Playing Alone (2021)

[PSherrard01]

I probably play at least half my rounds alone since I go out very early on a weekday. Usually there's not that many people out. Sometimes I like to play alone, sometimes I like to play with others. Depends on my mood. 

[Shindig]

Played yesterday alone;  I was surprised to be paired up with someone today.  Not that many people play in La Quinta with a late morning start time.  More people should, it's fun! 

[cruzhepug]

I've been going out a lot as a single this year. I've only been paired a couple of times. My girlfriend has been going with me and she's becoming a pretty good caddy, lol.

[Nave]

I frequently play alone and our course usually pairs me with others, specifically with other players who play alone. I have to add that this is usually right after the morning peak times or in the afternoons when they are more flexible to accommodate singles.

[TourSpoon]

I used to show up and get paired with people all the time. For some reason, I always play better with the pressure of having people I don't know in the group. I have played my share of solo golf, but I prefer playing in a threesome or foursome. 

Right before Covid hit, I hooked up with a longtime friend that organizes a group that plays twice a week. We have standing tee times and games consistently with about 18 guys that all know how to play. I don't take that for granted and looking forward I would try to find a group to play with if that group fell apart. Before this group, it was with 3 friends that consistently played once a week. It was always a good time, but a pain to get times and on weekends someone was out so it would be show up somewhere and get paired up. 

[Greg 504]

I play several rounds solo as I usually play first thing in the morning and during the week. Perk of being retired! I enjoy solo rounds but enjoy meeting new friends as well when I get paired up.

[arturo28mx]

i have more fun when I play with others, but I get a better idea of what I'm doing wrong when I play alone.

[mohearn]

23 hours ago, arturo28mx said:

i have more fun when I play with others, but I get a better idea of what I'm doing wrong when I play alone.

I can't play alone anymore. I used to,  but now I feel that alone rounds are by definition practice rounds, and I think my practice time is better used on the range, or practice green, etc.  I have lost interest in just  social rounds, with nothing riding on it. Ditto for getting paired up with random folks, no patience for it.  I might feel different if I could treat  round as truly a practice round, and throw out extra balls, or take multiple shots from the bunker, or tricky lies, or short sided lob practice (or whatnot).  Courses are busy these days with little time between groups so practice is not practical. Plus I can't record solo rounds for HCP purposes, so grinding out  great score is moot, or the alternative also, I suppose. 

I honestly don't know, do really skilled golfers play solo rounds? Honest question, is that the path to better golf?  If it is, I need to adjust myself so I can do what it takes. I've read that when tour pros play practice rounds, they do it in groups and have $$ riding on it, true?

[DaveP043]

Before this season, it had been decades since I played a round all by myself.  If I went to the golf course, I had plans to play with someone, or I got paired up with others.  But as I work fewer days in the office, I end up going to the club without specific plans.  My home club isn't generally very full on weekdays, especially outside of the morning and afternoon times.  I've shown up a number of times when there's nobody on the range, and nobody on the tee sheet any time soon, so I've gone out alone. I find these rounds to be rather peaceful.  For the most part I've walked the course, and really enjoyed looking around a lot more than when I'm in a group of players.  And I do take extra swings, try different shots, just to explore possibilities.  I've even made up different routings on occasion, cutting off loops of holes, playing from #2 green to #5 green just for fun.  I still prefer playing (and competing) in a group, but I've re-learned how much fun being alone on a course can be.

[JetFan1983]

It's been a long time since I've played alone, but I'm looking forward to doing it again one day. I like it as an intermediate zone between the range and golf with other people. I find it much easier to play alone, and it allows me to practice shots I otherwise might not think to try if I was on the range. Added bonus that it's very peaceful and low stress, and it's a nice thing to mix into the routine.

[NZ Golfer]

16 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

Before this season, it had been decades since I played a round all by myself.  If I went to the golf course, I had plans to play with someone, or I got paired up with others.  But as I work fewer days in the office, I end up going to the club without specific plans.  My home club isn't generally very full on weekdays, especially outside of the morning and afternoon times.  I've shown up a number of times when there's nobody on the range, and nobody on the tee sheet any time soon, so I've gone out alone. I find these rounds to be rather peaceful.  For the most part I've walked the course, and really enjoyed looking around a lot more than when I'm in a group of players.  And I do take extra swings, try different shots, just to explore possibilities.  I've even made up different routings on occasion, cutting off loops of holes, playing from #2 green to #5 green just for fun.  I still prefer playing (and competing) in a group, but I've re-learned how much fun being alone on a course can be.

Yes for me its the opposite I play 60-70% of my Golf solo ...which I enjoy ..its my workout -mental health-work on my game .... sometimes if I have a comp coming up I really hope to do well in I'll play full 18 hole round and tee off 2x to 3x balls off each hole and usually add another ball or too when it comes to my short game .... is a real workout but I find it brilliant for endurance to my game hitting 200+ shots in a round ... (still have just one ball I keep a score to...)

I am lucky to have a total population in my region of much less than 50k yet 5x courses I can play including my own for less than $30..weekdays usually very easy to just turn up without booking and get out ....

you can decide your pace , tees ,go for those hero shots ,focus just on your game ... unlike my last monthly medal where one of the foursome found out I was a  fulltime ASX Sharetrader so wanted to talk about the sharemarket he was also trading which is fine but next minute my mind was thinking about the market(which it does 40hrs+ pw) and drove the ball OB !! my own mental weakness fault..