Twilight Golf

Hobbies can get expensive! Even the simple hobby of running can start to add up if you get good shoes, register for races, register for races out of town and then register for marathon races out of town.  One must learn to allocate what few scarce resources we have, both time and money, to the best maximization of our heart's pursuit. 

This summer, I picked up the game of golf. From my first round (which was a tournament), I knew it was going to be trouble based on on much enjoyment I had.  Another hobby, another thing fighting for my little  bit of resources. Lucky for me (and even for you if you are interested in learning the game) there are a lot of people who either give up on the game or are addicted to upgrading their equipment every time something new comes out.  Daily, Craigslist is full of used clubs for sale in the sporting section, most of which, are priced and in good enough condition to give anyone a taste of the game.  Additionally, we are blessed to live in Spokane, where there are a lot of great golf courses with reasonable green fees.

For time and money allocation, I rarely play 18, and when I do, I look for discounted days and coupons.  The key to playing golf, and saving your time and wallet is 9 holes, in the afternoon, with a fast playing friend.  Use cheap old balls, if you have any friends who play, they will have boxes of balls they will give you, so when you miss hit, you will not spend 5 minutes looking. Take a drop and move on. By using this strategy, one can get in a quick 9 in under two hours, after work and still be home for dinner by 8.  And now the greatest money tip I've learned...TWILIGHT GOLF!

As the season grows shorter, many courses offer twilight rates!  This is your chance to hit the links at rates around $10 for 9 (or I've seen $14 for 18).  This is a great time to get out and practice your game without breaking the bank.