As I reflect on my first year in the Triathlon game - a question I get a lot is “where do you find the time and money to do Triathlons?” I have an easy answer - I don’t play golf much anymore.
I like to keep track of my expenses using MS Money. When I started training for my first race I set-up an expense category to track what I spent. Now that’s it’s the end of the year, I have been reviewing all my expenses to set-up my budget for next year. This is what I found. Compared to Golf - Triathlons are dirt cheap.
A review of the numbers.
Golf in 2003 (I used 2003 since I did not play much in 2004)
Equipment. Balls, gloves, tee’s, etc, nothing major like new irons or diver $370
Greens fees (I played 25 rounds) $1573
Range & lessons $250
Drinks&Food at the course. I estimated $15 per round for 25 rounds $375
Total $2568
Triathlon in 2004
Entry Fee’s. I did two races $130
Travel to races $220
Equipment. New running shoes, bike tune up and parts, other small stuff $320
Heath Club and Masters swim class (for the year) $800
Miscellaneous $130
Total $1600
I have not made any ‘Major’ equipment purchases yet - such as a new bike or wet suit. But they are comparable in price to a new set of clubs. Hell, putters are going for $250 these days.
Cost - winner Tri.
As for time - an 18 hole weekend round of golf takes on average 6 hours to drive to the course, play, and get back home. Add in time spent at the range and lessons and the long rides and runs don’t seem very long.
Time - winner Tri.
For the intangibles… I’m in much better heath now (180 lbs vs 225 lbs). Triathletes are a more fun to be around the golfers. I spend more time with my wife and kids.
Intangibles - winner Tri.
Triathlon - easy winner over golf. But I must admit - there is a rush you get when you hit the ball just right - that I have yet to find in Triathlons.
Yeah, but have you heard any good triathlon jokes? Or any at all?
I’ve actually done the same thing, but mainly for the time factor. I can’t justify the time away from the family to do both. But I’m glad to hear from you that I’m saving $$ too.
I like golf, but the people who play it are just too damn slow! Unlike the average golfer, I want to carry my clubs. I also have the urge to run from hole to hole. I heard there was some kind of running golf, but you have to find a course that allows it plus you have to be the first one on the course.
Yes, it’s the capital required for the startup that’s much more costly for triathlon. You are correct, though, that the ongoing costs are likely lower than golf (especially if you play spendy courses like Pebble @ ~$350, or even just good ones at >$125).
Mid-range tri bike – $2K, aero wheels – $1K, training by power – $1.5K, etc., etc.
You can’t match those costs in golf.
Oh, and my swim lessons are every bit as much as golf lessons!
Tri is as cheap or expensive as you want to make it. That’s the key.
No comparison dude. Golf, especially when you lump in country club dues and golf vacations, eclipse the cost of triathlon. I’m saving a fortune. Golf got me back, though. Played my first round all year after Kona (even avoided golf while on the Island), shot a great (for me) front nine of 41, came up to the tenth, a driveable 310 par 4 - a risk/reward hole. Pulled out the big gun. Cranked it, long, deep and hard, just a chip up. But also cranked my back! Was out of commission for weeks. No more. I’m done with that sport. It hates me. I love it, but it hates me.
Tried golf once. That was enough for me. Besides the equipment cost it could get very expensive if you join one of the hoity-toity clubs.
Scuba diving is comparable to triathlon cost wise. Scuba equipment costs about as much as a decent bike and other tri gear. Then you have to pay for the dives, unless you have your own boat, which I’ll assure you is expensive. Also in scuba there are several different levels of certification, all costing $$. In fact, one of the dive agencies is called PADI, meaning Professional Association of Dive Instructors, but in reality it means Put Another Dollar In.
Tried golf once. That was enough for me. Besides the equipment cost it could get very expensive if you join one of the hoity-toity clubs.
I know people who pay >$15K per year in membership fees to their club. Some are double that. And then there are the freaky clubs that are multiples of even that number.
I didn’t much care for golf at first either. But most people become more interested the more they play (as did I).
Also, for whatever reason, I end up pretty tired after a full round. Even if I ride the cart. My shoulders/back/hammies are usually worn down.
I golfed for a while, but couldn’t take it anymore. It’s boring and frustrating for me. There is however the issue of networking for your career–golf is the game most people have in common. The key is to find co-workers, associates and clients that are into tri? Anyone had any luck with this?
Many years ago, in the late 1990’s, I decided I was going to try to get better at golfing. For a couple of years, I at least practiced several times a week. It was a martial-arts-type of mind-body control that kept me interested. You must be keenly aware of the conditions (wind, terrain, elevation, grain of the grass, distance, etc), yet not care too much about the results of any particular shot…either good or bad. And, the harder you try, the worse you get, so you have to learn to let go. Interesting concepts.
I got my handicap down to 6.5. I wasn’t fat, didn’t drink or eat poorly on the course (I was doing triathlons at the same time) I almost always carried my bags, and would trot between shots…usually finishing in about 2 hours 15 minutes. Then, one day, I noticed that I quit having fun. I had more fun back when I was shooting 90+ than I did shooting below 80. I stopped cold turkey. Haven’t picked up a club since. I’m sure I’ll play again some day when I get much older, but, for now, I’d rather ride my trainer in the garage than go play golf.
My best friend was in sales. He told me that some of his best sales were made on the golf course. He learned the game out of necessity for that reason but never enjoyed it. There’s probably other golfers that feel the same.
Tough game to get if you have not given it a chance (could be wrong assuming you have not). It’s an incredible challenge. Probably hands down the hardest skill sport I have ever tried. Can also be one of the most gratifying. A shitty round of golf can go by the wayside with one pure stroke. Puring a shot is a thing of beauty.
Golf is a sport with soul. How many professional sports do you know where players call penalties on themselves? None that I know of. Imagine being in the hunt of the U.S. Open, you hit the ball in the pineneedles, and while addressing the ball it moves. That’s a penalty - a stroke. All professional golfers step back and call it on themselves. It is exceedingly rare if a professional golfer cheats or does not call a penalty on his or herself. That golfer would be ostracized for eternity. There are still rumors about Vijay Singh cheating once like 20 years ago in a second-rate tourney in Bali - golfers still whisper about it.
Funny all these references about obese golfers. There are obese people everywhere. The question is whether these obese golfers are any damn good. The top golfers now - certainly not all - like Tiger Woods, train quite a bit. Tiger runs 5-6 days weekly and lifts (supposed he can bench over 300). My golfing buddies are exceptional athletes, some are triathletes. Actually, two of the best golfers I know are extraordinary triathletes (top-Ag’ers). It simply is a sport that requires great athleticism.
Ah, but the sport hates me . . . . The lower back just can’t take it.