The Beckett Blog

OK, it’s not official, but it is my opinion and I think the list below will leave NO room for argument.

1. The sport is played with some proficiency by both genders from 5-105. What other game can match that? Tennis? Maybe. Baseball, football, basketball, hockey, bull riding, skiing? Nope to all. I have played golf this year with my 88 year old Dad.

2. The history is unmatched. Golf has been played since the 1400’s. In fact, anyone can still play the Old Course at St. Andrews, where golf began. I have played it and it is a spectacular experience. even the romance of baseball can not compare.

3. You can play the game on the same courses Tiger, Phil, Jack and Arnie compete at the highest level. I have played on seven different courses where U.S.G.A, PGA and the British Open have been contested. I have played at least another dozen courses that host or have hosted PGA TOUR events. When was the last time you played a game at Yankee Stadium, the Boston Garden or the Rose Bowl. How many pick up games do you think will be played at Jerryville Over Texas once it opens? I know high school playoff and bowl games are played in the venues occasionally, but you can’t decide you want to play there with your buddies any day the place is open.

4. No other sport has created a uniform so widely accepted and woven into our society as proper attire. The baseball cap may be the single greatest sports-related apparel item. However, the golf shirt can be worn for almost any occasion, when you accessorize properly . Golf gets the edge due to it’s complete line-up of stylish caps, sweaters, jackets, golf slacks and shorts. Try wearing a football uniform to church, a wedding or funeral. No don’t.

5. Perfection can be reached on a given hole. The hole-in-one is the most difficult, yet attainable, achievement in any individual sport. The feat can be equaled but never beaten, even by Tiger. Mary Lou Retton’s vault? A perfect 10, but subjective. A 300 game? No wind, flat surface, dimensions of the “playing field” are all the same. One punch KO? I think he took a dive.

6. A golf course is a legitimate place to conduct business on company time. Sure, you can take a customer to a baseball, basketball, football or hockey game. But most o these are played at night. You can golf with a client, DURING work hours!!

7. More pro athletes would aspire to be golfers than any other sport. This only says that the premier athletes strive to be a good golfer. And it can be very humbling. Dave Winfield is one of the greatest athletes of the last 100 years. I played with him in a tournament. He couldn’t break 100 from the ladies tees. It can be a very humbling sport.

8. Size doesn’t matter. What? D-FW is home to relative Punch & Judy hitters Cory Pavin, Justin Leonard, Lanny Wadkins and Mark Brooks. They compete every day against bigger and stronger golfers on the TOUR. But each has won a professional major championship.

9. Each golf course is unique. Golf courses around the world are some of the most beautiful tracks of land on earth.

10. Cart girls.

 Most importantly, but not on the list. Golf is the only sport I am good at anymore.