--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's easy to see golf not as a game at…" description: "\"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/bruce-mccall-44799_century_it-s-easy-to-see-golf-not-as-a-game-at-a_869677.jpg" --- # It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some… ![“It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification.” quote by Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/bruce-mccall-44799_century_it-s-easy-to-see-golf-not-as-a-game-at-a_869677.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/bruce-mccall-44799_century_it-s-easy-to-see-golf-not-as-a-game-at-a_869677.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/bruce-mccall-44799_century_it-s-easy-to-see-golf-not-as-a-game-at-a_869677.jpg) > “It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification.” [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote satirically portrays golf as a ritualistic, almost religious practice rather than a simple sport, highlighting its absurdity and self‑inflicted hardships. **In simple terms:** Golf is depicted as a bizarre, self‑punishing ritual. Key Takeaway Recognize when activities become need rather than fun. Themes satire ritual absurdity Mood ironic critical Type satirical observational When to use this quote - club membership - competitive tournaments - personal leisure - team bonding Key Concepts religion psychology sports culture Questions to Reflect On - Do you treat any hobby as a duty? - How does humor reveal hidden truths about leisure? A Different Perspective May overlook the social and health benefits of the game. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Exorcism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exorcism/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [Golf game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf-game/) [Golf life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf-life/) [Golfers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golfers/) [Golfing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golfing/) [Mortification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortification/) [Nineteenth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nineteenth-century/) [Ritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ritual/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [ \[My father was \] Presbyterian \[minister\]. But I did not take the Bible seriously until I was forced to take Hebrew at McCormick Theological Seminary. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hershel-shanks/my-father-was-presbyterian-minister-but-i-did-not-take-the-bible/) [Hershel Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hershel-shanks/) > [My dad was a Presbyterian minister. Yes, I am one of those dreaded P.K.s - Preachers Kids. Be afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/my-dad-was-a-presbyterian-minister-yes-i-am-one-of-those-dreaded-p-k/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“The meeting started, and I could barely listen for my self-mortification. I wanted the hour to end so I could ask her what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/the-meeting-started-and-i-could-barely-listen-for-my-self/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [Let a man neither give himself over to pleasures ... nor yet let him give himself over to self-mortification ... To the exclusion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/let-a-man-neither-give-himself-over-to-pleasures-nor-yet-let-him-give/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Self-mortification, far from producing liberation from material things, is far more likely to cause either an unhinged mind, delusions or a masochistic taste for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/self-mortification-far-from-producing-liberation-from-material-things/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [I'm a Presbyterian minister's daughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/i-m-a-presbyterian-minister-s-daughter/) [Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/) > [I was a Presbyterian minister at a small church in Omaha, Nebraska.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-barry/i-was-a-presbyterian-minister-at-a-small-church-in-omaha-nebraska/) Sam Barry > [My mother was very, very Protestant. I grew up Presbyterian, and I went to church every Sunday until I was 18. I was forced to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-corddry/my-mother-was-very-very-protestant-i-grew-up-presbyterian-and-i-went/) [Rob Corddry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-corddry/) > [I dont believe in predestination, even though I was raised a Presbyterian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-long/i-dont-believe-in-predestination-even-though-i-was-raised-a/) [Shelley Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-long/) > [John Wesley tells of a dream he had. In the dream, he was ushered to the gates of Hell. There he asked, "Are there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/john-wesley-tells-of-a-dream-he-had-in-the-dream-he-was-ushered-to/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [I have no quarrel with what I learned in the Presbyterian church - I am still an enthusiastic Christian. But why shouldn't I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-have-no-quarrel-with-what-i-learned-in-the-presbyterian-church-i-am/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [All that God had to do to harden Pharaoh's heart, or to harden your heart, is to withhold His own grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/all-that-god-had-to-do-to-harden-pharaoh-s-heart-or-to-harden-your/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [I'd grown up in a Presbyterian church, but I really didn't know Christ personally in my heart. I knew him, but I didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-d-grown-up-in-a-presbyterian-church-but-i-really-didn-t-know-christ/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Jesus says, "I want you to follow me so fully, so intensely, so enduringly that all other attachments in your life look weak by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/jesus-says-i-want-you-to-follow-me-so-fully-so-intensely-so/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I