I didn't know it was 

Golf is a game.  You are right to state it that way.  And don't worry about offending fans and participants of sports, because a game and a sport are so much different.

You should worry about offending those that love poker, and canasta.

 

Lee, That made me want to take up golf!   

Golf is a sport. Those who say it's not probably haven't played much or are the ones who do play who think that the name of the game is swinging the club nice and easy.

I played in college (fully scholarshipped I might add) and still remember tournaments in south Alabama or south Georgia in 98-102 degree weather. The sun is pounding down on you, sweat is falling off your face and you've got to swing your driver as hard as you can--and hit it pure--to have a chance to get on the 650 yard par 5 in two. Your lower back is hurting from that extra power you put in that last drive and now you've got to dig deep to swing hard (and accurately) again to make sure you stripe it down the middle of the fairway--your team is depending on you. Because of the heat and the fact that you've already walked 16 holes (about 3 miles) in it, your hands are shaking as you set up to the ball. You turn your upper body back until your shoulder is behind the ball and the club is fully cocked. The last thought in your mind as you violently turn on the downswing is, "I've been preparing for this shot all my life."

In less than a second the club shoots through the hitting zone at well over 100 miles per hour and makes contact with the ball. You feel your hands and body release through the ball with a combination of life's frustrations and determination. That lower back pain sticks you like a knife, and you hear the words of your chiropractor--"You need to take a few weeks off from golf," but it's all worth it as you look up to see the ball towering into the sky and you hear the sizzle of it as it rips through the air.

As you walk off the tee box you make eye contact with the player from the other team. He knows what you're thinking. You're thinking, "It's gonna take everything you've got to match that."

Checkers is a game. Golf is a sport.

Mark Twain, I believe it was, described golf as a good walk ruined.

Can you imagine a group of business people getting together to do a deal over a fastpitch softball game?

I like bowling myself.