Would you give up golf for $1,000,000?

[Skaffa77]

[quote name='KDMullins' timestamp='1360629239' post='6409853']
[quote name='jmck' timestamp='1360628311' post='6409755']
No. Money can't buy happiness.
[/quote]

You know, we've all heard that adage so much that I think a lot of people have become desensitized to it. The way wealth and celebrity is worshipped in America doesn't help either. I think alot of people think if they just had a little more of this or that (could be money, could be something else), that all of their problems would be solved, and they'd be significantly happier. Studies have shown, however, that income above a certain amount doesn't translate to more happiness. I can't quote any data now, but the study I'm referring to essentially said happiness does go up as income goes up, but only to a certain point. I don't recall any exact amount of money, but the gist of it was that once people earned an amount of money that allowed them to live comfortably, but not extravagantly, happiness did not go up with increasing income beyond that. I think that it actually started going down at some point (don't quote me on that part). Again, i don't recall exactly, but the annual wage at which happiness didn't go up anymore was surprisingly low...I'm thinking less than $100K.

My bet is alot of people saying they'd take the million bucks would be sick of that deal in five years or less.
[/quote]

It was previously thought to be $75,000, but recent studies or opinion polls have found it's less than $75,000.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2012/04/24/the-salary-that-will-make-you-happy-hint-its-less-than-75000/

[JoeJITSU]

I just started, so you know my answer. I am sure i'll be addicted here pretty quick though.

[duffer987]

[quote name='roll - gybe' timestamp='1360639089' post='6410957']
After tax money then maybe.

I have already quit two lifetime sports just cuz. I love golf, but I'm paying about 50 percent out right now, so this mil can't be pre tax
[/quote]

Well done on the how much $$$$ I make passive brag. Bravo

[adamjstl]

Anyone who is married can really appreciate this thread. My wife saw me reading this earlier, not knowing that I started the whole thing. She said "Can you believe ANYONE would keep playing and let that money go!"... I just smiled

[RookieBlue7]

Not just no, but he-double hockey sticks no.

[lv_2_hack]

[quote name='QMany' timestamp='1360617669' post='6408633']
My multi-millionaire ex-fiance, one way or another, gave me this ultimatum.

I'm single, on GolfWRX, and happy as ever.
[/quote]

What's sad about this is, it's true.

[Llortamaisey]

PM me and I will give you the address to send the check. There are probably people on this site that will pay a million just to get me off Golf WRX.

[jmck]

[quote name='KDMullins' timestamp='1360629239' post='6409853']
[quote name='jmck' timestamp='1360628311' post='6409755']
No. Money can't buy happiness.
[/quote]

You know, we've all heard that adage so much that I think a lot of people have become desensitized to it. The way wealth and celebrity is worshipped in America doesn't help either. I think alot of people think if they just had a little more of this or that (could be money, could be something else), that all of their problems would be solved, and they'd be significantly happier. Studies have shown, however, that income above a certain amount doesn't translate to more happiness. I can't quote any data now, but the study I'm referring to essentially said happiness does go up as income goes up, but only to a certain point. I don't recall any exact amount of money, but the gist of it was that once people earned an amount of money that allowed them to live comfortably, but not extravagantly, happiness did not go up with increasing income beyond that. I think that it actually started going down at some point (don't quote me on that part). Again, i don't recall exactly, but the annual wage at which happiness didn't go up anymore was surprisingly low...I'm thinking less than $100K.

My bet is alot of people saying they'd take the million bucks would be sick of that deal in five years or less.
[/quote]

Yeah, I saw that study too, but the number was even lower. Like around $45k (!). What I meant though was that playing golf makes me happy--like, really really really really happy. I should've been clearer about that in my original post. I wouldn't give up the amount of happiness that golf brings me for a million dollars. To me, it's worth way more than that.

[mwkbmw]

If I did take the million, I hope I wouldn't waste it like I did the first million I made. (Not bragging, just been working a long time.)

[Sean25rp]

[quote name='mwkbmw' timestamp='1360683057' post='6413049']
If I did take the million, I hope I wouldn't waste it like I did the first million I made. (Not bragging, just been working a long time.)
[/quote]

Total passive brag haha!

[KDMullins]

[quote name='jmck' timestamp='1360681203' post='6412839']
[quote name='KDMullins' timestamp='1360629239' post='6409853']
[quote name='jmck' timestamp='1360628311' post='6409755']
No. Money can't buy happiness.
[/quote]

You know, we've all heard that adage so much that I think a lot of people have become desensitized to it. The way wealth and celebrity is worshipped in America doesn't help either. I think alot of people think if they just had a little more of this or that (could be money, could be something else), that all of their problems would be solved, and they'd be significantly happier. Studies have shown, however, that income above a certain amount doesn't translate to more happiness. I can't quote any data now, but the study I'm referring to essentially said happiness does go up as income goes up, but only to a certain point. I don't recall any exact amount of money, but the gist of it was that once people earned an amount of money that allowed them to live comfortably, but not extravagantly, happiness did not go up with increasing income beyond that. I think that it actually started going down at some point (don't quote me on that part). Again, i don't recall exactly, but the annual wage at which happiness didn't go up anymore was surprisingly low...I'm thinking less than $100K.

