The age-old argument of what is a sport and what isn’t a sport is bound to create controversy and anger.

For me, it’s simple. A sport has to require extreme physical exertion and strength. If you don’t sweat as a result of your performance, you are not playing a sport.

And that means golf. Golf is in no way, shape or form a sport.

Golf requires skill, patience, focus, and hours of practice to master.

Like chess. Or debate. Or programming a computer.

All of those have the same requirements as golf, and they are not sports.

“But you need strength to hit the ball” you say.

Please.

The ball is stationary and the clubs are made of the most technologically advanced metal on the planet.

Now if the ball was moving at speeds between sixty and 100 miles per hour, then we could talk.

Look. The best golfers in the world are talented. I can’t do what Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson can do. Similar to the fact that I can’t do what Bobby Fischer or Alan Dershowitz can do.

Golf is difficult. That doesn’t make it a sport.

Reach the reporter at kaglaser@asu.edu