9wood

I could never do that. I don't see that as solving anything.

I often play golf with an 84 year old man who loves golf. He only plays par 3 courses, and he walks it. I have never seen this 84 yr old man slow anybody down no matter what age groups are playing behind him. Every now and then I get him out to a full course and we will play 9, just as long as we have a cart. Even then I have never seen that anyone has ever been slowed down because of him. Actually, I play slower than this 84 yr old, because I spend more time analyzing my next shot than he does. Still we have never slowed anyone down. We do however stay away from the course on the weekends which is when many of the weekend golfers come out of the woodwork.

I wish I had not given up on the game of golf for approximately 12 years before starting back up again after I retired, but other things took higher priority during those 12 years of my absence from the game of golf. However it's good to be retired now and just enjoying getting out and playing some golf.

"I feel sorry for all those young guys who are still working" I feel even more sorry for all the young people that can't find a decent payng job

Everything dies eventually, including us. Enjoy it and make the most out of it while it lasts

You decide you want to take up the game of golf so you either get a used set of clubs at a yard sale or you buy an economy priced beginners set. Next you go out and play a round of golf only to learn that you scored 115, but you had that one really great shot that brings you back again. You play about 6 rounds of golf your first year and have seen a few great shots which makes you decide to play again next year. Next year comes and you want to watch and learn what other golfers do that make them better at golf than you and you try a few things that work for them and have scored a round of 108 and you are happy that you showed signs of improvement. Then it happens, you play a round and things seem to working out and you have put together two or three really decent shots and manage to get a 104 which is your best score to date. Now you have the desire to break 100 but just can't seem to do it. Nevertheless you continue to play and are scoring 104 - 110. So you tell yourself, next year is going to be the year that I break 100 because you have watched and learned a bit more from other golfers which you plan on applying to your game. Next year comes and you're still scoring in the 100's, then that magical moment comes and you manage to put together a score of 98. It may have taken you three seasons to finally break 100 but you did it but can't seem to get a repeat performance. Then you meet a 3 HC golfer who notices some flaws in your methods and wants to help you out. He gives you instructions and watches you practice the principles he laid out for you until you seem to be able to grasp the concepts he's teaching you and you can't wait to get out and apply the techniques he showed you. During the winter months you buy a few quality clubs for your golf set. So next year comes and you notice that you are experiencing more and more decent shots than ever before. You're now able to consistently score under 100 and even manage to score 94 on one of your rounds of golf. You think to yourself, wow, look at how far I have come in four years of playing golf. Just three years ago I was scoring 112-115 and now I'm scoring in the mid to high 90's regularly, that's 20 stokes less than when I first began playing 4 years ago. Then you say, now next year if I can only make a few more improvements and play smarter, just maybe I can put together a game or two under 90 and in the fifth year you accomplish that goal. And so an avid golfer is born. That pretty much describes the story of my game of golf these last 4 -5 years.

"When stuck behind a foursome of senior citizens I used to think to myself, “let’s hope the old farts keep it moving.” In my own personal experience I find the opposite to be true. I get to the course and a younger twosome is in front of me bragging about how far they are going to hit the ball. They tee off and slice the ball into the woods, and it didn't travel nearly as far as they boasted it was going to. Then they hunt for their balls. Maybe they find them or maybe not. My senior partner and I find ourselves being held up at almost every whole by the majority of youngsters. That is the situation I normally find myself in at the courses I play at.

I know a 84 year old fellow who plays twice a week and walks the course. The course is a 9 hole par three, but still not bad for an 84 year old. As for myself, I'm 67 and have been playing twice a week and practicing when I'm not on the course. I usually walk and play 9 holes on a 6200 yard course or 18 holes if I rent a cart.

When you're employed, your employer owns your time and your day and clock as well as your sleep schedule which actually revolves around your employers demands. Having now been retired for 16 years, I can tell you that what retirement does for you, is to free you from the shackles of ownership. In retirement, your time and clock belong to you. If you can't sleep at night, it doesn't matter because you have the whole day to catch up. When you're retired you can catch the early bird specials at restaurants. You can go places during the less busy hours, when most people are in work. You can play golf while most people are in work. You are the master of your daily schedule now.

I know individuals who have said that. However they eventually retired when illness forced them to retire. They were never able to enjoy retirement.

I retired when I was 50 and have no regrets. The best advice I can give anyone is to get out of the rat race while you're still young enough and healthy enough to enjoy life and fulfill your bucket list.

My cash comes from my pension combined with my Social Security. Company provided health care under my retirement plan isn't worth a darn. But I have been accepted in Veterans Health Care which helps ease those costs. Nevertheless, I'm enjoying life.

I retired at the age of 50 with very little savings. Now nearly 17 years later I am still enjoying life and doing the things I like. In those 17 years I haven't needed or touched the little bit of savings which I have. One thing I will say however is that I am not as healthy now as I was 17 years ago when I retired at age 50. Therefore I am happy I retired early and have been able to travel, play golf, etc. before those less healthy years begin to settle in. It's been a wonderful 17 years of retirement. I also realize that I didn't need a million dollar savings account. In fact my savings are below the six figure mark and haven't ever used a penny of that. My advice to everyone is retire while you're still young enough and healthy enough to enjoy life. I'm glad I stopped chasing the almighty dollar and got out of the hectic rat race with all it's stress which can kill.