| It is often said that you need to take up either | | | | stress point at which many people have been |
| golf or fishing before you retire! Many will argue | | | | known to suffer heart attacks - and if you are |
| the case for one over the other, but either would | | | | fortunate enough to manage to make it round |
| be better than endless hours of boredom. | | | | the course, then a regular couple of alcoholic |
| Chances are that taking up either before your | | | | drinks at the nineteenth hole will not improve your |
| retirement will help you enjoy your golden years | | | | fitness. Again the criticism of golf in favour of |
| more. | | | | fishing must be tempered. If your choice is |
| There are of course many hundreds of different | | | | spending long periods by the water, and then get |
| hobbies and pastimes that you could pursue, and | | | | a sudden huge unexpected bite, this can be just |
| you probably will want to try out a few new | | | | as stressful! |
| ideas. However, having a sport or hobby that you | | | | The question of whether or not golf will help you |
| have been good at and can look forward to | | | | to keep your mind alert must be asked. There is |
| devoting more time than you have been able to | | | | not much thought process that goes into a round |
| when working is one of the good reasons for | | | | of golf - but a lively conversation with your |
| retirement. | | | | partners will be stimulating. Going fishing means |
| Both golf and fishing are often recommended as | | | | you will probably be alone, with the contents of |
| they are both reasonably active outdoor pursuits | | | | your tackle box to keep your mind active. |
| that encourage the participant to go out and | | | | Finally, there is the cost of each to consider. You |
| enjoy themselves. Golf appears on the face of it | | | | may not be working and relying on a pension. In |
| to be the better choice in this respect as it | | | | this case you might be looking for a sport that is |
| requires the participant to walk around a golf | | | | reasonable in cost. Golf can be expensive if you |
| course at least getting fresh air and exercise, | | | | join the top club, buy top branded carbon fibre |
| whereas the impression of a fisherman is often | | | | and titanium equipment and play several times a |
| sitting by the lakeside bored, which is not so | | | | week. However, a modest set of clubs need not |
| attractive. | | | | cost a lot and you can always play at a "pay per |
| This is not the case, a round of golf does require | | | | game" local club. Fishing is the same, some venues |
| a reasonable walk of perhaps two miles or so | | | | are expensive and some very good ones |
| when playing a round of eighteen holes. It is | | | | reasonable. You may become a "tackle tart" and |
| better exercise than none at all, but hardly as | | | | buy more shiny fishing tackle than you need, or |
| good even as walking the dog. On the other hand, | | | | you may happily fish for any species in any |
| walking a river while stalking an elusive fishy | | | | environment with adequate budget priced gear. In |
| quarry can demand walks of many miles. | | | | both sports the choice is yours. |
| Therefore, it is no good trying to judge the | | | | There does not appear to be anything to choose |
| relative merits of either golf or angling by the | | | | between golf and fishing as a retirement sport. It |
| amount of exercise either provides during your | | | | will depend on whether you want to chase a little |
| old age. | | | | ball around a field or sit for hours by the local |
| The next aspect to be considered is the effort | | | | pond. On the other hand you might seek the |
| that is required to undertake each. It will all | | | | social aspects of golf while visiting different |
| depend on the locations visited and the | | | | stunning courses around the country - or chase |
| approaches taken. But it is fair to say that golf | | | | after elusive monster fish in spectacular foreign |
| can be a very gentle walk round a course, | | | | environments. It is what you make of either that |
| interspaced with spikes of activity when the golf | | | | counts. |
| ball is being hit with a wood or an iron. This is a | | | | |