20 famous golf quotes to impress on the course

Eric Wood

16 October 2018

20 famous golf quotes to impress on the course

Golf is a game of endless complexity that has captivated and frustrated players for hundreds of years. The sport offers up plenty to talk about and, over the years, many a true word has been spoken about the game. We consider some of golf’s most famous quotes throughout the sport’s rich history.

 

‘The most important shot in golf is the next one.’ – Ben Hogan

Hogan was a man of few words, but he chose them wisely. He is widely regarded as one of the finest ever exponents of the game.

 

‘Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose.’ – Winston Churchill

Churchill was known for his witty observations and this one neatly sums up how all amateurs feel about golf from time to time.

 

‘Golf is a day spent in a round of strenuous idleness.’ – William Wordsworth

The great poet preferred daffodils to mown fairways.

 

‘If you’re caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron.’ – Lee Trevino

Lee Trevino was actually struck by lightning on the golf course, when sheltering from a storm under an umbrella at the 1975 Western Open. This quote came in response to a question on what he would do if he was ever caught in such a situation again.

 

‘Golf is an awkward set of bodily contortions designed to produce a graceful result.’ – Tommy Armour

Tommy Armour was a Scottish professional golfer who won the 1931 Open Championship, so could clearly contort his body rather effectively.

 

‘To find a man’s true character, play golf with him.’ – PG Wodehouse

Wodehouse frequently included golf in his humorous writings and was a keen player himself.

 

‘They call it golf because all the other four-letter words were taken.’ – Ray Floyd

Ray Floyd can’t cuss at golf too much, as he has won 65 tournaments as a professional, including four Majors.

 

‘The more I practice the luckier I get.’ – Gary Player

The Black Knight is known as one of the most determined and dedicated golf professionals of all time.

 

‘If a lot of people gripped a knife and fork the way they do a golf club, they’d starve to death.’ – Sam Snead

Snead was a famously natural player with exceptional sporting aptitude. He never gripped a knife and fork the way he did his golf club.

 

‘Golf is a good walk spoiled.’ – Mark Twain

We’ve all agreed with the creator of Huck Finn on occasion as we’ve staggered off the 18th green.

 

‘Golf is so popular simply because it is the best game in the world at which to be bad.’ – AA Milne

The Winnie the Pooh author once played off a handicap of nine. Not so bad!

 

‘If you drink, don’t drive. Don’t even putt.’ – Dean Martin

The legendary crooner loved golf – he even had his own line of golf balls called Dinos and a PGA Tour event called The Dean Martin Tuscon Open.

 

‘If you watch a game, it’s fun. If you play it, it’s recreation. If you work at it, it’s golf.’ – Bob Hope

Bob Hope is perhaps the most famous celebrity golfer of all time. He did so much for the game that he was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame.

 

‘Golf, like the measles, should be caught young, for, if postponed to riper years, the results may be serious.’ – PG Wodehouse

More accurate observation from the creator of Jeeves and Wooster.

 

‘Golf is a fascinating game. I’ve taken nearly 40 years to discover that I can’t play it.’ – Ted Ray

A spot of unfounded self-deprecation here. Ray won 46 professional tournaments, including the 1912 Open and the 1920 U.S. Open.

 

‘They say golf is like life, but don’t believe them. Golf is more complicated than that.’ – Gardner Dickinson

The seven-time PGA Tour winner encapsulated the sport’s bamboozling complexity with these famous lines.

 

‘If you are going to throw a club, it is important to throw it ahead of you, down the fairway, so you don’t have to waste energy going back to pick it up.’ – Tommy Bolt

Tour professional Bolt was known for his fiery temper.

 

‘I’d give up golf if I didn’t have so many sweaters.’ – Bob Hope

Hope was known for sporting stereotypical golfing attire.

 

‘Why am I using a new putter? Because the last one didn’t float too well.’ – Craig Stadler

“The Walrus” was prone to the odd fit of pique on the golf course.

 

‘Don’t play too much golf. Two rounds a day are plenty.’ – Harry Vardon

When Vardon was at his peak around the turn of the 20th century, it was common for professional tournaments to feature 36 holes in a day.

 

Specialist golf insurance through Golf Care

Before heading out to the course, you may want to think about protecting yourself and your equipment with specialist golf insurance.

With Golf Care, policies include Equipment Cover up to £7,500 and Public Liability up to £10m, so you can play with peace of mind.

Get an instant online quote today. 

Get a quick quote for Golf Insurance

Get A Quote

Related Posts

8 golf films you need to watch read more
Golf slang: an essential guide read more

Share

Got a question? Call our FREEPHONE UK call centre 0800 668 1505

Golf Care is a Insurance Services product

©Copyright Ripe Thinking Limited 2024. Golf Care® is a registered trademark and a trading name of Ripe Insurance Services Limited which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No.313411.

Registered office: The Royals, Altrincham Road, Manchester M22 4BJ. Registered in England No. 04507332.