There's an old joke that sporting clays is like golf with a gun. Humor writer Jim Mize takes a look at the similarities and difference between them.
Sporting clays has been described by many as golf with a gun. For the uninitiated, this is a sport in which the shooter moves from station to station, shooting at clay targets flung through the air, each station being different. In some ways, golf and sporting clays have their similarities. For instance, during a round of sporting clays, I often have the urge to wrap my barrel around a tree or toss my shotgun into a water hazard.
People compare sporting clays with golf for several reasons. First, golf is a popular and well-known sport that many of us can relate to. Second, both sports offer a leisurely stroll outdoors. Third, both sports can make your hair fall out quicker than fast-forwarding an army barber’s training film. But before we agree that sporting clays deserves this moniker of golf with a gun, we should further weigh both the similarities and the differences in these sports. For starters, let’s consider the similarities.
Similarities between sporting clays and golf
Both sports refer to shooting a round or taking a shot. In these two sports, however, you tend to have completely different meanings for the term “loaded.”
Also, in both sports, you may walk the course or take a cart. Typically, however, in only one of these sports is the driver armed unless you’re playing golf on a really tough course.
Golf and sporting clays also may be recognized by their specialized clothes. A shooter of sporting clays will be wearing safety glasses and either a vest or belt to carry his shells. A golfer, on the other hand, wears spiked shoes, tasteful logo shirts and pants so bright they scare small children.
You will also notice other miscellaneous differences. For instance, in a round of sporting clays, you will go through 50 to 100 shells. Golfers do only slightly better with golf balls.
Likewise, in both sports, the player takes aim, for what it’s worth. In sporting clays, however, you have some idea where the shot is headed.
The one other thing these sports have in common is their growing popularity. Sporting clays has more than three million participants each year. And like golf, many of them come back the next year.
Perhaps this is where the similarities end, however, and the differences begin.
Differences between sporting clays and golf
For starters, sporting clay stations are designed to duplicate actual hunting situations. Clay targets are thrown to duplicate landing ducks, crossing doves and rising quail. Golf, on the other hand, is its own unique form of torture. Also, in golf, you eventually hit the greens. In sporting clays, you can keep on missing them no matter what the color.
Furthermore, you typically carry a whole bag of clubs in golf, whereas in sporting clays you only have one gun. The big difference is that in sporting clays, more guns probably wouldn’t help.
Caddies would be a good addition to sporting clays, serving much the same function as they do in golf. As you approach each station, your shooting caddy could offer tips on how the targets will fly, how you should lead and which excuses to use when you miss. Also, by carrying your gun, caddies could prevent you from wrapping the barrel around a tree.
Another difference is that in golf, the hole never moves, no matter what they say.
Furthermore, in golf, you conceivably shoot until you hit the hole, as if that’s a good thing. In sporting clays, once your shots are up, you’re done. Sporting clays is merciful that way.
Comparing the rules in both sports, golf tends to be more complicated. In sporting clays, for example, you shoot, the target breaks or not, and you score it. In golf, strokes apparently count differently depending on whether you’re playing with your boss.
You will also notice that in sporting clays, you yell “pull” before you shoot. In golf, you generally yell afterwards, though these exclamations similarly tend to be four-letter words.
In sporting clays, you always wear ear plugs. In golf, this is not a common practice though it could be a plus, especially if your partner is prone to yelling after he shoots.
Also, in sporting clays, you frequently get a true pair. In golf, you rarely do.
Perhaps the best thing about golf is that no matter how many shots you take, the course fee is the same.
Although sporting clays will probably continue to be referred to as golf with a gun, it really isn’t. If it were, the low score would win. Not only that, but the differences seem to outweigh the similarities. All things considered, sporting clays is more like skeet with teeth.
