Playing alone...is it bad?

[Bump-n-MI]

just gets kind of boring, and at times, in my opinion, kind of depressing.

Couldn't disagree more. I enjoy playing by myself as much as my Tuesday and Saturday matches (typically about 15 guys each day).

I love the game and I enjoy being outdoors….what's depressing about that?

[lordhamster]

I hate having to play with myself.

For me, golfing is like going to a restaurant... I don't like it as much alone.

Luckily my wife is just as nuts about golf as I am, so we go every night after work for a quick 9 or some practice.

[lumpuckeroo]

I prefer to golf with friends, but I have shot some of my best rounds alone. Sometimes the piece and quite of a round alone can be rewarding.

[kleinrider]

i enjoy playing alone. I also feel i play better alone than i do with people.

[ks8829]

Do not worry, everybody goes through what you are experiencing. keep enjoying the game and usually the people you hook up with are very nice, kind and always encouraging.

[Jay-Bird]

Playing alone is great. Just don't make a hole in one.

[k1993]

Before I made the high school golf team, I didnt know anyone that played golf so I played almost everyday by myself. I still play by myself sometimes, but not as often. I've realized that by playing with myself so often, I got too nervous while playing with others and would screw up. So try playing with other golfers every chance you get.

[case31]

I used to be a member at a public course that would get so busy on weekends that you couldn't play a round in under 5 - 5 1/2 hours. It only took one miserable Saturday for me to realize that to get around this, I would go out shortly after daybreak. I could never get any of my friends or my dad to go with me, so I played alone. To provide some entertainment, I would bring a radio or ipod with me. At times I would want to be out a little longer than the 2 1/2 hours it would usually take me to walk 18, but it sure beat 5 1/2.
A couple years ago I was a member at a country club that was a good 45 minute drive from my house. I worked from home, so I would head out at 1:00 and play a quick round. If I was playing well, I could play 18 in under 2 hours with a cart. I would then book home and work another few hours. Now that I'm stuck in an office for 45+ hours a week, I sure miss that!

[sacm3bill]

In many ways I prefer playing by myself but I can't keep a handicap without playing with other people...

What do you mean by that? Keeping a handicap has nothing to do with whether you play alone or not.

[Leftygolfer]

I love playing alone. A few years ago before I had a real job and in college, had a membership at a local course. Walked 36 a day by myself, first on on the course. I really improved. I went from a 16 to an 11.

The only issue is the sun and can't see the ball after you hit it.

[Greg]

I play alone a lot myself, I dont have that many friends who want to play, got a couple coworkers but they're always broke or have something else to do. Ive hit the best shots of my life alone, 2 of the 3 best ive ever hit were alone, last weekend I added the 3rd, thought it wasnt quite as great because it wasnt from as far away. I dont have anyone trying to tell me what im doing wrong or anything like that. The one friend I do play a lot with on weekends real soon wont be getting to play for a while, might get to play this weekend maybe. His wife is due very soon with their 3rd child and it might be until next year before he gets to play after the child is born, they'll have their hands full and I doubt he'll get to go. He's a much better player than me but he doesnt make me feel bad about playing poorly, tries to encourage me and politely give me some tips, sometimes ill even notice something he's doing if hes not playing as well as he usually does, his footwork sometimes causes him to hit errant shots but he rarely gets worse than bogey, shoots in the 80's and can usually get one birdie a round. Im lucky if a get one birdie a month and I did get one last week so Im happy and I was playing by myself. In fact every birdie ive ever made not scrambling with another person were playing alone. I guess its different at the courses near me, Ive never been paired up with another person if Im alone, they just let you play by yourself.

[kris]

I have never played alone before, but I always envy those who do. I have fun playing with others, but sometimes I just want to go out and walk the course by myself, just me playing a leisurely round with nobody to bother me. just me and the golf course.

[flopdarock]

oh man... i wish i played alone today... lol...
saw a friend of mine who had a buddy from out of town with him on the course...
they were only playing 9... oh man... talk about holding up the course... they were great guys and more than a few times i dropped hints about maybe picking up or just taking a drop to speed up play... but they wouldnt have it...
we were following some grannies and couldnt keep up with them...
i was being iced down by my own group... lol... a few holes it took them both 3 shots a piece to get to my first drive and im no long baller...
thank goodness the back i was paired up with a couple of old guys that were just tremendously good players

[Pluto]

I really enjoy playing alone. It gives me a chance to work on a multitude of different shots and I enjoy the lack of distractions. I generally play 2 to 3 rounds a week alone (early mornings) unless I get paired up. My "golf buddies" generally can only play on the weekends.

[microcrayfish]

What do you mean by that? Keeping a handicap has nothing to do with whether you play alone or not.

In New Zealand you need someone else to sign off your scorecard before you can hand it in to be used for a handicap, so you need to play with other people. It helps to make sure the scores people hand in are legit. There's no internet system here where you put in your own scores, it's all done through the golf clubs.

[sacm3bill]

Ah, I see! I should not have assumed the system was the same everywhere - thanks for the explanation.

[Golfing Dad]

I usually play either with my 11 year old son or alone, recently I was paired up with a stranger and had the best 9 holes ever.

[Jhans9c1]

I like playing alone when I want to practice, work on certain parts of my game or try out new clubs. There are times I'll play 3 or more balls off the tee with different clubs, drop balls certain distances out from the green or wander the woods looking for balls. It's nice knowing that I won't hold anyone else up.