Retirement Announcement From Playing The Game Of Golf
Announcing my retirement from playing the game of golf, does not mean I am retiring from ALL things golf. This retirement is specific to playing the game. Playing the game is defined as the activity associated with hitting a golf ball at a driving range or a golf course. Those are the activities that I am announcing my retirement from.
The decision to retire from playing golf is based on schedule and financial characteristics. My love of the game means that I want to constantly practice and play, but the schedule in my life does not allow that to occur. Their are too many people that I want to spend time with. That time would be impacted if I were to continue to play the game of golf. I realize that one can play the game occassionally and just go out once in a while to play, but that’s not fun for me. I always wanted to be competitive in the game and I have finally realize that I don’t have a schedule that will allow me to be competitive. Furthermore, the costs with playing are not something I can sustain at this time. I have too many other expenses to devote $2,000 a year to the game.
My lack of competitive drive is also related to my ability. Now at 51 years old, I still have some expectation that I can hit a 9iron 150 yards, but now I find it takes a 6 iron or 7 iron to reach 150 yards. Knowing that my ability is declining is depressing for me as well and drives my decision to retire from playing the game of golf.
I will miss many things about the game of golf. Recently the new tools to gather metrics on your swing and data about your round add a great deal of fun to the game. My favorite device is the Trackman system, closely followed by the Arccos platform. I was just starting to develop more metrics with Trackman and believe that the Trackman device would have been the device to help me improve the most.
I walk away from playing game knowing that I played some great courses, but never got a chance to play any of the storied courses. Over my lifetime, the courses that come to mind include:
- TPC Boston — Norton, MA
- Waverly Oaks — Plymouth, MA
- Braintree Golf — Braintree, MA
- Widows Walk — Scituate, MA
The courses I always wanted to play, but did not include:
- Pine Hills — Plymouth, MA
- Wynn Hotel — Las Vegas, NV
- Walt Disney World Golf — Orlando, FL
- Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay — Half Moon Bay, CA (Although I never played the course, I did visit)
I know golfers have other dream courses to play, but mine was simple.
The game of golf has a number of great courses, but one of the best benefits of the game are the health benefits. I am convinced that the “good” health that I see for so many of my relatives in their 80’s is attributed to the years of golf they would play. This is also demonstrated by the good looking health that the legends of the game continue to demonstrate.
Retiring from the game of golf, will allow me to free my mind from the constant thought that I should be practicing or reading more books about the game. I have had Harvey Pennicks book, “Little Red Book” on my list to read, but now with this retirement note, I can put all those thoughts behind me.
Looking forward to my next chapter, I took the time to remind myself of the non-playing activities I have been involved with. My storied resume includes the following stints:
Digital Seniors Classic, Nashawtuck Country Club Concord, MA— Transportation Team 1987, 1988
US Open, The Country Club, Brookline, MA — Transportation Team 1988
Deutsche Bank Championship, Norton, MA — Transportation Chairperson 2003
Looking forward, to my next chapter, I look forward to learning more about the rules of golf, (Maybe a Rules Official is my calling!) discovering how drones can be part of the golf game, finding a part time role with a technology vendor that supports the game and rejoining the volunteer ranks, although I will NOT go back to a transportation role. (I still have nightmares about lost Buick automobiles!)
I am fortunate enough that my retirement is not based on a physical issue, it is all based on time and finances. Right now I am short on both of those characteristics and it is time to make the hard choice and enter the next chapter with my love of the game. For me to continue to have the desire to play, and no time and financially constrained is an extremely difficult internal battle that I want to eliminate. Today’s note is designed to do that.
To my fellow playing partners that encouraged me to play, kept me mentally in the game and showed me so much about the game, I say thank you! To the “key” team member that got me back into the game at our home course of ‘Braintree Municipal”, I am beyond thankful! Many of the best days were had out there, even when losing six golf balls a round.
To those that have the time and the financial resources, KEEP PLAYING! There are many of us that can no longer do it and we will live vicariously through you.
I will see you in my next golf chapter!