Playing with friends vs playing alone.

[atrapasuenos]

Hello everyone! I have an issue, I think, I'm playing in two different courses, both are 9 holes, one is par 34 and the other one par 36. But the main problem is when I play alone. Last wednesday I played with a Pro of the mexican tour (Gira Negra Modelo) and other buddies at the par 36 course, I played a bit bad with two 3-putts but ended with a +2. Then on Sunday I played in the par 34 with my buddies and shot -2 for 9 holes, and on Monday I played again in the par 34 course with my friends and shot -4 for 18 holes.

Yesterday I went to the par 36 course, from Tuesday to Friday I have to attend my classes so I play quick 9 holes alone, mainly because of the time I have. But when I play alone I play really bad, I shoot like +7 in 9 holes... and I really don't understand why?

When do you play better, playing with your buddies or alone?

CheerS!

[Fat Slice]

It's kind of random for me, although with such a small sample size it may seem otherwise. Question: do you make the same club/shot choices when you are alone vs. with friends?

[trog2233]

I always play better when playing against friends. I've very competitive and i think that helps me.

[whetstone]

I play better in a group, mainly because when I play alone it turns into 1/2 play, 1/2 practice.

[James_Black]

I play better by myself, easier to focus on shots.
That said a good competition with friends will also make me play better.

[Zeph]

My game is the same, but it is easier to lose focus and just not bother as much on a practice round by myself.

So I usually play better with others. I don't feel the competition as much, I compete mostly with myself.

[i-Guy]

historically I have shot better scores (not lowest ever) when playing alone...I think there are less distractions.

[Gioguy21]

I always play better with a group rather than alone, for the simple fact that it's always a bit of a competition when playin with my friends...alone its' as a person mentioned above...1/2 practice.

[Fairway_CY]

For me, personally... I play better in a group. Mostly because, when I play alone... I tend to have a lot of shots that I top because I'm constantly looking up to see where the ball goes since I'm alone and don't have anybody to spot it for me. I'm much more relaxed when there are others to spot my ball and I tend to remind myself to keep my head down. Also... when I'm playing with others, typically it's because a course is a bit slow and they pair me up with a group... and when the game slows down for me (1 minute or more to think before my shot), I tend to relax and visualize my shot before I hit it. If I feel rushed... I typically take a single practice swing... aim for a GENERAL area... and swing away. That leads to a lot of shots that are pushed or not his where they SHOULD be... so, I PREFER if I'm in a group that is stuck behind another group.

CY

[burnabao]

I think I tend to take more risks when I'm alone, which inevitably ends up with worse scores overall. Although I probably "play better golf shots" - not least of all because I find it easier to keep my rhythm when not waiting for another 3 people to play.

[Leftygolfer]

It is really hard to for me to have a real round by myself unless it is wide open. I like playing with a group much more. I like being able to wait and let the others hit. When I am by myself there is little time between shots and I don't play well.

[DavidFehertysBike]

When i play alone my more apt to experiment with things on the course because i know im not holding anyone up. I also dont play with as much focus for some reason. After the first few holes, its like im just mindlessly walking around wacking the ball as i go. I usually shot better scores when i play with friends.

[enis750]

i play better alone
none of my friends have hcp's close to mine...so it makes for long rounds

last year i played this small executive 9 hole course...you know..one set of tees, fairly short and loaded w seniors and juniors
i hit it up on a Wednesday afternoon before summer holidays were on, and i walked this course in just over one hour and shot -2

even on a championship course, when its not backed up, i can walk 18 in like 2.5 hours and shoot super low
when im out to play, im out to play...i dont practice on the course.....well, that was last year when i paid $65/round...im not f'in around then

this year im a member..so i can see myslef turning a round into practice

[obiwan21]

I think I play better with a small group. It's more relaxing, you can shoot the bull, bounce a shot strategy off someone, get a second opinion on a club or yardage. I know I loose way more balls when I'm by myself, which is frustrating because if I loose too many too early then I start pulling my head up to see where they go, in which case they end up going about 30 yards, usually in the wrong direction.

[BonoVox]

If the course is basically empty I like to play with one or two others with similar to slightly better abilities. (it helps if they play at a good pace like I do) I can get a good rhythm going that way. But not as fast as I would go through the round on my own. Plus playing some kind of match between us makes me bear down that much more.

I did a guys trip to Princeville, Kauai a few years back. We played the Makai course there almost every day. (unlimited golf) 27 holes and not crowded at all. Every time we came off a 9 we would head to the next open first tee and play another 9. We played 54 holes in one day doing that. Nice pace the whole time and I played great! Such a blast!

[CarlSpackler]

It depends for me. If I am playing with better players, I tend to shoot lower. If I am watching someone hack it around the course and waiting on them between shots, my score tends to suffer. It shouldn't, but it does affect me.

[atrapasuenos]

It's kind of random for me, although with such a small sample size it may seem otherwise. Question: do you make the same club/shot choices when you are alone vs. with friends?

When I'm playing with my friends I tend to think more how I want to make the shot.

I play better in a group, mainly because when I play alone it turns into 1/2 play, 1/2 practice.

It is really hard to for me to have a real round by myself unless it is wide open. I like playing with a group much more. I like being able to wait and let the others hit. When I am by myself there is little time between shots and I don't play well.

When i play alone my more apt to experiment with things on the course because i know im not holding anyone up. I also dont play with as much focus for some reason. After the first few holes, its like im just mindlessly walking around wacking the ball as i go. I usually shot better scores when i play with friends.

I think this has to do a lot, when playing with others you have to wait a bit more, but this sometimes puts me in a different mood and I forget what I did wrong the last hole and gives me a positive thinking to the next shot. When I'm playing alone, the between shot it's less so I tend to keep thinking in the bad shots and from that point I just start to screw my round. I went to play today, and shoot 40 (+4)... bad, but I tried to notice why I mess up my rounds playing alone... I noticed that I tend to play quickly, I don't think the shots, don't take time to read the putt and when I make a bad shot/decision my round starts to fall apart and ends up pretty bad. Thanks for sharing! Greetings!

[Dub]

I play better in a group, mainly because when I play alone it turns into 1/2 play, 1/2 practice.

I'm the same.

I'll play solo rounds just fine until I encounter delays. Then my game can fall off if I don't stay active. My joints get stiff. I'll generaly spend more time practice putting and chipping if it doesn't hold up others. I enjoy the company of friends but sometimes solo time is constructive, too.