I think Mark Twain had it right when he described golf as a good walk spoiled.
I think Mark Twain had it right when he described golf as a good walk spoiled.
F1, the Tour de France and cricket are sports dominated by strategy and tactics and if you do not follow them closely enough to understand what is going on then you will find them confusing and boring.
As an example from yesterday's F1 race, Button started in 8th, got up into the lead after a few laps but then dropped back and finished 5th. From the perspective of a casual viewer, that is confusing. If he was fast enough to get into the lead, why did he do so badly in qualification that he only started in 8th? If he could go from 8th to first why did he then drop back behind drivers he had alread passed?
If you were a fan you would realise that his team knew that their car was slow and so they decided to opt for a contrary strategy that would have him start behind the other top drivers and give him a chance to get up into the lead early on and then hope that he would subsequently be passed by fewer people than he had passed in the first phase of the race. You would also spot the neat tactical ploy of puling his team mate into the pits after half of the race and sending him back with soft tyres to see how fast they were and how long they lasted so that they would know the best time to give those tyres to Button. You would see many such ploys play out with the top tems in an F1 race and that is what appeals to the fans of that category of sport.
A decent amateur athlete could never run 100m in Usain Bolt time.
He couldn't drift past 4 top flight defenders like Messi.
He couldn't take on Tyson.
But an enthusiastic amateur golfer can play the same course as the pros, and could also hit an approach shot, or putt, maybe even a drive, better than he watched a pro do it a week earlier. That one shot, likely out of a round of 80 - 90 poor shots, is the one he'll remember. That's what gets him hooked, and brings him back out there next week.
I'm not a golf fan myself.
Davidgolf (14-04-13)
I'm an F1 fan and agree with what you just said, but to be honest it's this very reason that I'm becoming bored with it. Motor sport should be about the racing. Now it's all about strategy. Makes me switch the channel to be honest, especially with team orders! Don't need to mention the Red Bull scenario there last week or 2 weeks ago.
ladiesman217: April 2009 to April 2024
Goodbye
sharkskin (15-04-13)
Donmor (17-04-13)
I don't get golf I really don't, mostly people clap because of 5ft putts for a par.
Love a sunny evening though and falling asleep in the chair listening to it.
Formula1 OMFG I LOVE LOVE the technical aspect of it, when ITV had the coverage they used to really get into the technical side if it
Well done Fernando for today winning !!!!!
Well done Hamilton for defending well from Vettel & keeping the 3rd position!!!!!
Fuck you Red Bull for messing with Webber !!!!
l think if someone loves speed, danger as well as angles turns and curves then golf and Formula1 do have so much in common, myself l love both..
"
.. A Woman could be happy with any Man as long as she does not Marry him..""
mer (17-04-13)
La Toya (17-04-13)