My bet is alot of people saying they'd take the million bucks would be sick of that deal in five years or less.
[/quote]

Yeah, I saw that study too, but the number was even lower. Like around $45k (!). What I meant though was that playing golf makes me happy--like, really really really really happy. I should've been clearer about that in my original post. I wouldn't give up the amount of happiness that golf brings me for a million dollars. To me, it's worth way more than that.
[/quote]

I get it. The only point I was trying to make is I think people think a million bucks would change their life in a greater and more positive way than I believe it would.

[tbowles411]

No. It's one of the few things that will actually get me out of the house.

[mdgboxx]

I would quit my job for a million bucks....Cold Turkey, on the Spot


Wait, I'm retired! OK, I'll pick up tennis and cycling! Are you kidding me? For $1,000,000 my wife had BETTER be super nice to me. I would expect the same kind of answer from HER!


EDIT: Nothing to do with my wife of 40 years, just a reply to "Money doesn't buy happiness":

Money doesn't buy happiness but, it makes misery far more confortable!.......I'm a Golfer at heart...I'll adapt!

[Mcgeeno]

Not a chance.

I fantasize about getting a million bucks so that I can golf EVERYDAY.

I would rather make a comfortable living in order to feed my golf addiction than be retired and not be able to play the game I love.

[geesecougar2]

No, it's really not that much money

[larrybud]

I just kinda laugh at those who would quit their job for a million bucks. 50k a year for 20 years. Big whoop! And that 50k isn't going to be worth half of what it is now in that 20 year time, so the million would probably be more like 650k over a 20 year period... not exactly livin' high on the hog.

Now, keep working and have an extra million is a bit of a different deal. Pay off the house, invest some mutual funds, buy some gold...

But quit golf? Not nearly enough.

[seasterl]

Tax free? Yeah, that would help get me out of the housing crisis! I would then jump back into table tennis just like I did before. Golf's a great sport, but it's not the only thing in life, either.

[doglover72]

Not achance

[miket_81]

Have to add another set of zeros to it.. I love golf but with a massive fortune I would buy a house at a couple different ski resorts and go on big game hunting and fishing trips for the rest of my life when not ski season also would travel the world..
I play a lot of golf 75+ rounds a year but I could quit it if I had to..

[Elliebarley1978]

yup

[wvuwhat]

Yes, without a doubt.

[ABgolfer2]

if $1 000 000 is really not very much money (i.e. not enough to give up a hobby) I need reevaluate my life.

[mdgboxx]

[quote name='QMany' timestamp='1360617669' post='6408633']
My multi-millionaire ex-fiance, one way or another, ga[color=#000000]ve me this[/color][color=#B22222] [b]ultimatum.[/b][/color]

I'm single, on GolfWRX, and happy as ever.
[/quote]

Or maybe, it was the excuse you used to [u]finally[/u] get the ring on a leash out of your nose.

[Ty_Webb]

I read something once about a study someone did. They looked at the happiness of two groups of people. One group was people who had just been diagnosed with cancer. The other group was people who had just won the lottery. They did something to measure happiness when it happened and not too surprisingly the lottery winning group spiked up, while the cancer sufferers spiked down. Six months later, they measured it again and each group was at the same level.

I also read something written by someone who lost a lot of money. They had enough that when they wanted something they could just have it. Yacht, supercar, new house, anything was in his grasp. Then he lost it and he said that after that he realised that it's actually quite fun to pine for something you can't afford. Basically he found that he was happier after he lost the money than before.

Long way of saying "&#<% NO!!!"

[BigDave11]

No way in hell. Can't put a price on the happiness and peace golf brings me.

[Sean25rp]

Glad to see a lot of "no's"!

[dmalli]

I would do it. I have too many hobbies as it is. I'm obsessed with golf, but I'd be okay with a nice amount of money I didn't have to work for. My family would be better off with it than my golf addiction I think.

[QuigleyDU]

I would give up golf and pick a game where I hit a little ball around a giant field and see how many time it would take to get from point A to point B.

[TNReb]

If I were single I would say no. But, with a wife and kid, I would say yes. I would squirrel it away and know that my kid has a decent little nest egg.

[williamevanl]

No, it's really not that much money (in a way, coming from a guy sitting next to his 63,000 dollar student loan paper chain :P ) Not having money I think has been good for me. I gave up smoking, drinking on weekdays, don't eat out much and I go to the Y out of boredom. You give me a million dollars and check back on me in a few years and I'll be a mess.