Lou, you are slowing up. It took you over an hour to come up with your spuriously ascribing my statements as a hail to socialism as the reason for Sweden's achievement in sports. It was you that predictably jumped up upon Tepper's mention of 'socialism'. I only pointed out your apparent life's mission to save us from the socialists, no matter the issue or implication. And, as usual, you assumed the wrong spin on the data, saying that the Swedes participation in a list of sports was 'underwhelming'. As anyone knows who follows, from the list you gave, the ones the Swedes actually pursue as nationwide popular sports, they excel quite well, perhaps even disproportionately so. It took Brian the Swede to point out that the concept of equality (of opportunity and facility to participate in sports) whether that is socialistic or just plain in the national psyche to promote fairness and equality of opportunity, really is at the heart of the matter.
One might conclude in the realm of sports achievment: exclusionary-private+cost/class barrier = bad.
Inclusionary, fair and equal access+ affordable and part of national policy trait to promote equality = good.... same with health care, which may actually be related to the health/sports nexis.
And, I really do get the distinction between fear and repression in Cuba, which is no where near the constitutional monarchy with liberal freedoms the Swedes enjoy. I can't imagine why you'd try to pin that on me unless it is from the Rovian play book... 
nighty nite.
Dick,
Give me a freakin' break! Go back to my original reply and find the word "socialism" anywhere. I only provided two plausible factors which may help to explain Sweden's success in golf, and posed a third that may also have some implications. You may wish to review the subsequent responses by others, but I don't see anything which refutes what I wrote.
You accuse me of "spuriously ascribing my statements as a hail to socialism". Careful reading and consideration of other people's posts are not strongpoints of this site. But Dick, certainly you must comprehend what you wrote. If your statement above does not "hail to socialism as the reason for Sweden's achievement in sports" then maybe I need some remedial work in reading comprehension.
As to my bringing in Cuba into this mix following your "spurious" psychoanalysis of my motives- and I thought you were a public sector union leader and negotiator in your professional life, not a trained psychologist
- it just came to mind because this socialist utopia also takes great pride in its athletic prowess on the international stage (primarily in baseball and boxing) and those on the left use highly fictionalized accounts of its socialized healthcare system to chide those of us who believe in market-based solutions. I am fairly sure that you have offered Cuba's "achievements" on this front in past discussions to berate those of us who believe that socialized health care would be disastrous for our country.
In any regard, I did not as yet receive my talking points from Mr. Rove to respond to the question: "The Scandinavian Secret: Why does Sweden churn out so many great golfers?". Perhaps I can still catch part of Rush's program and gain some guidance. Unfortunately, I have been procrastinating on completing my tax return (you are the psychologist here, do you suppose that this is the reason I've been posting so much lateley?).
Dick, it is a good thing I am very fond of you. Certainly you must know that I am a strong believer in the Second Amendment, though I am much more dangerous on the golf course. When we play again, you may wish to avoid standing immediately to my right. Come to think of it, I can't imagine you ever doing that.
Brian Phillips,
Thanks for your informative post. You say "but it keeps my wife as she is a communist by heart....". If it is not too personal in nature, what did you mean by this?
BTW, if you added all your taxes and fees, what percentage of your gross income do these take?
Tiger Bernhardt,
Amazing how things never change. Golf, women, and good times. You bon-vivant!
While working in Marbella years ago, I learned that the Swedes take frequent trips to the Spanish Gold Coast. One of the board members of the Spanish Golf Federation mentioned that a Swedish golf association had purchased a golf club and housing/hotel complex somewhere in southern Spain where it sent its promising players during the cold winter months.
Years earlier I picked up a game at Fiddlesticks, a nice Ron Garl course not far from Naples, FL, with the then president of what was the equivalent to the USGA in Sweden. He and two buddies had come to a Golf Digest school for a week in the winter. We had a great time and he invited me to play again the next day. The guys were suffering from physical exhaustion (apparently the GD school was very grueling) and terrible sun burns, but they were a joy to play with. Their description of their country (much more was mentioned about their women than their golf courses) and their way of living was highly complimentary. I could see someone like you having a wonderful life there. Coincidentally, I am fairly sure he was an attorney. Of course, Sweden's gain would be our loss!
Ian Andrew,
Do you think that the junior program in Canada, a more diverse society than Sweden, will achieve similar results? Are there any discernable trends as yet?
I would like to see American clubs give much more emphasis to Junior golf, but given the difficulty that our public school system has with discipline and unruliness, I fear that it may be too much to ask. Club managers and professionals have their hands full without needing to become babysitters. Also, the fear of litigation and liability plus the need to keep paying members/customers happy does not seem to bode well for such (Junior golf) initiatives here.
While a member of a private club in TX for many years, I took it upon myself to help out young golfers when I could. Unfortunately, few were receptive. Kids here seem to prefer enjoying their time with their buddies whether playing golf, playing computer games, or hanging out at the mall. Golf with its slower pace, rules of conduct and courtesies, and shared use of the facilities with as many as 100+ others does not seem to be ideally suited to many of our young people. I think the First Tee program is a move in the right direction, but if the future of the game is indeed dependent on a successful Junior program- the thesis behind the Swedish and Canadian models- I don't know how things will play out here.