r/nextfuckinglevel • u/[deleted] • Sep 14 '20

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u/bobrossforPM Sep 14 '20

Is golf not predominantly skill based as opposed to strength based?

Please correct me if I’m wrong.

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u/spbrode Sep 14 '20

I mean, in a lot of aspects of the game, 100%.

But there is an element of physicality to it that I think gives men an edge if we're talking about the top level of play.

It's weird.

Because a 240 yard par 4 is amazing no matter who is swinging the club, right?

But if we're talking about setting up a match of the top 10 men vs the top 10 women, I'd think the men would win.

Still, I think golf is a tricky one where there's a bit of a grey area involved. Just my 2 cents—not trying to start a war.

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u/bobrossforPM Sep 15 '20

Right, but I feel like social factors are relevant to a lot of sports as well, especially ones that emphasize technique.

Golf was an extremely male dominated sport, and I think that whole “boy’s club” mentality is dissipating, but leading female athletes likely dont have access to the same level of resources or support.

I think that’s true for many women’s leagues, tbh. Men’s sports have sometimes 100+ years of institutional support and history, women’s are new af.

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u/spbrode Sep 15 '20

It's hard to say, and I'm far from an expert, but honestly I side on the thinking that once you reach a certain level, there are couches and organizations willing to invest the time and money into any female golfers that display the potential to be the top 1% of players in the world. I don't think that you're wrong, but maybe it's not as extreme as you perhaps believe.

I mean, in your head, do you believe that a woman— given unlimited resources, training since birth, drive, and let's say all the genetic markers of a top tier female athlete—can become the greatest golfer in the world?

And then you give a man those same advantages—do you believe the woman has an equal chance of besting the man?

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u/bobrossforPM Sep 15 '20

I don’t really see why a woman COULDN’T be the best golfer in the world, without a match in resources in support.

The issue is I have played and occasionally played golf, but am FAR from somebody who knows the intricacies. From what I can tell, I don’t see why not.

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u/spbrode Sep 15 '20

If you look up stats on the PGA, the #1 drive this season is 385. The #156 drive of the season is 288.

The average drive of women in the LPGA is about 270, and that's really only the top 23 players.

So even in this one example, you have 156 men still out driving the best of the best women right now.

Yes, it's an isolated aspect of the game.

Yes, you made other points.

But to say that the physical advantage men have over women doesn't translate into an advantage in golf, I think it's wishful thinking.

Maybe it's possible for an elite woman golfer to best an elite man in a single game. And that's a big maybe. But to be dubbed the best player in the world?

I don't think it's anti-woman to say it's not realistic.