Retirement and Golf

[Alf. S]

So after much thought about my financial situation at the ripe old age of 58 I've decided to retire. 

Since graduating University with an Electronics Degrees 35 years ago I have had only 6 weeks out of work so I'm a bit worried if I will fill my time. There is only so much golf I can play.

I've always played golf but at the age of 40 I got my first handicap of 22. After a couple of years and a tip from a wise experience golfer I got down to 16 then 12. I had a couple of excellent rounds and was cut from 12 to 8 in the space of 3 weeks, which I could never play to. Now 8 years later for the last 3 years  I've oscillate between 7 and 8,  getting tantalising close to category 1. They say that once your over 50 you lose 5% muscle mass per year and I'm beginning to notice that my length is reducing. 

I've got 3 months notice to work but then the heat is on, my target is to get to be a category 1 golfer before I'm 60 so with a season and a half of retirement I'm hoping this will give me the spare time to get there.

Wish me luck.

Alf

[PING Apologist #9]

Happy retirement and good luck on your quest! Keep us posted out there, and if you need a break from golf, go fly fishing!

[bens197]

Congrats on retirement! Hope your adjustment goes well


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[tony@CIC]

[quote post="518625" timestamp="1552685748" name="Alf. S" They say that once your over 50 you lose 5% muscle mass per year and I'm beginning to notice that my length is reducing. 



Congrats on your pending retirement and golf improvements.

As someone whose crossed the 70 mark - can't believe I'm saying that, yes there is some loss. However, I wouldn't automatically draw a parallel between age and that 5% per year loss. I have friends my age that don't have any physical activity and don't work out - I would assume they're primary examples of that 5% figure. At the same time I and some other friends are constantly working out, walking 18, etc and while we have lost swing speed we're definitely not in the 5% per year category.


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[Kenny B]

28 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

[quote post="518625" timestamp="1552685748" name="Alf. S" They say that once your over 50 you lose 5% muscle mass per year and I'm beginning to notice that my length is reducing. 



Congrats on your pending retirement and golf improvements.

As someone whose crossed the 70 mark - can't believe I'm saying that, yes there is some loss. However, I wouldn't automatically draw a parallel between age and that 5% per year loss. I have friends my age that don't have any physical activity and don't work out - I would assume they're primary examples of that 5% figure. At the same time I and some other friends are constantly working out, walking 18, etc and while we have lost swing speed we're definitely not in the 5% per year category.


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OMG!!  At our age we should be just skin and bones!!  Totally agree, I lost speed over the last 10 years... 60-70 years old, but this past year I have gained 10 mph with the SuperSpeed training.  I'm not saying that speed doesn't decrease, but the decline can be slowed and in some cases, speed can be gained through proper training.

Best wishes on retirement Alf.  BTW, what do you mean when you say "There is only so much golf I can play"?  I am not familiar with that statement.  

[CarlH]

The best thing about retirement is that there are no more Mondays!    Enjoy life to its fullest!

[tony@CIC]

7 minutes ago, CarlH said:

The best thing about retirement is that there are no more Mondays!    Enjoy life to its fullest!

Or another way to think it - every day is a Saturday

[fixyurdivot]

You'll find plenty of things to do and fill time. I always thought folks that told me they were busier in retirement than when working were full of it - but now almost 3 years retired I see what they mean.  The day after I retired I took my bedside alarm clock out to the woodpile where I had a large stump and splitting maul... only one of us returned .  Congratulations!

[MattF]

Congratulations on your impending retirement and best of luck reaching category 1.

[josmi15]

Congrats on your retirement. Chase that goal. You’ve got this!


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[ole gray]

Congrats! Enjoy retirement and good luck on your golfing goals!   When you're not golfing, volunteer to help with stuff like the animal shelters etc.   Very rewarding and although it might not build muscles, it sure warms ya heart.    I'm pretty sure my muscles are as big or maybe even bigger than they were several years ago.   I know for sure something else is smaller....     Nooooo   I'm not talking about that.... lol

 

 

At 55 years old & now at 68.   Join a gym to gain strength back and feel better!   The main thing about age that has seriously affected my distance, is flexibility.   I'm stronger than some of the younger guys who hit it waaaaaay past me.   I could whup em in an arm wrestling match but not in driving distance. 

 

[PMookie]

Congrats! I’m certainly jealous!!


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[revkev]

Blessings on your retirement - here’s to good health and good golf.

 

Great job Ole Gray!!!

 

Foz was pretty surprised to see me yesterday. I’m not quite as ripped as the guys on tour but over a year into my fitness program I weigh what I did as a college catcher and would fight and a middle weight. 164.2 today

 

 

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[deauxrite]

Good on you..I hope that you find the time to work on that swing.  I think that you will find that with a bit of extra time to walk, work out a little and groove that swing..you can play better than you ever imagined.  Good Luck

[Reesedw]

Congrats.enjoy your retirement and golf as much as you can or want to.. SWMBO is a fee years older than me and say I have to work til I'm 65 to keep her in the lifestyle I have given her... damn did I mess this ip.. lol. Go enjoy your time and go kill it.
.

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[tehuti]

When I retire I plan to play golf every Monday morning. Just to thumb my nose at the Gods of Work.


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[Rickp]

Congratulations, enjoy your retirement you earned it. Hope you fulfill your golf dreams in good health!


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[Alf. S]

That's a great idea on Monday's and maybe take a few photos and text them to old boss

[Alf. S]

Not hit my retiral date yet but had my 1st singles medal of the season on Saturday. 2 Doubles in the 1st four holes from nowhere but then steadied to be level for the next 11. Conditions were cold with drizzle and mist coming in but was thinking a nice cut on the way even with the challenging 16th which is a tough par 4. Finished double (3 putt), bogey, Double (3 putt). The 18th was a Sergio moment when the swear words were flowing on the frustration of the last 3 holes.  Made buffer so no harm done.

