With February just about over and signs of spring popping into the air with a few warm days, the golf courses in my area saw a line at the tee box that hasn't been present in just about 4 months. I heard a lady at the grocery store telling one of her friends that it wasn't going to be long before her husband would be out of the house just about every day until after the sun sets and there was enough time for him to down a few cold brewskies. I love golf personally and share in the sentiment that time on the golf course helps me forget about everything else in the world and there is nothing better than chasing that hole in one. I would much rather stare at a nine iron than a waffle iron. So how do relationships survive when golf courses are thriving? Does the term "golf widow" ring a bell? Even summer vacations are planed around where interesting courses designed by big name architects can be played. Which leads many wives to boring days in a hotel room or an outlet mall or by the pool talking to other golf widows.

Here are a few tips to help your relationship survive the golf obsessions of your spouse.

1. Find a hobby of your own and don't feel guilty for spending time enjoying it.
2. Plan an outing with the two of you for one night a week and stick to it for respect of each other.
3. Split the household chores between you and do not nag each other about them if they are not done until the last day of the week.
4. Do not do each others chores. Respect each other and take care of the home responsibilities together.
5. Set a schedule for times that you each will spend time with the children or taking care of the pets.
6. Plan a vacation with another couple so that you have someone to hang out with while your spouses play golf. The time to make your pitch is definitely now so you can also pick a place that has something to do while your spouse plays golf.
7. Solicit joint participation in the game of golf from your spouse. This requires an open mind, a closed mouth, and the "Patience of Job".

I would like to close with a joke that I heard from one of my golf friends. There was this guy who went golfing every day, it didn't matter what kind of weather it was because he was hooked on golf. One day he left the house early and headed for the golf course, but it was so bitter cold that he decided he wouldn't golf that day and went back home. His wife was still in bed when he got there, so he took off his clothes and snuggled up to his wife's backside and said "Terrible weather out there." She replied, "Yeah, and can you believe my stupid husband went golfing?"