Playing 9 or 18 by yourself.

[drifterdon]

I really enjoy going and playing nine holes by myself. It seems to make me spend just a little bit more time thinking of all the little things that make for better golf. I seem to do better by myself too. When playing solo, I always take my push cart and walk it. Great exercise. This time of year there are no crowds and the pace can be very relaxed.

[atrapasuenos]

When I was at school, depending on my class schedule I usually had time for a quick 9 before going to school and the come back to the course and play another 9 or stay until 9 o'clock at the range. I liked playing alone cause i felt I could try shots that when I was playing with my friends I couldn't because of the bets we were playing. So that gave me ease of mind when I faced a shot I need to hit to tie the bets or win them.

[Fourputt]

I haven't play a round alone in 25 years.  Don't intend to either.

For those that enjoy solitary golf, there's nothing wrong with that, but I enjoy the camaraderie and competition inherent in playing a match with a buddy.

This^^

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt1372

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS256

Last time I played alone (over a year ago) I had one of the best rounds I've ever had, hit some of the best shots I've ever hit. and almost couldn't miss a putt. Not a soul saw it and not a soul cared.

Might as well have not even happened.

Why do you need the recognition?

You knew how well you played and I'm sure it did a lot for your self-confidence and the quality of your play going forward.  So, although no one saw you play one of your best solo rounds, I'm sure others saw the benefits of that round in the way you played w/others later.

Not really for recognition, but just someone to share it with.  Both the good rounds and good holes, and the bad or horrid ones.  Sometimes the bad holes make for better conversations than the good ones. But for me it's the sharing and the camaraderie that is such an important part of the game of golf.

Quote:

Originally Posted by formula428

As indicated in a couple of my other threads, I just got into the sport/game seriously only a few weeks ago.  It seems like back then, everyone wanted to go golfing.  After I get all my new clubs/bag/balls/etc everyone cannot make time for it.  However, I still want to get better.  I hit the range at least once per week.  However, I want to actually go to a course.  I mean, isn't that the point?

So, since I have no one who currently wants to golf, how "lame" is it to just go and play 9 or 18 by yourself?  Does anyone routinely do that?

I love playing 9 before or after I work ALONE...it's the best kind of practice....!!!1

there's a 36 hole muni course 15 min.'s away from my house, I get there and I'm the first one in line waiting for the lazy disgruntled self important starter to open his window in his little shack only for him to say " no playing the back 9 solo !!!!.. WTF not...? A#@%HOLE...so i go out as a single with a threesome and after the first hole, I veer off and hop on the back 9 and play 6-7-8 holes by myself.....at 55 I'm still jumping around on a golf course trying to keep one step ahead of the ranger !!

Don't you want to tell all of us how you became so special that course policy and rules don't apply to you?  At 55 isn't it time you grew up?

For those of you who like to play a solo round of golf, two questions:

1) Do you take a cart?

2) What is your record time for 18 holes?

When I play solo I always walk and finish 18 holes in around 2 hours 45 minutes.  My record is 2 hours 20 minutes.

Don't keep records.  I can tell you that a buddy and I together, each in a cart, played 18 in about 1:35 without even hurrying.  We both worked there, it was late fall, about 40-45 degrees, and windy.  We were the only people on the course that day, and we just had fun.  We played every stroke, played by the rules, but we play ready golf, so occasionally we were both hitting at the same time.  We both tended at the time to shoot most rounds in the low 80's.

[TallyWhacker]

I used to fish a LOT.  Then I discovered golf.  I haven't fished since.

However, one thing I enjoy about both is not having to depend on someone else.

If I want to hit the lake, or the links, at the crack of dawn, I do.  I don't have to wait for anyone to get up, or hope they didn't forget their shoes, or stop and get them breakfast... I just go.  No one to slow me down or speed me up but me.

There is something to be said for solitude.  Of course it is nice to have someone to share that great shot you made, or that 6lb bass you pulled out from under a stump, but all-in-all, I do cherish my alone time on the course.

[ditchparrot19]

I used to fish a LOT.  Then I discovered golf.  I haven't fished since.

However, one thing I enjoy about both is not having to depend on someone else.

