60 replies to this topic

[MichiganMike]

Just saw the usual "I'd play golf every day if I could" comment and it got me thinking.  If you could play every day, would you?  Or said another way, given no major restrictions (job, money, etc) how many rounds would you play in a week?  Here's the scenario I offer you:
-You've won the lottery, call it a $200K/year annuity
-You have the option to continue working if you choose
-You are married
-You have 2 school age kids with activities of their own
-You are in good health
-You live in climate where golf can be played year round, though some months make it less desirable.

It's easy to say "I'd play golf every day, no question."  But think seriously about it for a minute.  I think my own number would be 3-4 times/week, with the occassional week of 5 rounds.  For one I'd worry about burn out.  I'm currently in Michigan with it's relatively short golf season and most years I'm ready for a break by October (though by Christmas spring can't come soon enough).  Plus that money would allow me to develop other interests and hobbies - travel and a non time consumming hobby business come to mind.  Lastly, as I said above you have a family, and I'd want to be engaged with them and their interests.

So what's your real idea number?

Edited by MichiganMike, 17 May 2012 - 02:08 PM.

[Agent Jim]

I don't like that you say I would have to have a wife and 2 kids.

I'll do without those and not win the lottery, and in my mind it is like winning the lottery.

If I was wealthy enough not to work, I would golf every other day I think.

Edited by Agent Jim, 17 May 2012 - 02:13 PM.

[crapula]

Agent Jim, on 17 May 2012 - 02:11 PM, said:

I don't like that you say I would have to have a wife and 2 kids.

I'll do without those and not win the lottery, and in my mind it is like winning the lottery.

Divorce. 7-14 rounds a week.

[MichiganMike]

Agent Jim, on 17 May 2012 - 02:11 PM, said:

I don't like that you say I would have to have a wife and 2 kids.

I'll do without those and not win the lottery, and in my mind it is like winning the lottery.

If I was wealthy enough not to work, I would golf every other day I think.

It took just one reply to call me on the family restriction!  My intent wasn't so much to give people a family, but to provide some level of responsibilty beyond that of a complete surf bum.

[Agent Jim]

MichiganMike, on 17 May 2012 - 02:16 PM, said:

Agent Jim, on 17 May 2012 - 02:11 PM, said:

I don't like that you say I would have to have a wife and 2 kids.

I'll do without those and not win the lottery, and in my mind it is like winning the lottery.

If I was wealthy enough not to work, I would golf every other day I think.

It took just one reply to call me on the family restriction!  My intent wasn't so much to give people a family, but to provide some level of responsibilty beyond that of a complete surf bum.

I have a dog that I take to the park every day. Besides that I am a bum down here in Vero Beach FL. I guess I should just be happy I can golf once a week all year round

[larrybud]

I think I could do it without having to work.  When I started a new job 2 years ago I took 10 days off in between.  Played every day, 36 twice, and had a couple of lessons in the mix.  It was fantastic!

[Thrillhouse]

2-3 rounds a week is all I really want to play. Then I could do other stuff the rest of the time, like send more emails to the DuPont corporation asking about corn starch.

[Swisstrader98]

Play 3-4 times per week, practice all other days, take one day off. Just like the pros!

[MichiganMike]

Swisstrader98, on 17 May 2012 - 03:03 PM, said:

Play 3-4 times per week, practice all other days, take one day off. Just like the pros!

Not all of them.  Bubba just took 14 days off (granted it was to be with his new kid, but I expect more layoffs in his future).  Also, go google Bruce Lietzke banana story.

[Another Steelers Fan]

Four.

[rvgolfer]

I am retired, and live in a very mild 365 days per year golf climate.  I find that playing 4-5 times per week satisfies my golf craving.  Usually, I will play 3-4 days in a row, then take a day off, then repeat.  I also plan based on upcoming weather, so I will tend to play more days in a row if later in the week the weather is going to be poor,,ie below 50 or rainy, high winds.

