Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for 10 years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
A friend of mine, one of the least athletic people I have ever known, once told me that his father always said "Golf ruins a good walk... and what's the point of a good walk anyway". As the British Open Golf Championship gets underway, I have to confess I find golf way down there with horse racing and Formula One motor racing as one of the most boring televised sports ever. And not because, as Mark Steel says, it is a game for toffs and snobs!
What I do agree with Steel about is that if golf is going to get any sort of hold amongst young working class folk, it has got to be made more accessible. Birmingham City Council is considering moves to encourage more pitch-and-put and 9-hole courses to try and get people involved on the grounds that novices are likely to find 18-hole courses intimidating and too tough for beginners.
Over the road from my house is a splendid park and golf course liberated from the clutches of Birmingham City Council which had allowed it to fall in to disrepair. The splendid Warley Woods Community Trust, administered by volunteers elected by the community, are doing their bit by offering free golf lessons to youngsters over the school holidays.
Better than watching the golf (or horse and motor racing) on tv anytime I would have thought.
A friend of mine, one of the least athletic people I have ever known, once told me that his father always said "Golf ruins a good walk... and what's the point of a good walk anyway".
A quotation often incorrectly attributed to Mark Twain. I prefer Mencken's:
"If I had my way, any man guilty of golf would be ineligible for any office of trust in the United States."
Or Dave Barry's:
"Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing."
You rather miss the point, comrade. Watching golf on tv is boring (IMHO). Chess can take you years to learn to play well... but televised chess? No, sorry.
July 16, 2009 5:19 PM | permalink
I find golf way down there with horse racing and Formula One motor racing as one of the most boring televised sports ever.
My feelings exactly Rugby Football , Cricket Athletics are proper sports.