If I want to hit the lake, or the links, at the crack of dawn, I do.  I don't have to wait for anyone to get up, or hope they didn't forget their shoes, or stop and get them breakfast... I just go.  No one to slow me down or speed me up but me.

There is something to be said for solitude.  Of course it is nice to have someone to share that great shot you made, or that 6lb bass you pulled out from under a stump, but all-in-all, I do cherish my alone time on the course.

I still do fish a lot. And hunt birds quite a bite in the fall/early winter. I partake in those pursuits alone the vast majority of the time and I like it that way, but I'm hoping my daughter (now 5) will want to join me before too long.

For golf, I prefer to have somebody else around, if for no other reason than to keep an eye my ball, but I'll often walk 9 holes by myself.

[TallyWhacker]

For golf, I prefer to have somebody else around, if for no other reason than to keep an eye my ball, but I'll often walk 9 holes by myself.

There is a par 35 9-hole course not too far from me - I like to walk that one when I play alone.  I feel like I see the course better, actually play faster, and take the time  to enjoy the surroundings.

nice.

[Pretzel]

I would agree that playing with others is quite a bit more fun than playing alone. However, it doesn't feel like a requirement to me before I head out to the course. I just usually end up catching up to and playing with the group that goes off ahead of me.

[dbuck]

I generally prefer to play with others, but if no one shows up for the tee time, I still play. Once in a while, I do like to play by myself on a non-crowded day, and hit a couple of extra shots here and there to work on certain things in an on-course environment.

[Pretzel]

I generally prefer to play with others, but if no one shows up for the tee time, I still play.

I think this is a big part as to why I usually start out alone, then join up with other groups as I move through the course. I don't remember having more than one official tee time this entire calendar year, I just usually finish my warm-up routine and then ask if the starter/clubhouse could fit me in anywhere (usually not a problem as early afternoons have plenty of gaps on the tee sheets) and off I go within 10 minutes most times, putting while I wait.

[mcanadiens]

One bit about this time of year is that very few people I know will actually play in cold weather. Most of them stick the clubs in the closet for good by November.

One of em is pretty sure that playing in the winter will screw up his swing (ya know, the one that generally shoots 85-95 in a given round).

[Beachball]

I've played many rounds by myself.  I actually like it better sometimes because it allows me to try different things.  My course in the evenings is not usually very busy.  I'll hit the range for a bit to warm up and then head out and play.  If the course is busy then they pair me up.  Usually I'm playing with my daughter and we get paired up with other couples, young and old.  Its a great way to meet new people.

My scores are around the same if I play by myself or in a group.

[rrives]

Just picking up the game after 25 years of not playing. I often play alone. I enjoy playing with others but I live about a mile from our public course so often squeeze in 9 when I can. Since I am pretty bad after 10 weeks of playing I feel more comfortable playing alone

[Dave2512]

My 2015 goal is to play alone as often as possible. It's the quickest way to get around and I don't have time to play during peak hours.

[Titleist Staff]

I'm kind of a range rat. I like to hit balls and work on my short game a lot, but when I'm working on something with my swing I like to try and slide out on the course and play 9 holes by myself when the course is slow that way I can drop a couple of balls.

[TitleistProV1x]

I like playing alone. I played 45 holes by myself today. Sometimes it's fun to play 2 balls against each other. Like play one titleist against a bridgestone.

[vangator]

During the summer I can play alone if I r=tee off after 3pm or so. I like to work on my game on the course. Better than hitting on the range.

[RussUK]

I often play 9 holes by myself as i can get round in 1 1/2 hours. Its great if you have limited time. Id never play 18 alone, its good to have a laugh with a mate when you are out for 3-4 hours or so. Think id go mad by myself for that amount of time

[dfreuter415]

At the end of 2014 when scores were not being taken for handicap purposes, I played 12 rounds solo with four of those being 9 holes.  I try to be the first person on the tee, and always finish under 3 hours. My best time for 18 was 2:25.  (It's nice being retired.)

I look at these rounds as a time to work on my game and will hit a few extra shots as I play. Never had a problem playing slowly, and occasionally will play through or around a group that tees off the back 9 before I make the turn.