(no subject)

[apocalypsos]

My grandfather owned a golf course. My mother and most of my uncles are very good golfers. So I think I can blame my DNA when I wonder why the hell there are Olympic medals for table tennis and badminton and none for golf. Amazingly enough, "I have a gold medal in ping pong" is not a good pick-up line and never will be.

Then again, competing in the men's swimming events? Yeah, that works. "I wore a Speedo in front of the entire world and looked good doing it" trumps "I have a gold medal in ping pong", "I ranked number one in the badminton world", and "Want to see my handball trophies?" combined.

Comments

[nute.livejournal.com]

The actual answer! Because golf is so reliant on the individual course, there's no set layout for it as there is for every other sport. All track events are done in identical circumstances, no matter where the Games are held. But golf as an event would completely depend on the terrain of the host country. It could possibly be an exhibition event some year, but it's precluded from being a regular Olympic event.

[tinylegacies.livejournal.com]

Wow - that makes a lot of sense. I saw an interview with one of the athletes this weekend who said they'd like to see golf as an olympic sport and it made me wonder why its not.

Thanks :)

[nadmonk.livejournal.com]

That could be argued for a marathon also, as each course is markedly different (granted this Olypic marathon is real deal), and cycling.

[nute.livejournal.com]

The marathon and cycling, though, are run on a track (velodrome in the case of cycling) that is identical each time.

[nadmonk.livejournal.com]

Marathons are typically run on a road course, and the longer cycling events are run on road courses (even the Tour de France changes its course every year). So they do keep track of record times, but it is more about your results in comparison those you're competing against. (Besides, I don't think anyone wants to run around a field track for 104+ laps to complete a marathon :^) )

[wal-lace.livejournal.com]

Except earlier today I was watching the horse stuff with a cousin who know about horses (she's a teenaged girl, I was waiting for a lift) and she was commenting that the course - the Olympic course - had been made too easy, and the on-screen commentators were backing her up. There's variety in some events, so why not Golf? After all, we're not demanding Olympic records here, just an acknowledgement.

That said, Britain beat Germany at Badminton, and therefore the sport is suddenly alright in my book.

[crantz.livejournal.com]

it used to be a olympic sport, I think. Many many many years ago.

[snellios.livejournal.com]

Badmington and Handball are very respectable sports. They require more skill and better physical fitness than most...hmph.

[snellios.livejournal.com]

I CAN'T EVEN SPELL IT. *headdesk*

[lasarus.livejournal.com]

I was watching the volleyball Olympics the other day. So when they said that they'd like to hear everyone's views, I texted them to say that they should allow Olympic pillow fighting :p

Although I have to admit that 'I have a gold medal in ping pong' isn't a great chat-up line, I don't really think 'I have a gold medal in golf' is much better. But then, I hardly know the difference between them *g*

[wenchamok.livejournal.com]

*whine* But they aren't wearing Speedos!!! They're wearing those big wetsuits that cover EVERYTHING!!! *whine*

[kimera.livejournal.com]

Well, *technically* they're still Speedos ;) but I know what you mean. I have to admit that when I competed, before the full bodysuits became popular, I didn't stick around for the guy's events out of team spirit *snerk*

[wenchamok.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yeah, team spirit wasn't why I managed the boys' swim team in high school either..... :)

[crantz.livejournal.com]

could be worse, could be worse. My dad brags about the time he was a *referee* for a ping-pong competition thing.

Then he wonders why I deny knowing him. Okay, that and the fact he had a afro on his wedding day.