Is golf your most expensive hobby?

[Schley]

Not even close. Buy a 36' sailboat, you'll see. And I race sailboats, that more than doubles the costs.

 

Actually my wife and I spend more dining in restaurants in a year than I spend on golf and I play 2-3 times a week in season (May thru Oct).

 

So is it crappy golf or really nice restaurants/alcohol?

[Ballgofarboy]

Not even close. I have not read any comments in this thread. Most expensive hobby: TRY MARRIAGE.

[augustgolf]

Not even close. I have not read any comments in this thread. Most expensive hobby: TRY MARRIAGE.

If you do it for a hobby, I can see that

 

How many do you have?

[Ballgofarboy]

One that has lasted for 37 years, just a very expensive hobby.

[YMark]

I think I spend more on shoes than on golf. But it's close.

[marmooskapaul]

Serious bass fishing is a killer way to spend money...lol...There is no end to what is available and new things/equipment/lures/reel/lines/boats/electronics/motors/electric motors/anchoring systems...etc...it never ends.

[Deadsquiggles]

It’s my most expensive hobby but it beats firearms only by a thin margin. It’s easy to drop $1000 on a gun as easy as it for irons.

[Ping Zings]

Yes it is.

[leezer99]

My golf takes second to my son's golf. Tournament fees, coaching, gear, etc adds up with a kid that has been growing an inch per month for the last few months.

[gene_bryce]

Cycling is the most expensive hobby I've ever done. Sold everything and now just golf again.

[Schley]

damn seems we have a lot of crossover NRA members that are also USGA members. :taunt:

 

Don't want to piss any of you 2nd amendment people off.

[wkuo3]

By far, no !

[Sixcat]

I don't consider golf my hobby. It's been my therapy since I was a boy.

 

Some guys I grew up with drag-race for hobby at a small local drag strip. I never saw the attraction but I doubt they understand my attraction to golf. I'm absolutely floored at the amount of money they spend to race every weekend during the summer given the top prize is $1,600. If they were to win top prize every week for an entire season, they would earn less than 5% of what they spend on the car. A couple sets of tires to get them through one weekend costs more than every golf club I have ever bought.....combined.

 

And those guys think I'm crazy for playing an expensive game like golf.

[Skaffa77]

For me golf is the most expensive hobby. My wife grew up with trap shooting...I've adopted her hobby of fire arms and she's adopted mine with golf...I could easily see firearms as a much more expensive hobby. Also, purchased a C6 Corvette earlier this year, but my golf hobby over the years still exceeds what I spent on the car.

[vinprun71]

I play both golf and hockey. A season of men's league can be a little pricey, but all those rounds of golf add up.

[Walter]

Playing golf in EU ? oversea trips... hoing.. Being from Belgium/France Cuisine / no Kids / non other hobby's but (2nd to watches and charity) .. "GREATEST GAME THERE IS THERE WILL EVER BE" ..

[ChristopherMcDonald]

used to play tournament paintball back in the day, expenses definitely added up unless you had some sponsors helping you out/paying for your paint. Easily had $10,000 into my setup when I stepped away

[hammer1]

Part-time professional nature and wildlife photographer here. New cameras and long lenses are quite expensive, plus the associated travel costs. You don’t want to know how much I’ve spent over the past 15 years. Absolutely love it so it’s all good.

[rama5]

besides keeping my spouse happy!

[pga43]

Not even close to being the most expensive. All the money I've spent in 49 years of playing golf wouldn't even pay for the scope on my long range precision rifle. Though working in the golf business has meant free equipment, clothes, greens fees all those years, too.

 

 

Greg

[ksher84]

Yes with guitars being a close 2nd. I've kind of chilled out with buying so much guitar gear over the last few years.

[Guia]

Most of my expense goes to horses.

[elwhippy]

Oh yes. By a huge margin.

[Sixcat]

Yes with guitars being a close 2nd. I've kind of chilled out with buying so much guitar gear over the last few years.

