Some say that the world's toughest sport is football. The sheer violence of the sport makes for a strong case.
Others, though, would argue that the jumping and running in basketball puts a greater amount of stress on the human body.
Still, other people think that tennis requires the greatest amount of athleticism of any sport.
There are even people that would make a case for baseball. Though we're not sure what that would be.
Whatever the argument is for any of those sports, it's wrong.
Whether it's football, basketball, tennis, baseball, hockey, NASCAR, bowling, Chinese Checkers or curling, not one come close to the toughest, most physically-demanding sport the world has ever seen.
Bar Golf.
What, you may ask, is bar golf? The name says it all. The sport is a combination of the least exciting thing in the world: golf, and the most exciting thing a college kid can do: binge drinking.
The only requirements for the sport are a locale with 18 bars and a functional liver.
The rules are simple. Players travel to 18 bars, and a half-hour is allotted for each one. For every bar a player steps into, he or she is automatically given a stroke. For every drink consumed at that bar, a stroke is taken off. So, one drink (beer, mixed drink, shot or rubbing alcohol) gets a player to par. Two drinks is a birdie, three an eagle and so forth. Ridiculous looking golf attire is required. Argyle is preferred.
Every semester, the Blacksburg Bar Golf Association (read: me and my friends) hosts a round.
"Though we keep score, bar golf isn't so much about competing against one another," said BBGA Commissioner senior Steve Klein. "It's more about trying to finish the course."
In fact, Blacksburg has one of the nation's finest bar golf courses. Let's take a walk through it.
A solid opening hole is necessary for any good course, and here in town, that hole is the Boston Beanery. With a quality selection of 22 oz. draught beers, it offers players an excellent chance to start off a round with a birdie.
Hole two, Buffalo Wild Wings, requires some real skill. It's a tempting hole, the numerous drink specials entice the risk taker to shoot for an early lead. But players must know their limitations; going out strong early often ends a round early.
"The Red Bull and Vodkas there are good," said senior Ryan Bowler. "Two of those can give you a stroke on the competition. It gives you a comfortable lead and helps perk you up."
From there, it's a brief walk to El Rodeo. A Texas Magarita, if finished in the half-hour, is worth four under par. Be careful though, it's a two-stroke penalty if not finished in the time limit.
After El Rod's the course crosses Main Street and heads south. Holes four and five, Bogen's and PK's, offer a brief lull before the first real test.
Two-story Hokie House offers the best chance for top-tier players to make a move. 32 ounce beers can score quick eagles, while their Trainstopper, a devilish blend of 13 different liquors and four juices, is worth four under par. Last fall, senior Jeff Jones, who bears an eerie resemblance to Tiger Woods, pulled out his driver.
"Dressed up as Tiger Woods, I was at the top of my game and going for the win," said Jones. "I drank four Trainstoppers in the half hour we were at Hokie House."
It gave him an eight shot lead.
Hokie House is also the best place to load up on food before the turn. Hamburgers are both good and cheap. Players then head downhill and close out the front nine with The Cellar, Sharkey's and the Underground. After that, things start to get dicey.
