Playing Alone

[jrode]

Last season I found it hard to get out as much as I would have liked. I only have one friend who golfs on a regular basis and no one in my family does. It's great playing with my friend, but it doesn't always work out with schedules and stuff like that. I want to get out more, but I'm sort of reluctant about going out and playing by myself for the sole reason that I'm afraid I'll get paired with someone else and my game is not good enough to be where I'm comfortable playing with strangers. That and I'm just a pretty reserved person to begin with. Will they pair you up with someone more often then not or am I just thinking it will happen all the time?

[Ian]

man, dont even worry about it, if you need to just pick up your ball to keep up.
I play alone all the time at my club, sometimes i end up alone and flying through 18, but sometimes i end up with other people.

Just relax and play the game, once in a while you will end up with jerks and more often than not you will end up with great guys, who knows you might just pick up a new playing partner..

[Stacey_E]

Some of my most enjoyable and best scoring rounds have come while playing by myself. I just hope I don't get my first ace playing alone.

If you find a course that is pretty laidback, they usually aren't bothered by you rolling solo. It's best to do it during a less busy time. You can be one of the last out any day of the week. I'd just try to avoid those super busy times, like weekends before noon. I suppose it is different at each course as to what is allowed and when it is allowed.

[Ian]

Some of my most enjoyable and best scoring rounds have come while playing by myself. I just hope I don't get my first ace playing alone.

why would they not want you to play alone? its not like you wont keep pace of play...

[Zeph]

why would they not want you to play alone? its not like you wont keep pace of play...

Probably because you could have had three other players with you so most can play at the same time. Looks a bit silly if three foursomes tee out, then one player and then two foursomes. You'll also be trailing the next group constantly, bothering them and you.

I play alone if there are few people on the course, but prefer to play with company.

[TheNatural]

playing alone is not nearly that much fun....but as stated before if you find yourself hammering out a 9 or 10 stroke hole score and you arent on the green yet, pick up your ball...otherwise dont worry about it too much and go the driving range and practice before heading out.....its fun to meet new people when your a higher hc, there are many tips people will share with you that will help lower your score...playing with the same person all the time limits those opportunities for advice that may be helpful...i feel a new post coming on...

[PiKapp23]

I play alone quite a bit during weekdays when I have a chance to get out. I find that's the best way to work on my game. I know some local courses that will not pair me up during weekday play (especially after about 9:30-10:00). I have a bunch of golf partners and can always find someone to play with, but when I feel I need to work on my game I like to play alone.

Sometimes it can be good to be paired up. One of the guys I play with occassionally was a single I got paired with one day and we had a great time and now play together a few times a year. It can also be a good way to pick up some new things (take advice with a grain of salt, but often times there are things to be learned by watching others, as well as tips they might have). Unless you're paired up with some really good golfers (or those that think they are), most golfers do not care how good or bad you are as long as you keep pace. Everyone had to go through a time when they weren't that good so they are not bothered.

[TheNatural]

Forgot to mention ,, my eyesight is poor and i often times cant see my drives after 2oo yds or when hitting into the sun it helps to have a pair of eyes...
Mostly for me drives.....i like to be paired up w a group for that reason alone....funniest is when i asked 2 guys to help watch my drive on the first hole and i topped it 10 yds ...it was a good laugh...

[ChiChiIsMe]

I just hope I don't get my first ace playing alone.

that is a re-occurring nightmare of mine.......

[JetFan1983]

As a fellow high handicapper, I definitely understand how you feel about playing alone...one part of me asks "am I good enough to be comfortably playing alone?" Another part of me wishes friends or family were there so we could spend some time together and relish each others' good shots. People's schedules are so hectic though that if I didn't go out and play alone, I'd probably be playing golf about half the time of what I do now.

90% of the time I've been paired up with good people who have been very nice and respectful. Other times they send me out by myself and I can really focus on my game. I carry extra balls in my pocket during these rounds, I don't keep score, and I get about 5-6 times the amount of practice in than I would had I been there with friends playing for a score. Playing alone is just something a lot of us have to do in order to get out on the course as often as we'd like. And hey, it's a great way to gain some ground on my friends who started playing the game when they were kids! You should've seen the looks on their faces when I first broke 100! I definitively didn't tell them I had been playing a lot of solo rounds. "I guess I'm just a natural at this," I would say.

