[dmoiknlasd]

I was way behind on my financial tracking (I'm a bit of a Quicken freak) and finally got it all caught up today. So of course the first report I ran was Golf expenses, YTD... I was really shocked by Greens Fees. I think a few of those are me paying for the foursome with my credit card and my buddies reimbursing me. But still...yikes! (It's worth it though) By the way, the instruction is all DVD's, books, and training aids (2 tour strikers, smash bag, etc).

So put another way...I went from a 36.4 to a 29.9 handicap this year, which works out to $493 a stroke.

[Jorcelirl]

and i thought i had a spreadsheet for everything, guess not LOL

[lakraboob]

Holy crap. And I thought I spent a lot on golf haha

[tobaccoman]

I spend... much less, lol.

[chadnezzrr]

I love how organized you are, seriously. If I had the patience to do that, I absolutely would.

It looms like you need to get a range membership! I know most courses and/or ranges offer annual passes, and they should save you some money.

Personally, I work at a golf course, so all the golf and range balls are free. You should consider it if you have time. I know it isn't for everyone, but even if you work only 2 days a week you still get to play and practice for free.

[errolespopume]

Quite interesting and it shows how it quickly it can add up.

I dont want to know what I spend because I would be shocked, surprised, overjoyed, ticked off, encouraged, disappointed and moved to both tears of sadness and joy. Then I would probably need a therapist which ups my costs again. I am better off not knowing for sure.

TapAhoy!

[Plokiikmol]

I don't even want to know how much I spend on golf each year... lol . But I do like the spreedsheet you made... very organized.

[BigMovies]

I would not have the patience and really may not want to know all the money I spend on golf each month. I also think if my SO found out that info I might be in trouble.

[Atmotteenrift]

Not married, eh?

[Sheelldaw]

If I spent that on golf.......I would be divorced. However, if youcan do it, why not? Good job!

[Loonakind]

That spreadsheet is such a cool idea. Bravo to you for coming up with that idea

[Phouepou]

And that's only YTD? Wow.


I can't help but think spending 175 on lessons wouldve done much more than those items would. Well done.

[Maydayvar]

Not married, eh?

[dmoiknlasd]

I love how organized you are, seriously. If I had the patience to do that, I absolutely would.

It looms like you need to get a range membership! I know most courses and/or ranges offer annual passes, and they should save you some money.

Personally, I work at a golf course, so all the golf and range balls are free. You should consider it if you have time. I know it isn't for everyone, but even if you work only 2 days a week you still get to play and practice for free.

Already thinking that! When I first saw the range memberships I laughed at the expense. "I just need to whack a few balls every once in a while". Now that I'm seeing the numbers it's a no-brainer.

[dmoiknlasd]

For those saying "I don't want to know" I'd be willing to bet it's double what you think

And for those thinking this was some painstaking laborious process it isn't at all. I'm just as lazy as the next guy. This is Quicken, not a spreadsheet, and that is just an ad-hoc report asking Quicken "What did I spend YTD on this category?" I do it with Gas, Home Improvement, Groceries...anything I'm trying to track.

Programs like Quicken make it almost effortless to do so with just a few clicks. It downloads your transactions from your bank accounts automatically. Then you simply categorize the transactions with categories you create. The process of categorizing a week's worth of purchases takes MAYBE 5 minutes. This is a Saturday morning ritual for me as I sit down with my coffee.

So for example, if a purchase consists of multiple categories (as golf purchases often do) you just split it out like this. Here's a $134 purchase I made from RockBottomGolf earlier this year.




Anyway...I didn't want people to think I was slaving over a ledger with an adding machine and one of those green clear plastic accountant visors tabulating numbers from paper receipts into the middle of the night. Technology has made it easy.

By the way, anybody interested in tracking spending (golf or otherwise) and don't want to buy a full-fledged software package like Quicken, check out Mint.com. It's a really nice online money manager. Its free and has most of the same features as Quicken. (from the makers of quicken)

[dmoiknlasd]

And that's only YTD? Wow.


I can't help but think spending 175 on lessons wouldve done much more than those items would. Well done.