 

My 13 year old daughter has 5 guitars, 2 mandolins, 1 ukulele and 1 fiddle. Expensive habit indeed!

[3woodvt]

If it includes the gas beverages food and annual trips then yes actual golf is not but all the other things add up to more than the golf itself .I figure booze gas and food before and after is 3x more than the 34.00 a round.

 

For those that it cost a marriage it could run into 6 figures easily....be careful.

[Schley]

Certainly is now that I got rid of my saltwater fish tanks (AKA money pits). There is such a huge start up cost that you get addicted to keep buying more and more. I ended up with a 150 gallon fish tank then a separate 120 gallon (high) coral tank. I wasn't even making that much money back then so it was probably my worst discretionary cost I have ever done. It is like a boat on a smaller scale probably with maintenance and upkeep.

 

I have never really wanted to know the costs, but let me try and estimate to further emphasize how dumb owning saltwater fish tanks are.

 

120-gallon reef-ready system:

• Full tank / stand / tall canopy - $1200
  
  

Lighting:

A four foot tank would need two metal halide bulbs and I would supplement with two 4' VHO bulbs.

• Reflectors (Lumenbrights) - $129 x 2
  
  
• Metal Halide bulbs - $75 x 2
  
  
• 4' VHO bulbs - $25 x 2
  
  
• Icecap 660 ballast (VHO or T5) - $129
  
  
• Icecap e-ballasts (MH) - $135 x 2
  
  
• Timers - $15 x 3
  
  

Sump & Equipment:

• Sump / refugium -$325
  
  
• Reef Dynamics Protein skimmer - $400
  
  
• Heater (3w per gallon) 175 watts - $40 x 2
  
  
• External Sequence Dart return pump (dialed back) - $225
  -or- Internal Maxijet Utility Pump - $160
  
  
• Icecap 120mm fans $45 x 2
  
  

In-tank:

• Sand 200 lbs - $140
  
  
• Live rock 120 lbs at $8/lb - $600 - $960
  
  
• EcoSmart MP40w Vortech pumps - $450 x 2
  
  

Other:

• 100gpd RO/DI - $175
  
  
• Red Sea Pro Reef salt - $60 per bucket
  
  
• Test kits - $120
  
  
• Thermometer - $5
  
  
• Refractometer - $55
  
  

Adding up the above items totals $5277

• $500 in miscellaneous - plumbing, electrical, etc
  
  
• $500 for a controller, like Neptune System's APEX or Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Elite Net.
  
  

So about $6200 and that is before any corals/fish! Probably spent another 1k initially on corals/fish for the 120 only. So counting taxes for everything around $7500. The 150 was probably marginallly more so about 10k.

 

Nothing compared to guys buying boats and cars, but still expensive. I did sit and stare at them for hours and hours.

[nmpete11]

I do my best to try and not think about the cost. Golf and skiiing are both up there as far as cost.

[rightslice]

Certainly is now that I got rid of my saltwater fish tanks (AKA money pits). There is such a huge start up cost that you get addicted to keep buying more and more. I ended up with a 150 gallon fish tank then a separate 120 gallon (high) coral tank. I wasn't even making that much money back then so it was probably my worst discretionary cost I have ever done. It is like a boat on a smaller scale probably with maintenance and upkeep.

 

I have never really wanted to know the costs, but let me try and estimate to further emphasize how dumb owning saltwater fish tanks are.

 

120-gallon reef-ready system:

• Full tank / stand / tall canopy - $1200
  

Lighting:

A four foot tank would need two metal halide bulbs and I would supplement with two 4' VHO bulbs.

