the actual definition of a sport is:
an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

Ha ha...even more interesting. Golf is one of the activities actually listed in the definition itself.

I've always leaned more on the side of golf being a game rather than a sport. But....but...I would have to say that it does take an element of physical prowess referred to in the sport definition. And you do see the pros go through some athletic training and injuries and recovery from playing their "game". It's not a clear cut case I don't think.

What do you think?