Ask HN: Does anyone here play golf?

#1

Post by jgrahamc » Mon, Mar 10, 2008, 10:41 PM UTC

There was a question earlier about board games, and it made me wonder if anyone here plays golf. I've always thought it seemed like a boring game for a hacker because it's a game of skill and not strategy. But it does get you outside. Suggestions for hacker-friendly outdoor sports.

(No, I will no accept LARP as a response :-)

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone here play golf?

#2

Post by davidw » Mon, Mar 10, 2008, 11:16 PM UTC

Cycling, of course! It can be both an individual or a team sport, has lots of tech if you want to get geeky about it, and is a great way to see the world up close without moving at a snail's pace.

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone here play golf?

#3

Post by dbrush » Mon, Mar 10, 2008, 11:30 PM UTC

For me, the strategy comes into play when I realize I can only determine where the ball will end up with a marginal amount of certainty (in front of me or behind me). That said.. I love playing golf. Especially scrambles for the strategy reason.

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone here play golf?

#4

Post by dfranke » Tue, Mar 11, 2008, 12:36 AM UTC

If you're looking for exercise, I recommend swimming. For recreation, paintball.

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone here play golf?

#5

Post by bayareaguy » Tue, Mar 11, 2008, 2:08 AM UTC

I think golf is a good social hack when it allows people to conduct legitimate business "work" and get some good exercise in a nice setting at the same time.

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone here play golf?

#6

Post by ardit33 » Tue, Mar 11, 2008, 4:36 AM UTC

bayareaguy wrote: post #5

I think golf is a good social hack when it allows people to conduct legitimate business "work" and get some good exercise in a nice setting at the same time.

I think that golf is a big waste of time. It takes too long for a game, and it is not physically active enough. No wonder it is waning in popularity (and mostly only old people and the "business" types like it).

I'd rather talk about "work" while having a beer and listening to some good music and playing pool for a couple of hours after work, rather than spend a whole day on the golf field.

Af for hackers, I really don't know a single good programmer that knows golf. it's like they are way to impatient for that sport. They'd rather hack :)

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone here play golf?

#7

Post by eaken » Tue, Mar 11, 2008, 5:11 AM UTC

find some like-minded friends and get outside and you'll have fun.

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone here play golf?

#8

Post by steveplace » Wed, Dec 17, 2008, 3:26 PM UTC

ardit33 wrote: post #6

bayareaguy wrote: post #5

I think golf is a good social hack when it allows people to conduct legitimate business "work" and get some good exercise in a nice setting at the same time.

I think that golf is a big waste of time. It takes too long for a game, and it is not physically active enough. No wonder it is waning in popularity (and mostly only old people and the "business" types like it). I'd rather talk about "work" while having a beer and listening to some good music and playing pool for a couple of hours after work, rather than spend a whole day on the golf field. Af for hackers, I really d…

No wonder it is waning in popularity (and mostly only old people and the "business" types like it).

Broad generalization. Gotta call BS on that one.

[Edit] I looked it up, and I found some evidence to support it. But I'd like to see it indexed against economic indicators (unemployment) and the overall decline in outdoor activities. http://tinyurl.com/59xpea

Af for hackers, I really don't know a single good programmer that knows golf. it's like they are way to impatient for that sport. They'd rather hack :)

See above.