Ways to find a playing partner...

As you can see from my profile and signature I've taken a three year break from golf and now getting back into the swing of things with twice weekly visits (or so) to the driving range. I was playing regularly in the UK before I moved and went to the driving range maybe once a fortnight when I didn't have time to play so much.

The last few times I've been to the driving range has been with my wife but today she dropped me off and I hit a couple of buckets myself. As it is fairly warm in my part of the world I took a break and stood in the shade for a bit between buckets.

A guy in his mid 30s or so (I'm early 20s and look it!) rushes up to me and starts asking me quite a lot of questions. Initially saying he was new to the area and asked about some course recommendations. I said I was fairly new to golf in the area and gave a couple of ideas, then asked me a few more personal things in a friendly, conversational way. He gave me his business card and asked for my phone number and then went off to hit some more balls before bidding me good day and going home.

Maybe it's just the quiet Brit in me but it seemed an odd way to find a playing partner. Just going up to some random in a driving range and getting their details...

I've played with strangers quite a bit at my old club (where singles had no standing on the course so we'd buddy up) but this was a new take on things.

Is this standard practice in America?

well im from the south and that happens quite a bit actually. but it just may be the good 'ole southern hospitality and friendliness

Not often you see that in Atlantic Canada to say the least - however it seems rare enough you have 2 or 3 golfers that actually play golf at a driving range around here. That is of course unless the range is located on the golf course.

Never a bad thing though, its always good to have more people to play rounds with.

“Fortnight” …nice
Yea, you see, here in the Colonies we do things a bit differently. You probably ran into some gregarious golfer intrigued by your British accent. Maybe he thought that’s the best way to get close to the origins of the game. I’ll admit that I haven’t had a lot of contact with many Brits who ask to be my basketball partner; but you guys, or the associated isles of Albion anyways, invented the damn game – so you’re going to have to take some ontological responsibility for that. Unfortunately, that means having to entertain the on-the-spot inquiries of Americans. I, probably like my fellow American, learned everything worth knowing about England by watching Monty Python re-runs on PBS.
Nothing is standard practice in America… except PBS and MTV. I recommend watching at least 3 hours of MTV daily; so as to get culturally acclimatized… or just bring pepper-spray to the range.

there's always

THIS

I'm in the same boat, but I think I've accepted I just play alone

i think the desire to compete with my buddies made me a better golfer in a shorter time frame. this is my third year of golf now, and getting up @ 4am on Sundays or going to the driving range twice a week after a long work day is something i look forward to. sure i'm trying to beat my scores, but beating theirs too helps a lot.

The guy was from New York

I hadn't said anything until he initially approached me, well other than muttering the occassional, 'Bollocks' or other swear word under my breath

It's a Southern thing.

I am lucky to have a great playing partner, we play at least once a week and have match play with double or nothing on the 18th hole.

Find one that is compatible with your personality and a better golfer, I found my golf partner at my home course and you might already know your golf partner and may not know it let.

A better player with make your handicap go down just by playing with them regularly.

If you are member of a club you can play in the club competition. That's a great way to meet new people.
Or visit the clubhouse/bar on a regular basis