Possibly, depends on the person and the situation. I had golf lessons last year so they aren't on this particular report. The lessons I took last year didn't really help me much. Maybe it was timing or just those methods didn't resonate with me. The instructor can tell me things all he wants..."hit down on the ball". "You need a forward shaft lean". "Keep your head down" "Release the clubhead", but I'm a very analytical person who needs to understand the why and the how...and understand what it feels like to do those things, why I'm doing them, and perhaps how those things are merely a byproduct of something else. Once I finally get it I find myself thinking back to things he said in the lesson and going "Ahhh...so THAT'S what he meant". But I can't help but feel that as an instructor, he should be able to prescribe a drill or something to help me feel those sensations. Might've just been a bad instructor or just not a good fit for me. Either way, golf is definitely a game of self-discovery and Aha moments.

But in terms of training aids, I've only really bought the two tour strikers, and a smash bag. The rest was Dave Pelz short game and putting book, Mickelson Short Game DVD, etc. Oh I also have a shag-bag which I called "Instruction". Of all of those things I can definitely say without a doubt that my two Tour Strikers (which were $165 for the pair) have benefitted me far more than any other item or lessons. They are a tool that I can use again and again to engrain this feeling of having lag in the swing and they provide instant feedback. Initially I felt I cheated the movement, but after working with them a bit, and also practicing with a ball-forward drill on their site, it all started to click. Now, if I hit 10 balls with a tour striker and then switch back to my normal club, the difference is amazing. The sensation of having that lag in my swing and compressing the ball like that is something an instructor has not been able to get me to feel. It's something I just had to discover on my own. So those two clubs were definitely worth every penny. But my smash bag? That was $28 I didn't need to spend. Just haven't really felt that I've seen much benefit from the smash bag.

[aliceingoogs]

I do the same thing on Mint.com, such a helpful site for knowing where your money goes and what areas you need to trim back on. I'm awful with budgeting money though

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Tapatalk2

[dmoiknlasd]

I do the same thing on Mint.com, such a helpful site for knowing where your money goes and what areas you need to trim back on. I'm awful with budgeting money though

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Tapatalk2

Yeah, in many ways I actually prefer Mint. It's a lot simpler and has Apps for iPhone and Android which is nice. If I wasn't so heavily invested into Quicken (I'm 41 and have been using it since my first checking account at age 17) I would just use Mint. But I have so much data over my lifetime, I'd prefer to just stay with Quicken. I'm hoping at some point they merge the two.

Having the data can be very sobering though, that's for sure.

[wrefrinny]

OG and I have been very fortunate cost wise since I worked PT at our local course for about 4 years. Since I've quit and we're moving, we've really been checking out prices of golf and now realize just how fortunate we've been. We worked very hard for retirement so we're going to spend the money and live out our years playing at a nice country club. We're downsizing our home and improving our golf. I love the club we're hoping to join because they have a women's association of 45 ladies and a large organization for the men. There will always be something going on. OG's social security starts just in the nick of time to pay for it all.

[CarrieSexy]

Yeah, in many ways I actually prefer Mint. It's a lot simpler and has Apps for iPhone and Android which is nice. If I wasn't so heavily invested into Quicken (I'm 41 and have been using it since my first checking account at age 17) I would just use Mint. But I have so much data over my lifetime, I'd prefer to just stay with Quicken. I'm hoping at some point they merge the two.

Having the data can be very sobering though, that's for sure.

I'm the same way with Quicken. I've been using it for almost 15 years. I run reports every month for my various expenses and it helps adjust my budget based on what I "REALLY" spend versus what I "THINK" I spend.

I was shocked last year when I ran my reports for golf too. After seeing the amount of money I was spending monthly on greens fees/range balls, etc convinced me going to a private course was worth the money. While at first looking at my monthly statements made me question my reports, not that I have almost a year of expenses to compare to my prior to joining a club expenses, I'm saving almost $1,500 a year with my membership. That's enough money to go on a really great golf trip!

And no, before some smarty-pants says, "not married/no childern huh?". I'm not. I was widowed at 42 and we couldn't have children despite years of trying. So think before you say crap like that. Everyone's life situation is different and you don't know what a person's decisions on marriage or experiences are. Don't know why that earlier comment touched a nerve but it did...