As an avid sportsman, I must admit that I enjoy doing just about anything outdoors related.

From hunting and fishing to archery and golf; I love it all. I have spent countless hours turkey hunting, duck hunting, deer hunting, hog hunting and fishing for anything that would bite a hook.

Just the other day I was thinking about all of my extracurricular activities and began to question which one I like the most.  The truth is that it didn’t take more than a split second to decide the one that reigned supreme in my mind and in my heart.

Golf won the contest, hands down. My love affair with the great game of golf began when I was a freshman in high school. I remember wanting to be involved in a sport but hating to run.  It seemed like all that my football coach wanted to do was to make me run.

After the eighth grade, I had my fill. While still wondering what sport I would try next, I noticed the golf coach eating in the cafeteria.  I introduced myself to him and asked if the golf team was expected to run.  He told me that no running was required but that I would have to walk the course and carry my own golf bag.

I told him that it would not be a problem and signed up for tryouts on the spot. During the next four years, Coach Tucker helped my scores drop from 120 to 75. I have been absolutely in love with the game ever since.

Below is a list of what I like about the game and why it ranks above other activities for me.

1. You can play golf anytime and any season 
If you are a hunter or fisherman, then you know that most of the action takes place at dawn or dusk.  This means that you need to set the alarm super early in the morning to be on time.  Unfortunately, between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. is when some of my best sleep happens.

I’m not confessing to be lazy, but if I can avoid the early wake-up call, I certainly will. The good news for golfers is that you can play early, midday, or later in the day.  Golf will fit your schedule.  Unlike hunting that has certain seasons, golf can be played year round. This is especially true with the rising popularity of places like TopGolf that allow you to play in the worst of weather conditions.

2. Golf is clean
With many outdoor sports, it is necessary to get down and dirty.  In hunting and fishing, you have to clean your kill or catch.  If four-wheeling is your game, then get ready to spend hours cleaning your gear after a day in the mud.  With golf you simply put on your super cool golf clothes and enjoy.  Even if your clubs get dirty, there is often an attendant who will clean them for you.

3. Golf is less work
Compared to other sports, golf is way less work.  If you are a deer hunter in Texas, for example, you need to fill deer feeders monthly, mow shooting lanes, plant food plots, hang deer stands, and do general maintenance on a deer camp. This is all done well before the season starts.

It is not done while you hunt but before you hunt. In other words, a lot of work takes place in advance.  Keep in mind if you actually harvest a deer, then the work really begins with all of the cleaning and processing. With golf, on the other hand, the hardest part is lifting your clubs into the back of your SUV. The rest is pure fun!

4. There are courses everywhere
Many sports require a lease or a certain type of property in order to participate.  For example, if you want to scuba dive, you more than likely need a coral reef.  If you want to climb a mountain, then you need a mountain.  If there is no reef or mountain, then you are simply out of luck.

Golfers are lucky!  Golf courses are found all over the country and more than likely there is at least one within less than an hour from wherever you are living at the time.

5. The results are up to you!  
When you go fishing, sometimes the fish don’t want to bite. If they aren’t hungry, you can not make them bite. The result is you spend all day on the lake and catch nothing. What a bummer.

In golf, the weather may make conditions difficult, but it is still up to you to get the ball in the hole. The course is right there in front of you waiting for you to make your move.

6. Golf is affordable
When it comes to playing golf, you can spend as little or as much money as you want.  If you want to go on the cheap, then pick up a $25 set of clubs at a garage sale and pay a $10 green fee at a cheap muni.

If you are a high roller, then the sky is the limit. Spend away!

Some clubs have initiation fees that are more than some folks earn in years. Many other outdoor sports require a much greater investment to get started such as boats, four-wheelers, or specialized gear.  You can have a great time at golf for a minimum investment. However, once you get hooked, you will find that it isn’t a problem to find something golf-related to spend your extra money on.

7. The 19th hole
This is one of the great things about golf, and it is pretty much unique to the sport.   As soon as you finish, there is a nice place ready to serve you a burger and your favorite cold beverage.  Sit back in the air conditioner and enjoy.  Visit with your friends, tell stories, and be thankful to be part of such an amazing game!

•

Please don’t think that I’m knocking the other sports, because they are each great in their own way.  However, if it ever comes down to me only being able to play one sport, you can bet I pick golf.

In fact, when I go to bed tonight and say my prayers, I’m going to remember to thank God for golf. Being a golfer is truly a blessing.  If you are thinking about taking up the game, I couldn’t recommend it more.

Brian Johnson, originally of Port Neches, is pastor of the Outdoorsman’s Church in Winnie, owner of DuckDogTrainer.com and outdoors writer for The News.