But seriously, as long as you display good, standard etiquette and not act like a psycho, the strangers you are paired with have no right to be annoyed with playing with you, whether they are a low or high handicap.

[Fourputt]

Last season I found it hard to get out as much as I would have liked. I only have one friend who golfs on a regular basis and no one in my family does. It's great playing with my friend, but it doesn't always work out with schedules and stuff like that. I want to get out more, but I'm sort of reluctant about going out and playing by myself for the sole reason that I'm afraid I'll get paired with someone else and my game is not good enough to be where I'm comfortable playing with strangers. That and I'm just a pretty reserved person to begin with. Will they pair you up with someone more often then not or am I just thinking it will happen all the time?

I wouldn't worry about it. Everybody was bad when they started out. I certainly wouldn't avoid playing just because of that. The more you get out, the more likely you are to find a few new friends, and then you WILL have others to play with who you are comfortable with. Try to play most often at one course and get to know some of the other regulars there. That's the best way I know to eventually hook up with other golfers with similar playing styles.

[Zeph]

It's also got a lot to do with nerves. If you play regularly with low hcp players and have the occasional blow up, you'll get used to it. In time you will be more annoyed over how bad you played than how your playmate reacts to it.

If you play with others once ever 10th round, you'll be nervous and not able to concentrate on your game.

[GDWindowpane]

I like playing alone (or with my son)... Gives us a chance to play a nice game of worst ball.

[blackxpress]

I play every day if it isn't snowing or raining. If none of my regular playing partners are available I tee off as a single unless the course is crowded, in which case the starter will match me up with someone. It used to make me nervous but not any more. I've met a lot of great people that way. In fact, I know just about all the members at my home course because I've played with most of them at some time or another.

Another thing that happens at our course a lot is that you might be playing as a single and come up on a twosome or threesome and they'll ask you if you want to play through or join up with them. I'll usually just join up and finish the round with the group. Great way to make new friends.

[Matt P]

Playing alone can be great. Ultimately, if you walk you already spend a lot of the time playing the game alone as you are only with your playing partners from the green to the tee box (unless you land in the same area, which doesn't happen a lot with my playing partners).

It it fast and fun and can be more relaxing. I played nine yesterday (which is great for Michigan) and started out alone and caught up to a group I let get two or three holes ahead of me by the seveth hole (would have caught up sooner, but I nuked one approach shot and had to spend some time looking for it).

Just try it out for a early morning nine, and you will know if it suits you.

[Eeryck]

I put together an email list in the Milwaukee area of a handful of golfers 15-20 on the list for a regular Sunday morning round. If you would like I would be happy to include your email in the list.

If you are in the Milwaukee area send me a PM and we can chat some. I put together the list to find others to golf with because I was in a similar place as you.

Most of the guys that play score in the 90's or low 100's and are pretty social and just out to have fun.

Sometimes I get 6-7 people that want to go on a Sunday morning and sometimes I get no takers.

My own game is getting to be fairly decent. After lessons this winter and with my continued lessons through the summer I suspect that I will be playing down to low teens or single digit hcp by the end of the summer.

Age of the group is mid-20's to late-50's.

-E

[Big_M]

I play alone if there are few people on the course, but prefer to play with company.

pretty much same here... sometimes alone is fine if I'm in a hurry, but I enjoy playing with others and 95% of the time I enjoy the starngers company. I go to the course as a single for about 1/2 my rounds each year.

I just hope I don't get my first ace playing alone.

that is a re-occurring nightmare of mine.......

ditto here... if it happens I will wait for hours for someone to come along and not believe me.

Also, I no longer ever hit a 2nd shot at a par 3 "just for practice"... as I did this last year after a bad swing and I hit the pin... The whole time I'm watching my shot I'm saying... "please don't, please don't"... then crack and it's about 18 inches away... I would HATE sinking one on a shot that doesn't count.

[flopdarock]

due to my schedule i pretty much go to the course as a single all the time... if the course isnt crowded they let me go off by myself... but now that the weather is getting warmer... i always get teamed up with strangers almost all of which are great ppl regardless of their handicap... if they play much better than me i keep up any way i can even if its to pick up... if they play much worse than me i tend to be as polite as possible as long as play hasnt bogged down to a stand still... ill ask if i can go on ahead and just play thru... but sometimes its so crowded that ill just stick to the group im in... i actually love the company as long as they arent jerks