Should golfers be considered athletes?

Let's start here: Main Entry: ath·lete Pronunciation: 'ath-"lEt, ÷'a-th&-"lEt Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin athleta, from Greek athlEtEs, from athlein to contend for a prize, from athlon prize, contest : a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina Trained; yes. Skilled; yes. In excercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength; um, not really. But this brings up a bigger issue; is golf really a sport at all? The sports prophet, Jim Rome said, "if you take the ball away, Golf is walking." Now, call me a purist, or call me a dick, but when you break sports down to it's core definition: Main Entry: ¹sport Pronunciation: 'spOrt, 'sport Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, to divert, disport, short for disporten intransitive senses 1 a : a source of diversion : RECREATION b : sexual play c (1) : physical activity engaged in for pleasure (2) : a particular activity (as an athletic game) so engaged in 2 a : PLEASANTRY, JEST b : often mean-spirited jesting : MOCKERY, DERISION 3 a : something tossed or driven about in or as if in play b : LAUGHINGSTOCK What the hell? Is that really the definition for sport? Wow, that's not what I thought 'sport' was at all. If this truly is the definition provided by Websters then masturbation must be one of the highest eschelons of 'sport.' A source of diversion? Recreation? Sexual play? Physical activity for pleasure? Tossed or driven about? This is the perfect description of a game centered around holes, balls, clubs and shanks.