Golf is a Sport for More Than Country-Club Goers
When society thinks of fall sports, we seem to always think of football. But many sports, including volleyball and soccer, play during the fall.
Flipping through the channels this past weekend, I came upon the Ryder Cup. Golf has always been of interest to me, and I feel it should be of more prominence in America.
The Ryder Cup is not only the last major golf event this year, but it is one that should make Americans feel a sense of pride in our country.
This year’s venue was the Medinah Country Club just outside of Chicago, Ill. The Ryder Cup brings together the best players from the USA and Europe alike, each hoping to add to their legacy as golfers.
Tiger Woods is the most iconic golf figure of our generation, and I hope he can get back to his domination of the field each week.
Up-and-comer Rory McIlroy was also in the field and is viewed by many to be the heir to Tiger’s long reign. Golf is a very hard and competitive sport, and right now these two men seem to be the faces in the spotlight of the game.
Who honestly could say they don’t at least enjoy to watch golf every now and then?
Sure, everyone doesn’t enjoy playing, but almost everyone can enjoy the final holes of a match on Sunday afternoons.
The Ryder Cup was a very patriotic event over the past weekend. Appearances by former President George W. Bush, Michael Jordan and thousands of enthusiastic fans chanting “USA” was quite a scene. We would associate cheering with football or basketball games, but not golf, right?
Many factors may contribute to why golf isn’t more prominent in our nation. This could be due to the price to play, slow pace of the game or even the amount of time it takes to be good.
Golf is a sport that many people play, but it doesn’t get the national exposure that perhaps it should. Maybe people should put more time and effort into fantasy golf instead of football (like that is going to happen).
I know golf is unlikely to take over as the sport that captures the nation, but I believe it does deserve a greater interest. Golf is a game that almost everyone can at least play and should be easy for us to relate to in our real lives. Not everyone has the ability to watch a game of football and then go and play it the next day. Golf is very accessible and available for everyone to participate in.
It’s funny how something as simple as flipping through the television channels can spark a person’s interest in a topic. Seeing all of the greatest players in the world together competing for their country was a great sight.
Watching the gallery at Medinah wildly chanting for the Americans and rooting for the worst for Europe would almost give a person chills. Golf may not be the most heralded sport in America, but it should receive more consideration.
Zach Wheeler is a staff writer for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Tuesday. Follow the sports section: @UATravSports.
