How can a guy think about early retirement and not think about golf? They go together like peanut butter and jelly, don’t they? One problem – I don’t like peanut butter and jelly (peanut butter plain, thank you), and I’m not a very committed golfer either. Does this spell early retirement doom? I don’t think so.

First of all, I do golf and I do enjoy it. That’s why I picked the phrase “not a very committed golfer” to describe myself. I may even golf more in retirement that I do now, but it won’t for me be one of the key things I am looking forward to filling up my free time with.

As background, I play golf a little more than once a month in the summer. The last Friday of each month, May thru October, my Dad, brother, and I try to get out and play eighteen holes. Additionally, there are usually a couple of work events or fundraisers that I will play at over the summer. That’s enough to keep my game in swing, but not enough to really be a good golfer.

If I hit in the 90s, I feel like I have acquitted myself well enough on the course. Unfortunately, I don’t play enough to ever get better than that – in fact, if I kept closer count, I’m sure I’d find out I’m in the 90s less than I imagine. I used to be pretty maniacal about keeping track of my score and trending it over time, but a couple seasons ago, I stopped keeping track altogether. Now I am like Chevy Chase’s character in Caddyshack – just golfing around for the fun of it and enjoying a good walk across the manicured grounds.  I’m having more fun, but it doesn’t look very pretty.

I’m not opposed to golfing more when early retirement arrives next year. I should probably even set a goal to lower my scores by a good 10 strokes a round by taking it more seriously. Maybe I could get some long-needed coaching on my swing. If nothing else I can move to the gold tees the older retired guys use!

That said, I am unlikely to become a passionate golfer with a house on a Florida golf course and a standing tee time each day (or even each week). I could see one of my brothers doing that – and a few friends from work.  Maybe I’ll hang out with them and really catch the bug.

How might golf fit into your early retirement plans?

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