The game of golf is more than a sport; it is a game, business and pastime. Golf has had a significant impact on my life, as it provided competition at the high school level, job opportunities and even college scholarship opportunities. Golf is a truly unique sport, because one can play the game from the first steps they take up until their elderly years. Very few sports can boast this claim, making golf the most dynamic of all major sports. Playing golf competitively and working in the golf industry has provided extensive experience in the field, all of which will be reflected in this project. This project does not clash with my own values, because other than a hit to golfer's pride, the result of the decision does not negatively affect anyone. Golfers across the world are some of the most talented athletes in all of sports, but they fail to receive significant recognition for their accomplishments. The greatest golfers of all time, such as Tiger Woods, should be compared to the greatest athletes in all of major sports, and deserve to be in the same conversation as superstars such as Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth. 

The article "Sorry, Golf Is Not a Sport" looks at historic golf figures like Tiger Woods, and compares them to other superstar athletes. The article claims Woods, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, does not compare to the other all time greats such as Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth. The article takes an aggressive stance towards golf, directly disrespecting the accomplishments of the greatest golfers of all time. The article belittles the accomplishments of these athletes compared to baseball, basketball and football players. The article is significantly biased because only one side of the argument is presented to the reader. The author clearly is a fan of the traditional major sports, and particularly opposed to golf. 

The article "Golf  --  A Real Sport" looks at golf from an athletic and health perspective. The article supports its claims with scientific research, ranking golf among other sports in the total calories burned during a round. The article highlights that a golf swing activates many muscles that are never used in other popular sports. The major values stressed in this article are fitness motivated. Golf is stacked up against other sports, that all include much more physical activity. This is not a particularly controversial article, as it does not attack the other sports. The author, Michelle Brown is credible because she makes a living in the golf industry, which also contributes to her bias, as she would obviously look to promote golf and show it in a positive light. 

The article "Top 10 Reasons Golf Is NOT A Sport" highlights 10 oppositions as to why golf is not a sport. Among arguments made, many are centered on the lack of athleticism required to compete in the sport. The author attacks golf for being a sport that caters to any and all levels of athleticism. The major values looked at in this article are based off the game of golf compared to other major sports. Much of the article looks to belittle the sport of by pointing out the differences between golf and other sports such as baseball and basketball. These differences include the lack of a time clock, the fact that no person actively plays defense against a golfer, and that there are no teams. The author, Alfie Harmer is clearly one sided in the presentation of his information, but he supports his claims with evidence. Harmer cites studies conducted by ESPN, and although he only presents one side of the debate, he is not overly bias throughout the article. 

This topic has two equal sides to it and is arguable because so much research has been done on the affirmative and opposing arguments. Both sides to the debate have authors and contributors who are passionate about their views towards the topic. The articles agree on the lack of athleticism that many golfers possess, but disagree on the amount of physical activity exerted during the game. The different opinions in the article make me question my own opinion, because there is more evidence for the opposition than I thought. I might revise my research question to better defend against claims from the opposition. 

