Why Golf is Popular


 Ever wonder why golf is growing in popularity and
 people who don't even play go to tournaments or watch
 it on TV? These truisms may shed light on reasons why.

 Golf is an honorable game, with the overwhelming
 majority of players being honorable people who don't
 need referees.

 Golfers don't have some of their players in jail every
 week.

 Golfers don't scratch their privates on the golf
 course.

 Golfers don't kick dirt on, or throw bottles at, other
 people.

 Professional golfers are compensated in direct
 proportion to how well they play.

 Golfers don't get per diem and two seats on a charter
 flight when they travel between tournaments.

 Golfers don't hold out for more money, or demand new
 contracts, because of another player's deal.

 Professional golfers don't demand that the taxpayers
 pay for the courses on which they play.

 When golfers make a mistake, nobody is there to cover
 for them or back them up

 The PGA Tour raises more money for charity in one year
 than the National Football League does in two.

 You can watch the best golfers in the world up close,
 at any tournament, including the majors, all day,
 every day for $25 or $30. The cost for a seat in the
 nosebleed section at the Super Bowl will cost around
 $300 or more.

 You can bring a picnic lunch to the tournament golf
 course, watch the best in the world and not spend a
 small fortune on food and drink. Try that at one of
 the taxpayer funded baseball or football stadiums. I
 brought a Coke into Oriole Park at Camden Yards last
 year, and an usher came to my seat and told me I had
 to dispose of it, or I would not be allowed to stay in
 the stadium.

 In golf you cannot fail 70% of the time and make $9
 million a season, like the best baseball hitters (.300 batting average)
o.

 Golf doesn't change its rules to attract Fans.

 Golfers have to adapt to an entirely new playing area
 each week.

 Golfers keep their clothes on while they are being
 interviewed.

 Golf doesn't have free agency.

 In their prime, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and other
 stars, would shake your hand and say they were happy
 to meet you. In his prime Jose Canseco wore T-shirts
 that read "Leave Me Alone."

 You can hear birds chirping on the golf course during
 a tournament.


 At a golf tournament, (unlike at taxpayer-funded
 sports stadiums and arenas) you won't hear a steady
 stream of four letter words and nasty name calling
 while you're hoping that no one spills beer on you.

 Tiger Woods can hit a golf ball three times as far as
 Barry Bonds can hit a baseball.

 Golf Courses don't ruin the neighborhood.

 This is a slice of golf history I thought you might
 enjoy. I never knew Why there were 18 holes before
 this. Why do full-length golf courses have 18 holes,
 and not 20, or 10 or an even dozen? How many of you
 golfers know the answer to this one?

 During a discussion among the club's membership board
 at St. Andrews in 1858, one of the members pointed out
 that it takes exactly 18 shots to polish off a fifth
 of Scotch. By limiting himself to only one shot of
 Scotch per hole, the Scot figured a round of golf was
 finished when the Scotch ran out.

 Now you know.

Golfhappy welcomes additions to this page...  email golfhappy