Retired BUT playing less golf!!!

[MadMex]

Allow me to step on my soapbox

I retired 3 years ago, moved from California to the Mountains of Arizona, beautiful area surrounded by pines, 2 private courses and about 6 semi-private and municipal courses, so lack of courses is not a problem.

I have found myself doing things which I never ever would have thought of while working! Hiking, traveling, doing things around the house, etc,etc,,,l two weeks I finally swung a club, several people were concerned for my health thinking I was having a seizure of some type!! Finally after 4 sessions I looked like I had played the gam e before and was semi-worth of my clubs.

So, am I alone? I thought I would be playing at least 2-3 times a week , but somehow the nurse has diminished, wonder if there is drug which gives you the urge to -;any, sort of a golf Viagra,,,,,,,thanks for the rant, now back to your scheduled program.

[silver & black]

8 minutes ago, MadMex said:

Allow me to step on my soapbox

I retired 3 years ago, moved from California to the Mountains of Arizona, beautiful area surrounded by pines, 2 private courses and about 6 semi-private and municipal courses, so lack of courses is not a problem.

I have found myself doing things which I never ever would have thought of while working! Hiking, traveling, doing things around the house, etc,etc,,,l two weeks I finally swung a club, several people were concerned for my health thinking I was having a seizure of some type!! Finally after 4 sessions I looked like I had played the gam e before and was semi-worth of my clubs.

So, am I alone? I thought I would be playing at least 2-3 times a week , but somehow the nurse has diminished, wonder if there is drug which gives you the urge to -;any, sort of a golf Viagra,,,,,,,thanks for the rant, now back to your scheduled program.

I can't help you...lol. I retired last year, but I still work every day. I'll have to work til I drop... or get a decent lotto win...lol. No way anyone can live on SS checks.

[revkev]

I'm at this age but decided not to retire yet - part of the reason is increased household expenses mean that I need a bit more income before I will feel safe, the other is that I'm still effective in my job and my church has a significant anniversary coming up in three years.  I hang on until 71 I'd be in good shape between my pension, combined SS with my wife and a small but growing savings.  

 

At any rate I'm glad you are enjoying your retirement - Arizona is a beautiful state - there is so much to see and do.  I'm assuming the retirement goes much farther in the Northern part of the state.  I love golf but I'd rather spend time doing what my family wants to do - I hope to play a lot when I retire but that's in God's hands not mine.  

[cksurfdude]

1 hour ago, MadMex said:

I have found myself doing things which I never ever would have thought of while working!

So in other words you're ENJOYING retirement and keeping BUSY and having a GREAT TIME??!!??

Gee that's too bad

That's one of nice things about retirement that I'm enjoying .. do what I feel like on my schedule! (..well most of the time...)

[TJ Hall]

I have the urge to go play golf but can’t due to working and family things (kids!)…but if you are enjoying activities outside of golf, that is part of retirement also.

 

[Dead Solid Bogey]

I don’t  consistently play more than 3-5 times  a week. On designated golf trips, the usual schedule is 5-6 days of golf, a day off, then another 5-6 days of golf. 
  I am still employed and work out of town. This gives sometimes a 2-4 week hiatus from golf. Add in recent health issues, an I am on track to get in less than 50 rounds by June 1st.  
  Priorities change at different times in our lives. However, I don’t think I would play more golf in retirement than I do now. Retirement also has no great allure for me, so I will keep on keeping on. I sincerely hope you can come to some sort of self-agreement in what you want your life/retirement to be like.

[hohjoe]

I retired three years ago this past February. I went from playing golf 10-12 times a year to playing 3-5 times a week. It seems as though that's all I do, but I'm having fun and haven't lost any desire or motivation to play.

As long as you are doing what you enjoy, then continue. If you get the golfing bug again it sounds as though you are in the right spot geographically.

[Hacker60521]

@MadMex I retired a couple of years ago with visions of playing a lot more golf. But what I’ve learned is that I’m spending more time with my family, travel, and other experiences that are more important to me than golf. So it doesn’t bother me that I’m not playing as much golf as I envisioned since I’m doing other things that I enjoy. 

