Golf is my indulgence. But I don’t really spend an inordinate amount of money on it. My clubs are used, but in great shape. Usually a couple of seasons old. I do my own re-gripping. The dues at the club I play are $1200/year and 18 with a cart is $18. I can walk for free if I want.
But my indulgence is practicing and studying the game. I wasn’t a collegiate athlete, but football, baseball, and basketball came pretty easily to me. I really enjoyed the competition and my years coaching were an extension of that. Golf was different. I got into it after high school, had no formal instruction and found I couldn’t overpower it like other sports. So I’ve worked at it for 40 years. We’ve got a pasture at home that’s my practice range and I enjoy working on each club and trying to keep my swing consistent. I’ve had my handicap get down to a 7 and couldn’t stay at that level. I’m about a 12 now and I’m still trying to get better with the aforementioned consistency of my swing being the key.
Even though I know my advancing age makes it harder and harder each year to stay competitive, it’s all I’ve got sports-wise, so I’ll keep on indulging myself with time spent chasing my golfing dream.