Tag: golf

Why Golf is the Best Hobby

By: Ben McLaurin

Golf is one of the best hobbies as it combines solid physical activity with a significant mental component. Making it enjoyable to hang out with friends and have a good laugh or play a competitive round for money. Golf is a once-in-a-lifetime game and can be played by people of all ages and skill levels. Golf uses balance, coordination, and flexibility, and is good for older people. Walking across the beautiful green landscape and spending hours outdoors is also excellent for your well-being, leading to improved health and reduced stress.

Apart from the physical aspect, golf is also a game of the mind. Each round challenges people, and especially myself, to stay composed after bad shots and not have a snowball effect after one bad shot. The ability to stay calm after missing a putt or the ability to think ahead before a tricky shot helps to acquire patience and discipline—attributes which can be transferred well outside the course. Perseverance is also acquired through the game, with improvement through consistent practice and many rounds of golf.

Socially, golf encourages relationships. Whether played among friends, family, or random people met right before you head out for a round and decide to pair up, business partnerships and long-term friendships have developed on the course, as people are allowed to connect in a relaxed setting.

One of the things that makes golf such a fulfilling activity is that it is available and can be played in all countries, unlike many other sports. From small neighborhood courses to famous championship courses, it is easy to play almost anywhere. Technology has even branched out the activity into virtual golf simulators and online competitions. Golf is the perfect combination of relaxation. It’s a sport that calms the body, forces laser focus from the mind, and strengthens social bonds. While enabling players to work with what nature gives them on the course, from bad lies to perfect gaps between trees. These are qualities that make golf more than a hobby. It is a passion and one of the best hobbies anyone can experience.

Rating Golf Courses: Lakewood

By: Milling Galloway

The Links at Lakewood is a golf course located in Sumter, South Carolina. I will be giving my full opinion and rating of this course. Many people play this golf course. I have played this golf course many times as well. It stands out to me with its beautiful scenery. Even though it has great views, the courses does not stay in great condition. The greens at Lakewood are very friendly toward the golfers and have a nice calm tempo. The fairways are where this course does not shine. The grass most of the time is not cut and many times there are obstacles in the fairways. The hole that I want to highlight is the 13th. This in my opinion is the hardest hole in the course, you have to hit a good shot over the lake. The distance is around 100 to 150 yards, depending on what Tee Box you play from. The thing that stands out about this whole is the scenery. When you first step on the Tee Box, you see the vast Lake all around you. When you step onto the green, you also only see the vast Lake around you. When you play at this course it is clear to see that this is a beginner’s course, for people who enjoy playing golf. I am new to golf,  so playing this course is a great way to get better. If you are an advanced player, then this course is not for you. On a scale, I will rate this course a 6.5 out of 10. To me, Lakewood is not a top-tier golf course. Yes, I would play this course for fun, but if I could go to another golf course I would. To conclude, I like the golf course, but its just not a high value golf course.

Is Basketball or Golf a more enjoyable sport?

By: Clark Kinney

Golf and basketball are both sports I like to participate in, but I do not play on the teams for either of them at Wilson Hall. I played basketball growing up and all the way up until high school where I made the decision to put an end to my basketball career. My brothers and parents all played basketball and my dad actually was the head basketball coach at Sumter High School and won a State Championship there in 1985. Basketball definitely runs in the family; however, Golf also runs in the family. My grandma won the South Carolina Women’s Ametuer Championship and my older brother, William plays very often and is quite good. I also really enjoy golf to the point that if golf season wasn’t the same season of baseball, I would be on the team. 

Overall, watching basketball is entertaining for me, but I think you can definitely tell that the players aren’t always giving 100% effort which makes it more boring as a fan in my opinion. The NBA regular season is pretty much garbage to me because no defense is played and the players do not seem to care all that much. NBA playoffs, college basketball, and high school basketball are all fun to watch and entertaining. I find golf entertaining to watch at times. The 4 majors and very exciting and I could watch those for hours. There are also some regular PGA Tour events that are exciting like but most of them are only entertaining during the final round on Sunday.

Playing pickup basketball with your friends is very, very fun and a very good workout. One of my favorite parts of the year is on Christmas break heading up to the Sumter YMCA to play pickup basketball almost everyday. The atmosphere in high school basketball games is crazy with fans that feel like they are on top of you and student-sections chanting for their team. Despite this, I still think pickup games are more fun in my opinion, sorry Coach Rip :). Although the atmospheres aren’t the same, Golf is very entertaining to play also. The thing about golf is that people can love it and play it with their best friends for their entire life which is unique. Golf is also very addicting. You finish a round and think about what if the ball would have bounced this way or what if I would have hit this club and it just makes you want to go play again. 

Due to the more consistent entertainment and longevity of the entertainment I think Golf is a more entertaining sport overall. I do think basketball has its very entertaining moments though.

Is Baseball or Golf a more enjoyable sport?

By: Clark Kinney

Baseball and golf are two of my favorite sports to play, practice, and even watch. Both sports run in my family so I have been around them my entire life. Whether it be Tiger Woods sinking a putt to clinch a victory on the last hole or Bryce Harper sending a baseball into orbit for the walk off win, I just find both sports so enjoyable. While there are pros and cons to each, I believe one sports edges out the other in its overall enjoyableness (definitely not a real word but you get the point).

Baseball is America’s pastime. People love going to the ballpark, grabbing a hot dog and a soda, and watching some good, old fashioned baseball. Baseball can sometimes be a little slow to watch, but most of the time it is very entertaining in my opinion. Now from a playing standpoint, baseball is a little different from other sports. In order to enjoy playing baseball, people have to learn how to enjoy failing. I know it sounds crazy but it is true. Hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in all of sports, so if you play baseball, you will fail. You will be in the Baseball Hall of Fame if you fail seventy percent of the time you step in the batter’s box. While you cannot play baseball forever, you will remember the memories you made while playing and the lessons you learned for a lifetime. 

Golf is flat out addicting. There is a usual snowball effect when getting into golf. First, someone plays golf and they find out that golf is harder than they thought it was and they are not as good as they thought they were, so they proceed to go out and practice. Next, they understand how good the professionals are and appreciate how good they are so they start watching more golf tournaments on TV. After practicing some more, they get better, their scores start to drop, and that just makes them want to practice and play even more. They then find a group they enjoy playing with, start playing with them at the local course, and they have little matches and so on and so on. People never stop playing golf until they physically cannot swing a golf club anymore.

This may surprise some people, but I think golf is a more enjoyable sport for a lifetime. Baseball is better now but in 30 years I do not think I will agree. Golf will be fun forever.