[MadMex]

59 minutes ago, Hacker60521 said:

@MadMex I retired a couple of years ago with visions of playing a lot more golf. But what I’ve learned is that I’m spending more time with my family, travel, and other experiences that are more important to me than golf. So it doesn’t bother me that I’m not playing as much golf as I envisioned since I’m doing other things that I enjoy. 

Exactly, even the wife who was also an addict, she used to threaten to sell clubs because sometimes we “only” played once a week , has not asked to play. Maybe leaving the hustle and bustle of the big cities , Riverside California, for the Mountains of AZ (population 17K) has sort of giving a new view on life. 

[Cmra1]

I can afford once a week, twice now and then, but have lots of things to do around the house knowing that in the next couple years we will move and we have way too much stuff.

[Dave Tutelman]

I retired 22 years ago. The plan was golf twice a week with a bunch of friends whom I knew from work. That turned out to be 3 times a week: twice with my regular crew and once doing a free-lance walk-on to keep variety in the venues. I'll be 83 next month, and I'm still walking the golf course 3 times a week, year round. This is in NJ; I may get less than 3 times a week in the winter if the courses are closed for snow. But most weeks I can still get in 2-3.

I found that was the most fun I could have, my best use of retirement. Sounds like yours has turned out to be something else. That's great for you! If the something else is more fun than golf, then you're in great shape. BTW, my son got a job in the mountains of AZ, and loves it there. His exercise is hiking in the bluffs and canyons around Sedona, which he can see from his front porch. Either way, whether you'd rather golf or hike, if it's what you want it's a great life!

[RoyF]

I'm also retired and think the key to keeping desire to play mostly has to do with having one or more groups to play with. I play with a group of mostly retired guys that play Tue, Thu & Fri. I also play with a mixed group (some retired, most younger) that play Sat & Sun. The two groups are both enjoyable,  but very different. The money we play for is small,  but it is an incentive to care and want to play well. So if you don't have regular groups to play with,  perhaps look for that. And as others have said,  it sounds like you are enjoying retirement, which is what your goal should be,  regardless of how much golf that entails, congratulations. 

[Dukhook52]

Retired since 9/23.  Play about once per week, sometimes twice.  Back issues keep me off the course at times.  Plus we have had a rainy spring.  Working on setting up my back yard practice facility where I can at least keep some semblance of a swing going.  Arizona is a great place to play golf!  Hope you can get out on the course more in the  future.  Enjoy your retirement!

[TENBUCK]

Golf was a big part of my life in my younger years and when I was working. Well I retired about 10 years ago (early) thinking that I could golf my way through life, then life happened. My wife passed so that took a big chunk of momentum out of golf. I got through all of that then the aches and pains started to settle in. Playing college football you play with stuff and when your off you try and heal. Well, the healing went ok for the first 50 years, but now its starting to make a comeback......so knowing what I signed-up for you just have to deal with it, but it's something I didn't expect or this much of. I try and play 2-3 times per week, but don't walk it. So in other words I work around my issues. Bottom line is that I'm enjoying life as I know it, play when I can and still have some time for myself and going out with my buddies.

You sound like you have things under control. Sometimes golf can be tiring. maybe you need to take a break and go out there with a whole new attitude. BTW, I wish they would make a "golf" Viagra!

Edited May 15 by TENBUCK

[Scooter 328]

I was blessed to retire at 62. 3 years ago. I have always loved the game. I only could get in around 20-25 rounds a year when working. Now I play over 100 rounds per year, and go on golf trips. I am very fortunate to have friends i get to play with. That's the key for me.  

[Beakbryce]

I also retired in AZ. My wife and I retired in 2016. We play at least 3 times a week. We moved to a retirement golf community with 3 courses and a military course within 10 minutes.

Everyone has a dream pre-retirement plan, doesn't matter if it changes once you get there. Retirement is a reward and if one can do what ever they want, a just reward. 

Have fun.