Unnessecary Purchases?

[sandtrap]

It starts as a thought and turns into an obsession. One minute you are thinking about a 3 ball or a Heavy putter and the next thing you know you've got 110 putters. None of them the ones you started looking at.
Camerons and Bettinardis and TP Mills of my. Now you're a "collector" and you can't drive by a golf store or a play it a again without stopping to see what you "need"..

Boy that's a good deal on gloves, yes I need a 7th pair of shoes for only $59. How can I pass by a deal like that?

It's a sickness, and you know what I feel better for having written this. The first step to a cure is admitting you have a problem.

So go on my brothers of the fairways and get that new gear, you deserve it. I'll see you at the Golf Galaxy on Tuesdays, Golfsmith on Thursdays and PIA on Mon and Friday.

Now I'm off to the Thread on Beer and slap down the guy that said if it's not Miller lite it's P.

[wachesawgolfer]

4 years from now are you going to miss the $500-$1000 that you spent on something you enjoy doing?



Imagine what $1000 invested conservatively would be worth when this guy is 65. Throwing money away at any age makes no sense, but it is particularly costly when your young. Spending a lifetime obtaining layer upon layer of toys you do not need or will use much makes little sense. Sorry, but I could not resist attempting to sway a potential gearhead into solvency.

[Ian]

Omg yes. I wanted new irons, so i got new irons, then i got a new driver, now im looking at wedges and a hybrid... I JUST CANT STOP

ITS LIKE CRACK!!

WHY DONT THEY HAVE REHAB FOR THIS?

[MrSandman]

Dent, I think the key is to buy something that you like, and then try to hang on to it for a while. I've had my putter since 1998. I have no plans to get a new one. Drivers are a little different, technology changes so much with them that you have to upgrade every few years. You should be able to get half a decade out of an iron set if you buy a quality set now. Wedges can last forever once you find ones that fit your style (and you get them re-grooved every couple of years).

[Klean]

I think any purchase on a game you love is worthwhile (as long as you can afford it)

And you being a teenager Dent, I would be a happy camper if my son chose to spend his hard earned money on a respectable hobby/obsession.

[Rusty2228]

I just did a gradual retool of my bag. New irons, new driver, new hybrid, new putter, and a new wedge. I couldn't justify buying new clubs so I had them regripped. Now that I have a bag of relatively new equipment, I am dying because I don't have anything that I want to cruise ebay, tgw, golfsmith, etc...looking for. I love my golf bag, I got new shoes at the beginning of the season, I have golf balls coming out the wazoo.

Any suggestions on what I can get? I keep looking for wedges that I know I don't need but I feel like it is something relatively small that I can buy to feed my addiction.

The worst part is there are people who are infinitely worse than me, so I hold that up to my wife as a reason to allow me to buy something new as in "I am not that bad, JoEsMiTh9383 on the sandtrap has 13 drivers and 15 irons sets, I only have three"

[Dent]

I also like to keep onto my equipment as well, I will keep these purchases for a looong time.

I love searching for golf equipment, it honestly makes me feel soo good.

Wachesaw I have to dissagree partly, You said I will not need or use much. I needed a new putter, and a new Fairway wood, some of this stuff I don't. You say that I won't use them much. Well: Im 16 now, and I will probably have to stop golfing at around 75years old. So apparently im playing golf for another 59 years. Looks like I will use this equipment for a long time.

Just got payed today! And also an extra 4 dollars an hour for working on a holiday. What do i do with all this money? New Golf Shoes!

[jonanator]

I also like to keep onto my equipment as well, I will keep these purchases for a looong time.

I would have to somewhat agree with Wachesaw, in that, it makes no sense to throw away money at any age. It is 'ok' to spend on golf equipment within reason, but you shouldn't just spend money cause you have money!! It is probably a good idea to start some good saving and spending habits. By all means, reward yourself with golf goodies, just know that you can make money off the money you are earning now and that it doesn't hurt to save some extra money. It seems like you have a good start with money being automatically debited from your account every month. Trust me though, I know where you are coming from! I am 24 now and when I was you age, I was out of control!! I was a spoiled teenager and had everything I could want. I worked, but I didn't have any real bills to pay, so all my income was disposable income. My spending was uncontrollable, EATING OUT, dates with girls, cars, electronics, toys, clothing, shoes, sports equipment, I had to have it all, I had to have the best. Thinking back now, I really wish I had better spending habits and saved some of my money. At the time, it was sooooo much fun to just buy watever, but now that I look back, i realize how stupid that was haha. I worked a lot throughout high school and managed to make about $1200/month, mind you, this was like 8years ago. I could literally spend all that money month to month... if I learned to save some of that and invest it, I would be sitting on a lot more money. Now that I have matured a bit, I would do things a lot differently if I had the chance to. In the end, it isn't always how much you make, but how much you save.

