Playing 9 or 18 by yourself.

[RJH999]

Golf is like sex, its ok to do it by yourself but its sooooo much more fun with people :banana:

I don't even know how to respond to this.

[HoleInNone18]

I actually go by myself 95% of the time. My friends enjoy playing, but not as often as I do...so I go as often as I can and get a round in. Not that time is usually an issue, but it does go by faster

[WillyE]

Most guys I play with either have something different to do ( family etc) or are working. Being retired I will go out during the week and leave the weekends to be around the family, so I play alone quite a bit or join up with others.

[jmanbooyaa]

I actually enjoy getting paired up than playing alone. I play better when I get paired with others. As a single walker I am alway paired with strangers. I will say I prefer other walkers but don't mind if you ride.

[chipandcharge]

I play by myself quite often, nine if I walk and 18 if I ride.  I do this because I play on a rather spur of the moment schedule.  However, I have begun to notice that I played better when I played alone, and it took me awhile before I figured it out.  I thought at first that it was because I wasn't distracted by the conversations.  Later, I realized that I played better alone because I swung more frequently, and I could "remember" my swing better from one to the next.  When playing in a group of four, the time delay between swings caused each next swing to be as if I had little or no warm up.  At least, that's my current thinking about why I play better when I play alone.

[robere]

I routinely play 9 holes 5 or 6 times a week. Occasionally, I play with someone else for a few holes, but mostly I play by myself. It is me against the course, which is actually the same when you play in a foursome. I concentrate better without conversion and am able to obtain my best result. Also, I can hit an extra ball or putt if I desire.

[chipandcharge]

Robere, I understand the "me against the course" concept, but for me, I have come to the conclusion that playing in a foursome is not the same as playing by myself on the basis of how much time it takes when you hit once out of every four shots, in general.  I base this on the concept of the impact that rehearsal has on human performance.  When playing alone, each swing becomes rehearsal for the next swing, but with four people hitting, the passage of time reduces the rehearsal benefit of the previous swing.  It's only a theory, based on general research on human performance with and without rehearsal.  The example often given in the research is the basketball player who first makes the motion of shooting a free throw before the actual free throw.

[bigstack]

i work from home and when i am not busy i often go out in the middle of the week and play a round by myself I dont even think twice about it.

will even go out and play by myself on weekends. the course will pair you up with other randoms and you get to meet new people.

you are probably one of those people that also never goes out to eat by themselves. I got over that when i was traveling all over the place at one of my jobs, and realized that no one cares, but more importantly i shouldn't care what others think.

[samadams46]

Sorry chipandcharge.  Way to deep for me.  I get a lot more out of playing by myself because I can concentrate.  Don't have to listen to jokes, stories, how well they played last time, temper fits, or hunt somebody else ball.

[MS256]

Sorry chipandcharge.  Way to deep for me.  I get a lot more out of playing by myself because I can concentrate.  Don't have to listen to jokes, stories, how well they played last time, temper fits, or hunt somebody else ball.

Doesn't it bother you when you really play a great round or hit a great shot and nobody sees it and nobody cares?

I used to play a lot by myself but it was only because I was obsessed with becoming at least halfway proficient at the game.

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.

[sgt1372]

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.

[18rounds]

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.

I have been playing about one evening a week by myself. As I said earlier in the thread I love the solitude. My only fear is hitting a hole in one while playing alone. If I ever hit an ace I hope it is on a Saturday with my usual group. Some moments in life are best shared.

[MS256]

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.

Hmmm. I don't know. I don't even like individual awards or trophies or anything like that. I don't even care if a playing partner acknowledges a good shot. Just doesn't mean much at all if I'm the only one that saw it and it means even more if it helps me or my team win.

I just look at rounds by myself as practice rounds. I can do that in my backyard (and a good shot doesn't mean much there either).

I not knocking other people that like to simply play against the course alone. I've done it hundreds and hundreds of times. Now I'm just not interested much unless there is a game.

The really ironical thing is that I like to deer hunt. Nothing is more solitary than that, and I don't even drive around to my friend's houses and show off the bucks I kill like almost all of my friends and family do. I suppose I deer hunt for solitude and I play sports for camaraderie.

[David in FL]

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.

[Crim]

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.

Did you enjoy playing alone when you first started? I absolutely love it.

[Golfingdad]

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.

Me too.

Not golfing /emoticons/c2_beer.gif"/>

[MrDC]

I enjoy playing alone, but don't want to be that guy that intrudes on a threesome or something, so I avoid the full courses and go to the 3-par where I know I can go out solo, which by me there happens to be a fairly challenging one that I think even seasoned players would like, and late in the day it's very quiet, I've come to really like my solitude there when the people I play with bail on me... chumps.

[mcanadiens]

When I golf alone, I prefer to be really alone.

Playing as a single can obviously be problematic when the course is busy. You invariably will run into someone. Those cold, rainy days when you are really the only person on the course are the best.