served for 42 years on the board of trustees of the largest Presbyterian seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and we had brilliant people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-served-for-42-years-on-the-board-of-trustees-of-the-largest/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) ## More by Bruce McCall > [If the general attitude of Canadians toward their mighty neighbor to the south could be distilled into a single phrase, that phrase would probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/if-the-general-attitude-of-canadians-toward-their-mighty-neighbor-to/) [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) > [No game designed to be played with the aid of personal servants by right-handed men who can't even bring along their dogs can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/no-game-designed-to-be-played-with-the-aid-of-personal-servants-by/) [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) > [Here's a simple way to abolish golf's elitist and exclusionary image and make it a truly all-American sport: ditch that fifties-Republican-martini-drinker's green Brooks Brothers-style…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/here-s-a-simple-way-to-abolish-golf-s-elitist-and-exclusionary-image/) [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) > [Not even Barbra Streisand celebrates herself as tirelessly as golf celebrates itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/not-even-barbra-streisand-celebrates-herself-as-tirelessly-as-golf/) [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) > [If the general attitude of Canadians toward their mighty neighbor to the south could be distilled into a single phrase, that phrase would probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/if-the-general-attitude-of-canadians-toward-their-mighty-neighbor-to-2/) [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) > [You can parody almost anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/you-can-parody-almost-anything/) [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) > [Six Secrets to Being a Successful Humorist 1. Be scared, unhappy, and an outcast as a kid. 2. Drop out of high school. 3.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/six-secrets-to-being-a-successful-humorist-1-be-scared-unhappy-and-an/) [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) > [I'm a great admirer of cartoons, because I can't do cartoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/i-m-a-great-admirer-of-cartoons-because-i-can-t-do-cartoons/) [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) [Explore all 9 Bruce McCall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) ## More Century quotes > [I know always that I am an outsider; a stranger in this century and among those who are still men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-always-that-i-am-an-outsider-a-stranger-in-this-century-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Anybody looking for a quiet life has picked the wrong century to born in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-looking-for-a-quiet-life-has-picked-the-wrong-century-to-born/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The poetry from the eighteenth century was prose; the prose from the seventeenth century was poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/the-poetry-from-the-eighteenth-century-was-prose-the-prose-from-the/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [At no time in the past century has public distrust of the government been so broadly distributed across the political spectrum, as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-zimmermann/at-no-time-in-the-past-century-has-public-distrust-of-the-government/) [Phil Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-zimmermann/) > [While husbands and lovers in the stories are of all kinds, ranging from sympathetic to disgusting, women are invariably deceivers: inconstant, unscrupulous, quarrelsome, querulous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/while-husbands-and-lovers-in-the-stories-are-of-all-kinds-ranging/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [The young people today are the 21st century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/the-young-people-today-are-the-21st-century/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [The wisdom of our actions in the first three years of peace will determine the course of world history for half a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-wisdom-of-our-actions-in-the-first-three-years-of-peace-will/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [For me, the melancholy of the late XXth Century is walking late at night by the Mont Blanc pen store and seeing these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/for-me-the-melancholy-of-the-late-xxth-century-is-walking-late-at/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 5,406 Century quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bruce McCall" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/it-s-easy-to-see-golf-not-as-a-game-at-all-but-as-some-whey-faced/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Century" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/it-s-easy-to-see-golf-not-as-a-game-at-all-but-as-some-whey-faced/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/bruce-mccall-44799_century_it-s-easy-to-see-golf-not-as-a-game-at-a_869677.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/bruce-mccall-44799_century_it-s-easy-to-see-golf-not-as-a-game-at-a_869677.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/bruce-mccall-44799_century_it-s-easy-to-see-golf-not-as-a-game-at-a_869677.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian…” — Bruce McCall", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bruce McCall", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's easy to see golf not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/it-s-easy-to-see-golf-not-as-a-game-at-all-but-as-some-whey-faced/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/it-s-easy-to-see-golf-not-as-a-game-at-all-but-as-some-whey-faced/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```