If you dont have a job but have enough income, even married with children, you most likely wouldnt change your frequency of golf, since if you can tee off by 8am you still have the entire afternoon to spend with the family.  Kids will tend to be in school and most wives will be glad to get you out of the house.  I really dont think family issues would/will have much effect on playing frequency, the main factors are demands of a job and income that influence one's playing schedule, plus the number of rounds per week that you actually want to play.

Edited by rvgolfer, 17 May 2012 - 03:32 PM.

[tesuquegolfer]

Many of us have sat around and played the what if game regarding winning the lottery and some comments stuck with me.  One guy said his wife would come home and find suitcases packed and he would tell her he won the lottery . She would say, "Great where are we going",  and he says, "We are not going anywhere, you are, get the hell out.  I said I would just give my wife $10K of my half to go out and buy new clothes so I wouldn't have to pack them.  In fact, I might just leave her a check for 55%  with a note and be gone! So, with that said, I would have no wife, my kids are off to college, I certainly would not work AND I would play 7 days a week, sometimes more than 18 holes per day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :drinks:I just hope my body would hold up.

[jon2]

I have and would again play 3 or 4 days a week, with maybe 36 holes one or two of those days.

It's really the best way to practice anyway...

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Count me in the 3 times a week club, with some weeks maybe an additional round or two.   Like Bud, I too had some time off between jobs a few years back.  I had grand plans of 36 holes each day.   I think I played the first 3 days then decided to take a few days off.   I think in the 3 weeks I was off, I probably played 10 rounds or so.

[Nej1140]

I'm in highschool and play 5 times a week anyways!

But if I had kids, 3-4 times a week. What am I going to do when they are at school for 6 hours?

[Locked]

I'd still work but play 2x - 3x per week... that would be plenty for me and I know that I would always look forward to and enjoy my round... I never want golf to feel like work in that I do it every day.

[baseballfrk8998]

4-5 times.. Preferably not at the same course every time.

[blink3665]

Four times a week.  The biggest thing would be that I could play different courses.  I would also practice 4 times a week.  If I have won this mythical lottery, I have enough to outfit my garage with a projector, and a trackman... Then put a putting green in my backyard with a chipping range too.

[tembolo1284]

3-5 rounds a week...maybe a 36 hole day one of those days. Hit range 1-2 times a week and short game area 1-2 times a week.

And since i'd be in such a good mood...i'd get working on having that 3rd kid.

[justinp766]

rvgolfer, on 17 May 2012 - 03:31 PM, said:

I am retired, and live in a very mild 365 days per year golf climate.  I find that playing 4-5 times per week satisfies my golf craving.  Usually, I will play 3-4 days in a row, then take a day off, then repeat.  I also plan based on upcoming weather, so I will tend to play more days in a row if later in the week the weather is going to be poor,,ie below 50 or rainy, high winds.

If you dont have a job but have enough income, even married with children, you most likely wouldnt change your frequency of golf, since if you can tee off by 8am you still have the entire afternoon to spend with the family.  Kids will tend to be in school and most wives will be glad to get you out of the house.  I really dont think family issues would/will have much effect on playing frequency, the main factors are demands of a job and income that influence one's playing schedule, plus the number of rounds per week that you actually want to play.

So.........Your saying there's a chance?!

[youngstructural]

I would play 3-4 rounds a week (close to what I play now, but that is two 9-hole leagues and usually 1-2 18's).  I would just hit the range more.

[Mulligan26]

I currently play or practice 7 days a week... 21 with no girlfriend and my local course lets me play and practice for free for my range picking services

[ruascott]

3-5 depending upon weather and if there was anything else going on. No way i would/could play every day. Would get burnt out. I'd take occasional breaks of a week or two for traveling or just doing something else.

[eric_b]

I'm not having kids....ever....so that's out.

But that being written.....if money weren't an issue and i had all the time in the world.....i would probably play 3 or 4 days a week....but i would hit the range every day.  Love the range.  

