Getting Paired With Someone?

I've been thinking of signing up for a week or so and i saw this topic come up today so i thought i would take the plunge and ask what do you mean by it?

now that sounded a little silly so i will explain a little bit more, people were saying they were getting paired with people who they dont like and it confused me because where i come from (wales) i have never come across this, are you being paired to play with someone when you just want a round to yourself or do you mean in a tourney or anything like that? And are you allowed to refuse if you just want to play on your own or will they not allow it? I have only just started playing properly so this could be a stupid question but the few times i have been to where i play i have never seen this happen, thanks in advance

Thanks for the reply.

yeah, I live in seattle area and we have lots of busy courses where they make each group consist of 4 even if it is 4 singles. It can lead to long rounds, but they want to squeeze every $ from you they can lol

What happens if they are all much much better than you? must they wait? and what happens if when youre on the course you ditch them? when i play its usually quiet so i wont have this problem i just think its interesting

I often play as a single so I get paired up a lot.  You basically play as you normally would with your buddies . .ie, they wait on your shots and you wait on thiers, etc.  Even if they are much better, though, you should still be able to keep up reasonably.

I've never ditched anybody but I got ditched a few years ago.  I was playing with my father who is simultaneously the worlds worst and the worlds slowest golfer.  He is everybody on this board's worst nightmare - shoots around 150, wants to play and count every stroke, does a long pre-shot routine only to duff it and start over, says things like "I paid the same money as everybody else so they can wait", etc, etc.  Really, I love the guy but he's a nightmare to play golf with and I only do it every 5 years or so.

Anyway - we got paired up with a young guy who was probably a 10 handicap.  He ditched us after the 3rd hole - just asked us if we minded if he played up ahead.  I understood and didn't mind.  Under certain circumstances it can be rude to ditch your goup but if there's holes open ahead and you ask respectfully, I think there are times when it can be ok.

I've never played as a single, only because I cannot physically see a golf ball farther than about 175 yds under ideal conditions.

Welcome, this doesn't happen as much in the UK. If you play in Spain or Portugal they have a similar system to the US where they will fill up fourballs rather than send out singles. I've also had two 2balls paired together in Portugal to make a 4ball.