Off to Ladybank (ex-Open Qualifier) on Thursday hoping for a better day. 

[Alf. S]

Update

Handicap

• Season Start = 7.3
• End April =7.4
• Current = 7.1

After a couple of 0.1 increases my handicap had slipped to 7.5, playing handicap of 8 for my strokeplay competition on Saturday. I wasn't overly concerned because I see my game improving and have been suffering from back and hip stiffness. I also thought that it would give me a extra stoke for 3 Match Play games I'm playing this week.

Went out on Saturday in really tricky conditions and came in with 79 net 71 with a CSS 73 so 1st cut of the season to 7.1. Bogeyed 3 of the last 4 which I put down to the back, I was hitting it pretty bad for the last 4 holes.

Small steps, bonus cheque this week so a new Launch Monitor is on my shopping list. Also fancy the Odyssey red dot.

[revkev]

Glad you are enjoying your retirement


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[SteddyGolf]

You can either live life or let life live you. I think retirement is the bomb. I’m 54 years old and 6 months into my first year of retirement. I’ve worked since I was 14 years old often having two or three jobs. Everyone says I’ll get bored....... No freakin way! Volunteerism is the way to go. Find something you like and give your heart and time to it.

 

I’m coaching high school basketball (JV), High School Golf and conducting pro bono leadership symposiums. All things I like, all things I’m good at, and all things I control. I’ve also started buying condos to create a rent by day business (VRBO/AirBNB).

 

In life you must do the things you have to do so that you can one day do the things you want to do. I’m working on the want to do side of the page ;)

 

 

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[Rickp]

Retirement is what you make of it. I thought I would need a part time job to fill in the gaps but noooo. We’re too busy!! There are plenty of things to do (see SteadyGolf) and yes Volunteering is a big deal!


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[ole gray]

Between walking our county shelter dogs, golfing, and occasional rocking chair duty, I’m busier than a bee in a tar bucket!


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[Rickp]

Between walking our county shelter dogs, golfing, and occasional rocking chair duty, I’m busier than a bee in a tar bucket!


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If my wife started volunteering at a Shelter we would have 20 dogs & cats.
Me too probably.....


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[ole gray]

12 minutes ago, Rickp said:

If my wife started volunteering at a Shelter we would have 20 dogs & cats.
Me too probably.....


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You're a good man Rick!  We fostered two dogs in the last month and we almost adopted the first one.  She was a super sweet dog and now regret not taking her.  We had a meet and greet with another family and they gobbled her up. 

[Rickp]

You're a good man Rick!  We fostered two dogs in the last month and we almost adopted the first one.  She was a super sweet dog and now regret not taking her.  We had a meet and greet with another family and they gobbled her up. 

Our current rescue is a 15 year old cat. When she goes I hope we can find a rescue dog that we can adopt. The pup/dog has to be OK with riding in the cart


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[fixyurdivot]

On 3/15/2019 at 3:35 PM, Alf. S said:

So after much thought about my financial situation at the ripe old age of 58 I've decided to retire

Good decision and congratulations!  I retired at 55 and do not regret having done so for one New York minute.  You simply don't get the opportunity to say, gee, I wish I had retired earlier - you don't get the years back.  We relocated from WA to MT and now spend winters in Yuma, AZ.  I fly fish more than golf when at home but golf 3x/week while in Yuma.  Have fun with this chapter of life!

[Alf. S]

Since I started this post I've invested in a few things

1. FlightScope Mevo

2. Swing lesson lesson

3 Putting lesson with Putt Lab analysis

4 TM Spider X

Working out my notice period at work and practising the wrong things H/C went up to 8.0. Driving was really getting me down. But with the lessons last week hopefully I've turned the corner. Marginally missed buffer on Saturday and Wednesday, 6 over 76 yesterday in the Senior League. 2 pitch in  Eagles  from 34 and 46 yds, putting still cost me but still WIP.

 

 

 

[Alf. S]

2 months into my retirement and golf is not going the way I planned, playing lots of it but game has gone in the wrong direction. gone up from 7.3 to 8.6 so playing off 9.

Personally I don't think the lessons mentioned on my previous post helped. I've always positioned the ball back in my stance closing down the club face, the Pro had me move it forward and getting more shoulder rotation. This has resulted in me knifing a lot of shots which have been pretty destructive especially when playing the shorter clubs. 56' wedge knifed = 130 yds c.f. 100 yds means lost ball. One thing the Pro did emphasise was  getting a consistent setup, if you hit a bad shot the question should be what did I not do rather than trying to change things on the course which I'm prone to do. Slowed things down and gone back to the old ball position last week's 5 rounds:- 81, 79, 85, 81, 76.

The 85 was interesting 1 over after 7 with 2 eagle putts and a lost ball, hitting the ball really well. The 8th and 13th holes at Kilsyth run parallel to each other I sliced my ball from the 8th heading towards the 13th. 4 ball on the other hole searching for a ball must have played my ball. I heard a guy shouting to his partner "what were you playing", reply "can't remember, but that will be it" then plays the ball and off they go. When I got there checking Arccos  data the old boy with an army swing must have hit it 260 yds?? Anyway lost concentration and crashed and burned.

For the 76, it was suppose to be the clubs Pro's Day yesterday a 4 ball better ball competition but it was cancelled due to torrential rain on Friday so had a bounce game (non hc counter) in 25 mph winds gusting to 35 mph, best round of the season.

Left with only about 6 counting competitions until the end of the season so will end up at worse 9 but hoping for some form to get a few cuts.