The other thing is....i would have about 25 full bag setups.....just cause i could.

Yeah....decadence.

[CallawayLefty]

6 days per week I would play or practice for 8 hours per day and spend another 1-2 in the gym/stretching.  I would take one day per week completely off.  With the $200K annuity I would also join at least 2 different courses and would play in every tournament in a 5 state radius.  

One of my friend's grandfathers retired at about age 65.  He played golf basically everyday, but ended up going back to work full-time at age 70.  No money issues, he apparently just got bored.  You hear that from time to time..."you'd get so bored not working..."  Not me man.  I could do what I outlined above for-freaking-ever.

  

[richard t]

How many days in a week? Nah, 3-4 days would be great. Like OP practice the other 2-3. Gotta mow the lawn or She Who Must Be Obeyed would fire me, or worse. (lol) Luxury of having kids grown/gone. there was a time when once a week seemed like a gift from the gods.

[MichiganMike]

Shocked at how many guys would kick their wives to the curb. Are people really that unhappy out there?

[eric_b]

MichiganMike, on 18 May 2012 - 11:21 AM, said:

Shocked at how many guys would kick their wives to the curb. Are people really that unhappy out there?

Sorry to all other posters for jumping on this sidetrack....but yes, there is some unhapiness out there.  The unfortunate reality is a lot of people do things because they're "supposed to"....couples that have been together for years get married cause "hey, why not"....then there's those that confuse the symbol for the thing they want.....they think the symbol of a wedding will lead to a good relationship....when it's really the other way round.....

Unfortunately, this happens quite a bit with children as well....people have kids for a number of reasons....with "cause i really want to be a parent" rarely being one of them.

You can see the end result of this by looking at divorce rates, poor child performance in schools....etc etc etc.

Now before everyone jumps all over me with "i'm happily married"....yeah yeah....i know.....i'm not saying this is everyone....and most of the stuff i've read and experienced is from a north american perspective (where it happens in an alarmingly high percentage of cases)....but i'm saying it's out there.....read up on it....my wife and i did before we got married.....it's borderline frightening.

Well....that was depressing.....BACK TO GOLF!  I wouldn't just play lots.....I would play golf with my wife.....there.....that's better.

[MichiganMike]

eric_b, on 18 May 2012 - 11:46 AM, said:

MichiganMike, on 18 May 2012 - 11:21 AM, said:

Shocked at how many guys would kick their wives to the curb. Are people really that unhappy out there?

Sorry to all other posters for jumping on this sidetrack....but yes, there is some unhapiness out there.  The unfortunate reality is a lot of people do things because they're "supposed to"....couples that have been together for years get married cause "hey, why not"....then there's those that confuse the symbol for the thing they want.....they think the symbol of a wedding will lead to a good relationship....when it's really the other way round.....

Unfortunately, this happens quite a bit with children as well....people have kids for a number of reasons....with "cause i really want to be a parent" rarely being one of them.

You can see the end result of this by looking at divorce rates, poor child performance in schools....etc etc etc.

Now before everyone jumps all over me with "i'm happily married"....yeah yeah....i know.....i'm not saying this is everyone....and most of the stuff i've read and experienced is from a north american perspective (where it happens in an alarmingly high percentage of cases)....but i'm saying it's out there.....read up on it....my wife and i did before we got married.....it's borderline frightening.

Well....that was depressing.....BACK TO GOLF!  I wouldn't just play lots.....I would play golf with my wife.....there.....that's better.

What I also meant to say, but didn't include in my original observation of this is - if people are so unhappy, why not split now?  I expect the answer will be they can't afford to get divorced, support two household,etc, but to me that's just sad.  Can't be a good way to go through life for anyone involved.

Maybe the desire to get out of the house is the true cause of slow play? No one wants to go home!

[Woogie]

I think 3 rounds with buddies would be perfect with maybe a 4th or 5th round by myself or with the wife.