Do You Have a Full Set of Clubs For 18 Holes of Retirement Golf?

Let’s talk golf and retirement.

Imagine showing up to the course with just a putter in your bag. It might be the most used club in your arsenal, sure. It might even be the most important when it comes to scoring. But you won’t get far without your driver, your irons, your wedges, the full set.

Money in retirement is exactly like that putter.

Essential? Absolutely.

Enough on its own? Not even close.

You might hit your driver 14 times in a round. A seven iron? Maybe a dozen swings.

But your putter? You'll use it on every green, often 30 to 40 times a round. Yet, despite how crucial it is, no golfer shows up to the course with just a putter.

That, in a nutshell, is how I think about money in retirement.

It's essential. It’s what keeps the game going. But if you don’t have everything else in place, it’s only part of the story.

Your Putter: Money in Retirement

Let’s start with the obvious: money matters. Just like your putter, it shows up on every hole, sometimes multiple times.

It pays your bills, covers your travel, buys you freedom and peace of mind.

But here’s the twist: money won't get you off the tee, can’t get you out of a bunker, and can’t shape a life of meaning on its own.

In the same way that you wouldn’t walk the course with just your putter, you shouldn’t approach retirement focused only on your money.

That’s just one club in a much bigger bag.

What Else Should Be in Your Retirement Golf Bag?

Let’s unpack the other "clubs" that will help you navigate the 18 holes of retirement.

Purpose & Identity – Your Driver

Your driver gets you started, It launches you down the fairway and sets the tone for the hole. In retirement, that’s your sense of purpose.

Many people don’t realise how much their identity was tied to their career. When work stops, so does the automatic answer to “What do you do?”

So, what now?

Whether it’s volunteering, mentoring, building something new, or exploring a passion you never had time for, you need something that drives you forward. Without a driver, you’re stuck on the tee box.

Relationships & Community – Your Irons

Irons are your everyday workhorses, dependable, versatile, and in different varieties (lofts) used for most of the course.

In life, that’s your relationships.

Retirement can be surprisingly isolating. You leave behind colleagues, routines, and maybe even your sense of belonging. That’s why staying connected to friends, family, and community is essential.

Join a club, host Sunday dinners, rekindle old friendships, or build new ones, your irons are what will carry you through most of the course.

Health & Wellbeing – Your Wedges

Your wedges are all about recovery, getting out of trouble and giving yourself a chance to score again.

That’s your health in retirement.

Physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing are what keep you in the game.

Without your health, even a well-funded retirement can feel limited. That doesn’t mean training for a triathlon, it means moving, sleeping well, eating right, staying curious, and being kind to your mind.

Time & Structure – Your Scorecard

Your scorecard brings structure to the game. You know what hole you’re on, what par you’re aiming for, and what comes next.

In retirement, you write your own scorecard.

When the 9-to-5 disappears, so does the natural rhythm of life. That can feel like freedom, or like floating.

Having routines, goals, and things to look forward to adds shape and satisfaction to your days.

Build your week like a round of golf builds: variety, challenge, rest, and reward.

The Money (Putter) Only Works If You Can Get to the Green

Here’s the key takeaway: money in retirement is absolutely essential. Just like the putter, you’ll use it every day, and it will shape the outcome.

But without the other "clubs", your purpose, health, relationships, structure, you won’t be in a position to use that money well.

You can’t sink putts if you never make it to the green.

True retirement planning isn’t just about how much money you’ll have, it’s about how you’ll use that money to live well, love well, and play well.

So as you plan your future, ask yourself not just “how much is enough?”, but also:

What will I do?
Who will I do it with?
How will I stay healthy and engaged?
What will bring me joy, meaning, and connection?

Because when all of that comes together, that’s when you'll play your best round yet.

The Putter Will Let You Down, And That’s Okay

Let’s be honest, even the best putters in the world have off days. We’ve all watched pros three-putt from five feet or miss the easiest looking tap-in.

Sometimes the putter just doesn’t behave.

And that’s a lesson worth carrying into retirement, especially when it comes to your money.

Like right now, there will be times when the markets wobble.

When your portfolio dips.

When your money doesn’t “perform” the way you’d hoped.

It happens. That’s the game.

But here’s the thing: you can still have a great round even if your putting is off for a few holes.

Golfers know this. You hit great drives, smart approaches, and play the rest of the round well, suddenly those missed putt, although annoying doesn’t seem to matter so much.

Retirement is the same.

When the money side isn’t perfect, when markets are in temporary decline and your portfolio falls in value, it doesn’t have to and shouldn't ruin the whole experience.

You’ve got other strengths to rely on: your health, your purpose, your support network, your mindset.

Just like a strong short game or a confident tee shot can make up for a few putting missteps, a full life in retirement can carry you through financial ups and downs.

So don’t panic when the putter underperforms. Don’t toss it in the lake or overhaul your whole approach after a rough few holes.

Keep playing smart. Keep perspective. The round is far from over.