While there are a few seemingly out of shape golfers on the pro tours, the vast majority of professional golfers participate in daily weight training and exercise routines to remain physically fit, just like athletes in other professional sports. The discussion of John Daly presented by Farrand in his article represents an extreme case and Daly’s performance on the tour has deteriorated rapidly in recent years as alcohol has degraded his athletic abilities. Farrand’s comment made about the inability of younger and older individuals to compete together in sports is justified to some extent; however, in many of the major sports there are positions of finesse where older individuals can compete. In football, NFL kickers like Gary Anderson are just as effective today as 20 years ago, while in baseball, pitchers such as Nolan Ryan, along with position players like Rickey Henderson, have competed well into their 40s.

Farrand’s claim that there are no sports where teenage women can compete at the professional level is completely unfounded. Certainly, gymnastics is a perfect example of an Olympic sport where teenage women represent the best individuals in their sport. Additionally, in tennis the younger individuals are often able to rise to the pinnacle of the sport. The equity in skill between males and females is also evident in tennis, as in 1973 Billie Jean King was able to beat Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion. A final sport that convincingly demonstrates the ability of men and women of various ages to compete together at the top level of their sport is auto racing. Drivers ranging from 18 and 50 years of age compete against each other and women such as Sarah Fisher have begun to perform competitively against the male drivers, thereby disproving Farrand’s assumption that any activity where men and women of various ages can compete with one another equally should not be deemed a sport.

A final point of criticism in last weeks article is the inability of Farrand to think of sports in terms of the general public, rather than at the professional level. While Farrand claimed golf was not a sport due to the multi-gendered nature and wide age range of individuals who can play proficiently, in contrast, this fact actually makes golf one of the most valuable sports that one can participate in. The great deal of adjustability found in golf through the use of different tee areas, equipment, and handicapping system, allows different individuals to compete with one another. For all of those who have not yet tried to golf and are still skeptical of the physical talent required to play, I urge you to walk 18 holes some time and experience first hand the amount of skill and athletic prowess required to play the sport of golf.

Sam Lacey