One is, I've been playing with her older friends at work (males obviously). She has a group of older guys that she sometimes goes to lunch with and converse with on a regular basis. I'll go out once a week with them and it seems to be a non issue -- The next day at work they talk about the round,make fun of one another, and talk about how good I played (usually...one of them can keep up with me).They also had her sign a contract that said " I will not only allow but encourage (insert my name) all golf play for the rest of my life". Always helps . She has yet to say I golf too much or need to cut back. So far so good.

Another good point I've been preaching to her is: I've been golfing with work people a lot, my boss, his boss etc. You never know how far a good round will go if you impress your boss and his boss. Shot the lowest round of my life with my boss and he was impressed. It def can't hurt your chances at that next promotion or what have you. What a great game!

As an author who is saying he is not of hall of fame caliber and will not win another major I want you to realize Bubba is one of the few on tour who realize that this is just a game. Because of that he will win another major and will be laughing in your face or on your grave as he takes his place in the hall of fame.

I say this because of moronic articles like this that adamantly attack a player for bEing different and not of the cookie cutter over teached swings we see today.

The game needs more peoplelike Bubba to show everyday players that they too can play at the highest level with just a little work and determination.

There are a few things that I've incorporated to help that I'll share here...

1.) One of the big reasons it works for the both of us is that when I play on the weekends - it is very early AM. So I get back and have at least a half day with her - and the evening. I set aside quality time for the two of us.

2.) And when I know there is say a 2-day tournament, or outing which will take up a full day or weekend - I let her know well in advance so that she can make plans with her girlfriend(s) or my mother-in-law. This way, she doesn't feel like she is just sitting at home alone while I'm out playing golf.

3.) I really think one of the most important things that has helped our relationship stay strong is encouragement and support of my wife's interest outside of work. For instance, my wife got into triathlons from her two aunts that do Ironman(s) year after year. While my wife doesn't do the Ironman, she will train and do full and half tri's. I always ask her how she is doing with training, and discuss her calendar to help her plan and pick races. Heck, I even bought a road bike for myself to ride with her too. I felt it would be a good means of exercise, and a great way to spend time with her. Having a wife with a passion or hobbie like this really - REALLY helps a relationship.

4.) Lastly, I think it is important to go to dinner at least once a week. It's a way to take her out and show her appreciation for her working hard (she works her tail off during the week) and contributing to our family.

So far, I've been married for 8yrs - and honestly, I don't recall a time when my wife told me I couldn't play golf or didn't want me to play. Hopefully this helps some of the others out there who feel guilty or find issues with the wife regarding your golf addiction.

And it works for me and that's what counts. When you're middle-aged and have been through the ringer, you read, you see pros, you learn, you listen, you try what you learn, and you know what - it works for me and for those who socialize with me and work with me.

Admittedly, it won't work with narcissists or others with mental health issues -- that's why counseling is suggested in certain situations.

I've already lived through these issues, already made the mistakes, and I've learned what works. When you become aware and listen, the big talk becomes big action.

Good luck with what you're doing.

I realize everyone is not on the same page when it comes to marriage, and especially when our hobbies conflict with our marriage. but here's my thoughts anyway, feel free to take the meat and throw away the bones.

Its so much easier to choose the hobby... it almost never fails to yield a reward, demands nothing from us that we don't already desire to give, and is always there for us, ready to impart the same joy and fulfillment we've grown to expect over the years.

Marriage on the other hand is demanding, revealing, hard work, and often tugs at the very things we would rather not yield.

But I want to call into question our manhood here. What kind of men are we if at the end of the day we have failed to keep our word? Does this sound familiar: "I take you, to have and to hold... for better or for worse... to love and to cherish... from this day forward..." ?

Now the question on the floor is, when you made that vow, did you really plan to keep it or were you merely rehearsing sentimental jargon? I would suggest that you have made no greater promise in your whole life than what you said at the alter. (hmm... alter, a place of sacrifice?)

So let me cut to the chase. I would urge men wrestling with this to consider the greater challenge and embrace it. Put Golf in its proper place, put your wife in her proper place, and honor your word. If that means scaling back, do it... but don't just scale back on golf, scale up on your wife/family.

The irony is... the wives, in all of their complaining about time/resources spent on golf, are doing what we as men should be doing, and that is fighting for our marriages, fighting to keep our vows.

The point I was trying to make must've gotten lost in my sarcasm. Any married man knows this is a recurring conversation... not one that goes away after you've hashed it out. In order to truly help them see reality you must 1) have that rational discussion 2) never have it again... which is impossible... so you inevitably piss them off.

Unless a women has the rare desire to play fair, she usually won't. They will piss and moan until things start looking their way. Their language and behavior are cleverly designed to give you grief until you succumb. The title of this article is proof of that. The answer is to not fall prey to their pouty lips, for that is only a trap. The answer is to continue on the path of your original intention. Why?? Because you are a man.

GOLDEN RULE #2... A boy does what he can, a man does what he wants.

I will play golf when I want to, but I do fit into the category above of the guys who try to tee off at dawn and get home early. I live 5 minutes from the course and I skip that beer afterwards and usually head straight from the 18th green to my car. I also have a second job at a golf course so the cost of my obsession does not impact my families finances.

You have to be realistic and try to work with your significant other in order to try and make the time at the course work as well as possible with their schedule as well. Playing early, practicing during lunch breaks, etc. And when that's not possible you have to be man enough to stand up to her or if you don't then stop complaining about the lack of time you get to play golf.

If they don't talk rationally, it's time for a third party professional - counseling. The purpose of the discussion above is to get a wife to think about what she's saying - to help her get to a rational place. If she's not rational and doesn't take to empathetic leadership, then it's time for counseling, and if she is still talking to the walls - her walking papers. Life is too short.

And what can she do if you keep on playing? C'mon, they get passive-aggressive, resentful, and eventually divorce you. And they bring you down the tubes into depression -- which makes you golf even more as it turns into an addiction and an escape, making the problem worse.

So your job is to take the bull by the horns and show leadership - solve the problem now instead of having them literally drive you crazy.