Cycling is the new golf

[jefmcg]

I thought this was old news, I'd noticed this at least 10 years ago.

 

[Globalti]

I nearly blew it in the first minute of the interview for the job I have been doing for over 25 years now... the MD or my now Export Director asked me if I played golf and I replied: "I'm afraid I've never set foot on a golf field in my life"! Their reply? "Yes, we can tell!"

Luckily that didn't blind them to my other qualities, whatever they were....

 

[CharlieB]

Golf is rubbish.
You have to get all the brand new latest blingy gear. Acquire a whole wardrobe of funny looking clothing. Go out for the day on your own or with some mates, in all weathers.
I mean who would want to do something silly like that?

…and from one of @jayonabike's rides last April…

6 of us on todays ride, Charlie, Dave, Ian, Tom, James & myself… …past the stately home, now a collage/conference centre, through the woods and past the golf club and the strange men wearing over priced brightly coloured clothes (you won't catch cyclists doing that)

 

[oldfatfool]

Nowt wrong with a good game of golf, leave the bats in the locker room along with the change of kit and cycle there and back, job done

 

[AndyRM]

[QUOTE 3022041, member: 45"]Golf bats. Like it.[/QUOTE]

Every implement used for striking an object should be referred to as a bat. I have several. Some are more effective against burglars than others.

 

[Profpointy]

golf's a great game. I particularly like the one where you've got to get the ball past the sails of the model windmill. The see-saw feature is also good.

 

[winjim]

Golf's brilliant. My mate got a great new bike on cycle to work scheme, immediately took up golf, didn't touch the bike for three and a half years and then sold it to me mate's rates to pay for some new clubs. Winner!

 

[swansonj]

Surely the point of the comparison is about more than just whether the costume is ridiculous to non-participants and whether it's a way to spend ridiculous amounts of money on kit that has a high show-off value but a very marginal effect on performance?

Golf is also a way of social climbing. It's been a way to mix with men who you perceive as from a higher social standing than you and thereby to climb a bit higher yourself. It's a way of having informal but influential conversations with other people of influence. It's a way of mixing with other people of similar perceived social standing and mindset, with the pretext of a shared activity as the excuse for excluding people of lesser perceived status (including in some cases still women). It thus has many similarities to freemasonry or US Country Clubs.

In that respect, outside the circles described in @User's link which I suspect is still quite a small niche, I'm not persuaded cycling is the new golf.

Golf is also, though, a way for men to spend time with other men whilst avoiding spending quality time with their families....

 

[tyred]

I tried Golf once when I was about 15 or 16 when I went with a friend of my Dad's. I got lumbered with carrying the clubs and got a mouthful from someone for daring to walk on the green with my Doc Marten boots and then I not allowed into the bar because I was "inappropriately" dressed.

Took an instant dislike that day, not so much the game itself but the people who play it.

 

[Profpointy]

a mate had a good response to any golf conversations:

"I had a good game the other day , scored 76.....pause..... the 2nd hole was even better"

 

[Dave 123]

Cycling may well be the new golf, but that doesn't matter a jot. That's the labellers problem.

Sitting on your arse on the sofa is still sitting on your arse on the sofa.

I know which one I choose!

 

[ianrauk]

'Golf is a good walk spoiled'

Mark Twain

 

[Cyclopathic]

A quote from Radio 4 this morning :

"Cycling is the new golf, and all that money that used to be spent on expensive golf clubs is being spent on bikes."

Discuss.

Well some of the clothes are easily as silly looking.

 

[raleighnut]

[QUOTE 3022041, member: 45"]Golf bats. Like it.[/QUOTE]
Nicked from Clarkson? or had he stolen it from elsewhere?

 

[Gravity Aided]

My father taught me the basics of salesman's golf,(losing, yet making it look good as an effort) which was fine for me when I was still in sales or retail, and, interestingly enough, as a husband. Mrs. GA is quite the golfer, I just make sure we play at the place with the authentic Mexican restaurant and railfanning opportunities.