The following is forwarded not to offend tennis, basketball, football or
soccer fans. It is, rather, an attempt to put everything in its proper
perspective.
Ever wonder why golf is growing in popularity and why people who don't even
play go to tournaments or watch it on TV? These truisms may shed light:
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. If you
bring a soft drink into a ballpark, they'll give you two options -- get rid
of it or leave.
In golf you cannot fail 70% of the time and make $9 million a season, like
the best baseball hitters (.300 batting average) do.
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.
Ladies are welcome players.
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.
Finally, here's a slice of golf history you might enjoy.
Why do full-length golf courses have 18 holes, and not 20, or 10 or an even
dozen? 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 that's my kinda game!!!!!!