• Reflectors (Lumenbrights) - $129 x 2
  
• Metal Halide bulbs - $75 x 2
  
• 4' VHO bulbs - $25 x 2
  
• Icecap 660 ballast (VHO or T5) - $129
  
• Icecap e-ballasts (MH) - $135 x 2
  
• Timers - $15 x 3
  

Sump & Equipment:

• Sump / refugium -$325
  
• Reef Dynamics Protein skimmer - $400
  
• Heater (3w per gallon) 175 watts - $40 x 2
  
• External Sequence Dart return pump (dialed back) - $225 -or- Internal Maxijet Utility Pump - $160
  
• Icecap 120mm fans $45 x 2
  

In-tank:

• Sand 200 lbs - $140
  
• Live rock 120 lbs at $8/lb - $600 - $960
  
• EcoSmart MP40w Vortech pumps - $450 x 2
  

Other:

• 100gpd RO/DI - $175
  
• Red Sea Pro Reef salt - $60 per bucket
  
• Test kits - $120
  
• Thermometer - $5
  
• Refractometer - $55
  

Adding up the above items totals $5277

• $500 in miscellaneous - plumbing, electrical, etc
  
• $500 for a controller, like Neptune System's APEX or Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Elite Net.
  

So about $6200 and that is before any corals/fish! Probably spent another 1k initially on corals/fish for the 120 only. So counting taxes for everything around $7500. The 150 was probably marginallly more so about 10k.

 

Nothing compared to guys buying boats and cars, but still expensive. I did sit and stare at them for hours and hours.

 

Good for you though, I read years ago they significantly lower your blood pressure. As to the Op, buy a boat and your wife will beg you to buy new drivers every year if you get rid of it. LOL

[howaboutme]

Certainly is now that I got rid of my saltwater fish tanks (AKA money pits). There is such a huge start up cost that you get addicted to keep buying more and more. I ended up with a 150 gallon fish tank then a separate 120 gallon (high) coral tank. I wasn't even making that much money back then so it was probably my worst discretionary cost I have ever done. It is like a boat on a smaller scale probably with maintenance and upkeep.

 

I have never really wanted to know the costs, but let me try and estimate to further emphasize how dumb owning saltwater fish tanks are.

 

120-gallon reef-ready system:

• Full tank / stand / tall canopy - $1200
  

Lighting:

A four foot tank would need two metal halide bulbs and I would supplement with two 4' VHO bulbs.

• Reflectors (Lumenbrights) - $129 x 2
  
• Metal Halide bulbs - $75 x 2
  
• 4' VHO bulbs - $25 x 2
  
• Icecap 660 ballast (VHO or T5) - $129
  
• Icecap e-ballasts (MH) - $135 x 2
  
• Timers - $15 x 3
  

Sump & Equipment:

• Sump / refugium -$325
  
• Reef Dynamics Protein skimmer - $400
  
• Heater (3w per gallon) 175 watts - $40 x 2
  
• External Sequence Dart return pump (dialed back) - $225 -or- Internal Maxijet Utility Pump - $160
  
• Icecap 120mm fans $45 x 2
  

In-tank:

• Sand 200 lbs - $140
  
• Live rock 120 lbs at $8/lb - $600 - $960
  
• EcoSmart MP40w Vortech pumps - $450 x 2
  

Other:

• 100gpd RO/DI - $175
  
• Red Sea Pro Reef salt - $60 per bucket
  
• Test kits - $120
  
• Thermometer - $5
  
• Refractometer - $55
  

Adding up the above items totals $5277

• $500 in miscellaneous - plumbing, electrical, etc
  
• $500 for a controller, like Neptune System's APEX or Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Elite Net.
  

So about $6200 and that is before any corals/fish! Probably spent another 1k initially on corals/fish for the 120 only. So counting taxes for everything around $7500. The 150 was probably marginallly more so about 10k.

 

Nothing compared to guys buying boats and cars, but still expensive. I did sit and stare at them for hours and hours.

 

Got sucked up into this hobby a few years back too. Dropped it like a hot potato once it became apparent it was taking too much time away from my 2 young kids and wife at the time (not to mention money). Mine wasn't big, just a small tank but addictive nonetheless. I'd like to to get back into it once kids are older and I have more time....Golf doesn't help in the time away from family part though so still trying to find a balance. Here was mine, a mixed SPS/LPS tank and still young at the time of photo:

 

 

[jacksongp22]

Considering I could buy a house with what I pay each month for golf, yeah I'd say so lol