[Dub]

Lately, I can go on and on about the new clubs I want: Irons, wedges, new bag, new shoes etc etc. I really don't need a new bag or new shoes, but I end up buying things anyways.

39 years old, married and have a child....but.....I still get happy over buying new gear....problem is that it's just so much harder to do now with a strict budget. I try to carefully evaluate my options much more that I did in years past. I solicit much more in the way of educated opionions and research to make the best choice. Confidence levels have to be high before I'll buy new stuff. I have to trust and believe that it'll add to my game and overall enjoyment before I'll pull the trigger and spend the hard-to-come-by dollar. This doesn't mean that I'll nessesarily compromise and shy away from getting "top shelf" gear vs. perfectly serviceable substitues at a lower cost. I want to know that in the long run I'll have no regrets and wish I'd spend the extra $ to get what I really wanted to start with. Impulse buys don't occur anymore.....at all. I usually wait at least a month maybe more.... after making my decision to see if it holds up to the test of time.

[Dent]

I'm sure I will change.

Like I said I make more money than I spend, so each time I'm still left with more and more money in the bank.

[TheGasman]

I think it just comes with being a man. I started with the tools in my early 20s. Now Ive got a tool box full of snap on and I dont really work on anything anymore.

Now its golf. I cant go into a shop without walking out with something. I dont go crazy on the club end of it, but I have more balls, cleats, polos, sunglasses, hats, and gadgets than any man should.

[topspin4hand]

Some of these posts were very funny and made me feel a lot better. I recently withstood the urge to buy another putter due to a couple occurrences: (1) a great day putting on the course and (2) just as importantly, I lost 2 EBAY auctions for YES! putters I was eyeing.

Well recently, I just purchased a used Titleist 907D1 with a stock VS Proto shaft for $110. It's not even like I am dissatisfued with my current driver but I demo'd this and, hey, I can build up my club museum.

[Scratch-Hopeful]

I have these urges but being a college student makes all of my purchases either used or at a great discount. I just got a new putter though, so I think that filled my buying urges for a little while! It was a MacGregor V Foil GT M6.4K putter off of ebay for $35! I thought that was pretty cool.

Just curious though, is the bag really that important to some of you? I bought a $30 offbrand bag 5 years ago and it barely has a scratch in it with hundreds of rounds on it. Just curious.

[HansMoleman]

These posts are my thoughts exactly.

I almost daily look at good golf deals on ebay/craigslist. I found a box of new Pro V1's for 25 and talked the guy down to 20! Laugh if you must, but I am a budget golfer and cant pass up a good deal!

Ebay is awesome for towels, spikes, and other small accessories you cant find in local shops.

[Dent]

I already have all my purchases planned out. It started out with buying my 5 wood off ebay for $70 Brand new now Im going to purchase next:

Just bought Yes! Tiffany Putter (waiting to arrive) - $52
Next will be some Adidas Tour 360 II shoes for $100 Brand new from a friend
Next will be a new wedge (either a CG12, Vokey or TP Wedge)
Along with some Pro V1's
New Irons after that (long way away)

[GOLFSALOT00]

i am only 13 but i do snow shoveling,and lawn mowing jobs .but golf is my life and i like to buy new stuff,and i figure im not paying taxes and i dont have to spend any money at all if i dont want to so i might as well spend it on new golf equipment

[atrapasuenos]

Lately, I can go on and on about the new clubs I want: Irons, wedges, new bag, new shoes etc etc. I really don't need a new bag or new shoes, but I end up buying things anyways.

I prefer to buy golf equipment than alcohol or drugs. As I told you when we chat, I have 5 montsh with my irons and I'm going to change them LOL.

And I'm suffering that too, buying need equipment and want to buy more LOL. Regards!

[DJYoshi]

i was SOOOO close to switching to the MP-67's this weekend. I played 1 of my friend's 67's for a few holes. I was able to consistently hit & even work shots that I kind of could get away with my 60's..but didn't have the confidence to. I know the 60's are a workable club, but whenever I try to draw it, I never push it out far enough... the 67's felt AWESOME. every shot basically went better than I expected..and I didn't think I could hit that blade so well.
BUT I held back so I could buy pops a new driver. I got him a HiBoreXL & a proto shaft. He was SWEATIN it hard today during our annual father's day bbq. He just kept on swinging it and was like...Now I can drive 250!