More People Play Tennis than Golf?

[TennisDawg]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

What's amusing is that they talk about people playing tennis 21 times a year. So, less than twice a month? By that definition, even my husband qualifies as a tennis player!

Honestly, I don't know if it would be any fun to play twice a month. It would be so frustrating not to be able to hit the ball well because of all of the layers of rust.

Twice a month is quite a bit if you also play in a league once a week and enter a tournament every month or so. Throw in a clinic twice a month and your playing at least 8 to 9 times a month, at least. That should be plenty!

Golfers seem to have more fun golfing. I play golf about a dozen times a year and it is much more relaxing and much easier to find golf partners. In golf you can just show up and join in with a group of golfers. Try doing that in tennis or better yet try setting up a match with a new tennis partner-good luck. I love tennis, but it is more of an elitist sport than golf, which is surprising!! If you walk the golf course, it's not bad exercise, either.

[LuckyR]

Originally Posted by TennisDawg

Twice a month is quite a bit if you also play in a league once a week and enter a tournament every month or so. Throw in a clinic twice a month and your playing at least 8 to 9 times a month, at least. That should be plenty!

Golfers seem to have more fun golfing. I play golf about a dozen times a year and it is much more relaxing and much easier to find golf partners. In golf you can just show up and join in with a group of golfers. Try doing that in tennis or better yet try setting up a match with a new tennis partner-good luck. I love tennis, but it is more of an elitist sport than golf, which is surprising!! If you walk the golf course, it's not bad exercise, either.

I am not going to argue with golfers having more fun, if you define "fun" as enjoying the sunshine, the chirp of the birds, the pretty view of the lake, the anticipation of a cold beer at the clubhouse, the joy of closing the deal with your work buddy. But if you are talking the "fun" of sports competition and beating down on the other guy, it's no competition, tennis is vastly superior to golf in that sense.

[SlapShot]

I decided to "take up" golf the summer after I graduated college. A friend wanted to go golfing, I hadn't ever done so before, so I went and bought some cheap clubs and spent the summer trying to get better.

My second time out, I hit a hole in one. I've only been out maybe a half dozen times since then (in 2006).

[TennisDawg]

Originally Posted by LuckyR

I am not going to argue with golfers having more fun, if you define "fun" as enjoying the sunshine, the chirp of the birds, the pretty view of the lake, the anticipation of a cold beer at the clubhouse, the joy of closing the deal with your work buddy. But if you are talking the "fun" of sports competition and beating down on the other guy, it's no competition, tennis is vastly superior to golf in that sense.

Originally Posted by LuckyR

I am not going to argue with golfers having more fun, if you define "fun" as enjoying the sunshine, the chirp of the birds, the pretty view of the lake, the anticipation of a cold beer at the clubhouse, the joy of closing the deal with your work buddy. But if you are talking the "fun" of sports competition and beating down on the other guy, it's no competition, tennis is vastly superior to golf in that sense.

Yes, I am talking of the fun you just described. But, you do leave out the skill required in golf and although not as physical the skill is just as challenging as tennis. In someways it requires more skill because you must deal with different courses and the terrain, etc. I also wouldn't use the term superior in comparing the two sports, but just pros and cons. I believe golf is way less complicated in terms of lining up playing partners and getting out and playing than Tennis. Less complication, means more relaxing. Tennis players seem to carry a lot more baggage with them when it comes to getting out to play. Questions and comments like: What is your NTRP? How long ya been playin? I beat so and so? I don't care for those courts? You a member of the Tennis club? How old are you? I played High School Tennis? Back when I played on the collegiate team!

The biggest downside of Tennis is lining up practices matches, it is far too complicated. You should be able to show up at a city park and get a pickup game, much like going to a city park or YMCA to play basketball. Best team or best player wins, simple as that!

A big downside to golf is the green fees, if it weren't for the green fees, I would play more golf.

[LuckyR]

Originally Posted by TennisDawg

Yes, I am talking of the fun you just described. But, you do leave out the skill required in golf and although not as physical the skill is just as challenging as tennis. In someways it requires more skill because you must deal with different courses and the terrain, etc. I also wouldn't use the term superior in comparing the two sports, but just pros and cons. I believe golf is way less complicated in terms of lining up playing partners and getting out and playing than Tennis. Less complication, means more relaxing. Tennis players seem to carry a lot more baggage with them when it comes to getting out to play. Questions and comments like: What is your NTRP? How long ya been playin? I beat so and so? I don't care for those courts? You a member of the Tennis club? How old are you? I played High School Tennis? Back when I played on the collegiate team!

The biggest downside of Tennis is lining up practices matches, it is far too complicated. You should be able to show up at a city park and get a pickup game, much like going to a city park or YMCA to play basketball. Best team or best player wins, simple as that!

A big downside to golf is the green fees, if it weren't for the green fees, I would play more golf.

I completely agree with you that no sport brings out more excuses before you even take your racquet out of it's cover than tennis. However, IMO the reason for that, is there is no sport that brings out the competitiveness in an individual more than tennis. Golf vs tennis? They are so dissimilar in the gameplay that I wouldn't bother to compare them, as there is no comparison. Why would you bother to compare the gameplay of the ultimate back and forth competition, with a game with no defense? Silly, actually...