This Just In: Golf Is a Sport

Was Jesus really sent from the Heavens? Was there a second gunman in the Grassy Knoll? Is golf a sport?

These are the questions Americans (or, maybe just me) have to battle daily, defending my favorite game/hobby/sport/good walk to any and all who claim golf is just a good reason to pound a few Miller Lites and get away from the nagging wife.

Here is where my new best friend -- Neil Wolkodoff, director of the Rose Center for Health and Sports Sciences in Denver -- comes in.

See, Neil (can I call you Neil?) decided that since it is the holidays, and you are supposed to give out gifts during this time, that he would vindicate every golfer who has ever uttered the rebuttal, "It is a sport!"

Given the number of calories burned, it's certainly OK to call golf a sport.

"One of the more interesting things I found was that the actual act of swinging a golf club takes significant energy,'' said Wolkodoff.

Take that curling! How do those apples taste, table tennis?

The conclusion was that the act of swinging the golf club could actually be considered good exercise - a theory many on the "not a sport'' side of the golf debate have long questioned.

"As far as physical exertion, it's not the same as boxing, but it's definitely more than people thought,'' Wolkodoff said.

Has anyone seen Mike Tyson lately? Yeah, I'll go with golf. I actually enjoy my head for some unknown and ridiculous reason.

Anyway, I thought this report was a pretty good look into the game of golf as a sport. Sure, you aren't going to be look like Michael Phelps by playing a few holes, but it isn't hurting your chances of living another day.

"Hey Johnny, why are you so tired?"

"Dude, I just had a mean golf workout."

Touche.