Are Golf Shoes Essential to Play Golf?

No, they are not, but I feel more comfortable when I have on my golf shoes. Putting on the shoes gives me a feeling that I am now in golf mode. I don’t play better golf than my friend who does not wear golf shoes, but I feel more like a golfer and that is half the game. One day I may get good enough to think about getting a handicap but that day is far down the road. As for now, I play duffer golf, don’t keep score, enjoy the company and the weather.

As for shoes, most people know, there are shoes for virtually every sport imaginable.  There are very few sports that do not have a special shoe that is intended to improve the way you play while wearing them and gold is no exception if you believe the ads. Many of us wonder if it is really necessary to purchase golf shoes in order to play golf well. 

If you are a highly skilled player or even tend to play quite often, you may need to invest in a good pair of golf shoes.  Typically investing in golf shoes will require you to find a pair of shoes that you are actually thoroughly comfortable wearing.  You need to remember that many golf courses require you to do a lot of walking so you need something that fits comfortably.  Something with plenty of cushioning as well as a good fit is essential.

Taking your time to shop around for golf shoes is a very wise idea.  There are dozens if not hundreds of different colours so sometimes selecting the best colour that you like can be a bit of a hard decision.  In addition, not all shoes are created equally.  The shoe that is best for your foot may not be best for someone else.  In addition, there are numerous different material styles that you can choose from, specifically those that are hard materials or even soft materials.

Choosing the right shoes to play in will ensure that you are comfortable, as well as have the traction that you need while playing.  If you are playing a lot of golf, you will quickly see how a good pair of golf shoes can do wonders to help improve your comfort level. My shoes improve my comfort level but have not yet improved my game. I have never discounted the ability of a pair of shoes to dramatically increase my overall performance during a game but to date, it has not happened, maybe the next time.  Taking the time to really try on several pairs of shoes will ensure your final selection is durable as well as comfortable in a style that you like and enjoy wearing and you will feel like a golfer and you may even play like one. A goal I am still striving for and one day…..

How old guys stay in shape

On this beautiful day in August, here is how one old guy stays in shape. I only wish I had his skills.

Lets change the song

I receive Google alerts about retirement and every day there are stories that have the same theme. How tough it is for women to save for retirement; women are more likely than men to end their days in poverty than men; women have it tough when it comes to finances.  

The stories usually follow this format: 1.) Women make less than men, 2.) women are in the labour force for less time and therefore work less than men, 3.) women live longer than men, 4.) women don't invest as much as men, 5.) when women invest, they are more successful than men. 6.) women need to save more, 6.) women need to learn more about money. The structure may change but the theme is the same, blame women for their inability to save enough for retirement. Here are a few excerpts from some stories that came in on one day.

Story One--Financial strategies for women over 50 can help

Not only do they make substantially less than men, overall, but they also spend less time in the workforce, carry higher levels of college debt and often don’t have access to a retirement plan at work.

All these things, in addition to others—serving as caregivers for family members (and devoting not just time but precious income to help them), having less money with which to save for retirement, having to get by on lower Social Security because of years of lower-income—all come together to create a perfect storm at retirement for many.

Women are more likely to end their days in poverty and to spend whatever they might have less on long-term care (since they’re usually the caregivers, there’s seldom anyone around to care for them when they need it).

Story Two-Women at risk of 'financial meltdown' due to lack of individual pension rights

Women of all age groups are at risk of a “financial meltdown” in the event of a relationship breakdown because of their lack of individual pension rights or even financial plans, according to new research by Royal London. 

According to a YouGov survey specially commissioned for Royal London, approximately 45 percent of women living with a partner said they were either not confident or did not know if their long term financial plans would be adequate if their current relationship failed. Just 34 percent of men felt the same way.

Royal London pensions specialist, Helen Morrissey said the findings are “extremely worrying” and show that “we have a long way to go to ensure women are building resilient retirement plans”.

Story Three--The top money tips for older women

Question Do younger and older women differ, in how they understand and handle money?

“The irony is that your need for safety gets in the way of true financial security.”

I find that younger women are more open and transparent about it. They have to deal with a lot of issues as young adults, like student debt, and they talk about it as a way to find solutions. Older women are not as open, because they have accumulated years of baggage, and have been told their whole lives not to talk about it.

Story Four---More Women Growing Old Poor In Phoenix, Mirroring National Trend

More and more women are growing old poor. That’s according to a report by the national advocacy group Justice in Aging. In Phoenix, the reasons why mirror what’s happening nationally.

The problem is these stories don't tell the correct story. We need to change the story and the song. The facts are that we pay women less than men, and that is one of the main reasons women put less away for retirement. The story has to be shifted so we start talking about paying women the same as men. Now I know that most men are not great at saving for retirement but we have a head start because we make more money.  It is, in my humble opinion, scandalous that even though we have had laws on the books for over 50 years, women are not receiving equal pay for equal work.   Boomer women are retiring alongside Boomer men and since they will live longer their well being will be a major crisis for society in the next few years.

In the United States, there had been The Equal Pay Act since 1963. It is a United States labour law amending the Fair Labor Standards Act, aimed at abolishing wage disparity based on sex. It was signed into law on June 10, 1963, by John F. Kennedy as part of his New Frontier Program. However, this law some 56 years later has had no effect on women’s wages overall. Sad and destructive to our economic well being. 

In Canada, Ontario has a similar act. Under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), subject to certain exceptions, an employer cannot pay one employee at a rate of pay less than another employee on the basis of sex when they perform substantially the same kind of work in the same establishment, their work requires substantially the same skill, effort and responsibility and their work is performed under similar working conditions.

Let's not spend too much energy wringing our hands because women cannot save enough for retirement lets focus our energies on working to ensure that women are paid the same as men when they are working. That is the crises we need to spend time and energy on. and when we get to the point when we pay women equally,  over time women will be in the position that they need not worry about ending their lives in poverty.

Memories are made of this

My oldest cousin died a while back. I know that death at our age is expected, but hers was a surprise. There are a number of reasons I feel sad about her loss. First, we were not close, but I remember her as a very strong, friendly person who had a laugh and a smile that would light up the room. She was the daughter of my Dad’s oldest sister and with her death, a family connection is severed. She was a person who was very close to her family and had a zest for life that few 80+ people have. I remember driving her up to our uncle’s funeral a bit over a year ago. As we drove, she filled me in on what her children and grandchildren were doing and how excited she was about their plans, and how she would have to find time to fit in all of the upcoming activities.

She was actually older than my aunt and joked about how she would live for a while yet and she said that when she died, she would not have a big celebration of life. I understand that sentiment and I understand her children are having a small memorial service with only close family in attendance.

My brother pointed out to me that with her passing, there I and my cousin E are the oldest of our generation. My cousin E is two years older than I am, and her health, I understand, is not good. E is a very strong and resourceful lady and I am sure that she will live a long time, or so I hope.

I thought about what my brother said and it made me think about family, connections and moments in life that we want to remember and pass on. My cousin that just died sent my aunt a picture of my grandfather and grandmother on their wedding day and my aunt is sending me a copy. I will add it to my collection.

I have, like many of you, started to digitize old pictures and slides. My mother put all of the pictures she had into albums for the family. She did that for us before she passed and looking through the old albums brought back many great memories. I want my children and my grandson to have the same opportunity to look back and see what memories we wanted to be captured and remembered.  This is a challenge as there seem to be thousands of pictures but doing a few at a time and looking at what has been done not what needs to be done, makes the task less daunting.