Is playing alone wearing anyone else out?

[Valleygolfer]

I have been playing seriously for about 4 years and most of my rounds are played alone, mostly due to the time I can play. My two sometimes playing partners are great to play with but one is an hour plus away and the other can only play once in a while due to ministry work and his family. If I play 12 times a month I might play with someone 3 times if I am fortunate. I love to play still but would love to get a regular foursome. I guess I am just venting...

[Vinsk]

I feel ya bro! Same for me. It's a gamble for me. Many times I get stuck in a group that know each other and they have their own "style". Unfortunately sometimes it's kind of a mess. Slow playing, poor etiquette, too much booze, pansy PC people... But it's my fault that I don't have the confidence to play in the "gangsom". Most are the type that just want to win some money and don't care how they play as long as they win. I'm the complete opposite. If I shoot low or mid 70's I'm extremely happy even if I lose a few hundred bucks.

[dennyjones]

Do you play the same course all of the time?   I use GolfNow and book a tee time that usually puts me with other golfers.   I'm met some amazing people and enjoyed playing with others.   I play many different courses throughout the year.  I do play golf by myself if I can sneak out directly after work and I'm good either way.

[Valleygolfer]

Actually I use the app and have played many different courses this summer. I was paired only two times. One guy was good and another time one was good but the other guy was a complete a hole.

[Vinsk]

I jump around different courses. Yeah I've met some good folk as well. But I just moved to Colorado so starting over again. I'm trying to relax a little and enjoy the game. But, I'm so damn dedicated to becoming a good golfer it gets in the way. I just wanna be like Iacas.

[Mr. Desmond]

I have been playing seriously for about 4 years and most of my rounds are played alone, mostly due to the time I can play. My two sometimes playing partners are great to play with but one is an hour plus away and the other can only play once in a while due to ministry work and his family. If I play 12 times a month I might play with someone 3 times if I am fortunate. I love to play still but would love to get a regular foursome. I guess I am just venting...

Similar situation ... friends live in the city, I live north ... but typically, I will go out with one or two other guys I meet up on the tee.

[Judah Ben-Hur]

I just looked up my data and seen where I have played 19 rounds of golf on two courses in my lifetime.  Twice I have played with a guy from work and another time was with my nephew last week.  I find it easier to just take a drive by the course a mile away and if it looks deserted then go play.  If the body is feeling it then I will go play.  I'm still working on things and find it better to be alone at this time.  I played 9 holes the other day and probably took a little longer on the tee box than normal by working on some things.  I was 100% on hitting the fairways that day and was hitting them pretty long for me.  As long as nobody is behind me I might chip or pitch another ball or two on the green and putt them out or take another crack at a drive.  I wouldn't want to be doing that with other people in the group or with others coming up from behind.  The guy from work has been pestering me to go play with the others about two times a week but I have declined for the time being.  I live an hour away from work and most of them live another 30 minutes farther south.  They have been putting on the miles traveling around to different courses.  I see no since in it until I feel confident I can hit them where I want them to go.  Why mess things up with a newer course thrown into the mix plus the added expense of traveling too far away to play?  I also don't find myself doing too many things with other people were alcohol is the added attraction.

Another thing is, the guy is very, very liberal with his scoring.  It is comical at times but frustrating when I have worked my butt off for a double bogey (lol) on a hole and he ends up besting your score because of not counting flubs, mulligans, etc.

[vangator]

The course I play is usually so busy I get paired up unless I come late and want to play alone. Playing alone is better than playing with Gretchen. She was an old bitchy woman I got paired with too often. She was over 80. Walked carrying about 6 clubs on a metal bracket. Complained about everything.

[Gary L]

The course I play is usually so busy I get paired up unless I come late and want to play alone.

Playing alone is better than playing with Gretchen. She was an old bitchy woman I got paired with too often. She was over 80. Walked carrying about 6 clubs on a metal bracket. Complained about everything.

80, walking, and getting up in your grill.  Does she give lessons?

[Valleygolfer]

Similar situation ... friends live in the city, I live north ... but typically, I will go out with one or two other guys I meet up on the tee.

I live in the boonies and know most of the times or where to go to play golf at a really reasonable rate. 14 bux that includes cart at one of the prime courses here is pretty solid. You would think it would be booked up solid at that time but I have only been paired up once. Lack of population is one of the bigger factors in not finding people to play with.

[Lihu]

I would rather have some time to take shots rather than playing catch up with impatient golfers. There is so much to learn in this game, and having enough time to make shots and decide what to do for the next shot takes me more time than seasoned golfers.

Getting a round in myself would be nice at least some of the time.

[Flav]

I tend to be 50/50. I play half my outtings alone and will pair up with another single or group if they are teeing off when I get there after work. Otherwise the only time I play with a group during the week is on league night. Weekends are hit or miss depending on the work schedules and family events of the few guys in my circle of friends that do golf.

[chasm]

I would rather have some time to take shots rather than playing catch up with impatient golfers. There is so much to learn in this game, and having enough time to make shots and decide what to do for the next shot takes me more time than seasoned golfers.

That's the first time I have ever heard anyone say they like to play alone so they could play slower.

Dangerous tactics hereabouts. Lone players have no status on the course, so if they hold up play they are obliged to let the people behind play through.

In my experience, being a "seasoned golfer" seems to have little bearing on how long it takes to select clubs, visualise the shot etc. Single-digit players are just as likely - perhaps more likely - to take their time than high handicappers. If the latter are slower it's because they take more shots, spend more time in the trees and so on.

Back on topic, I usually play with people I know. But I like to get out on my own from time to time, I feel more free to experiment. Of course, one can experiment on the practice ground, but it feels more hypothetical, less real.

[18rounds]

I don't get out nearly as much as I want to but I think about 2/3rds of my round are with my usuall group and 1/3rd is solo. When I am solo I would much rather be alone then paired with someone. There is something refreshing about the solitude of playing solo. Between family and business there is not enough time to be quiet in my life. 18 holes of talking to myself.

[Jamesdb]

I usually go with my brother and it's nice because we know how let each other play without trying to 'fix' everything.  It's like playing solo but with someone else riding in the cart :)

[Lihu]

That's the first time I have ever heard anyone say they like to play alone so they could play slower. Dangerous tactics hereabouts. Lone players have no status on the course, so if they hold up play they are obliged to let the people behind play through.  In my experience, being a "seasoned golfer" seems to have little bearing on how long it takes to select clubs, visualise the shot etc. Single-digit players are just as likely - perhaps more likely - to take their time than high handicappers. If the latter are slower it's because they take more shots, spend more time in the trees and so on. Back on topic, I usually play with people I know. But I like to get out on my own from time to time, I feel more free to experiment. Of course, one can experiment on the practice ground, but it feels more hypothetical, less real.

I find that taking a little more time to think through the shot lessens the number of shots, and actually reduces the total time. If I play by myself the round takes less time because there are less people doing the same, and it means more time for me. My "slow" pace is 3:15 to 3:30 walking 7000+ yard courses playing 6700. Don't get me wrong, I certainly enjoy the company and like learning by watching good players.

[iacas]

Lone players have no status on the course, so if they hold up play they are obliged to let the people behind play through.

FWIW (a bit OT I guess), but the "singles have no standing" is no longer the case. They have as much standing as any other group on the course.

[Patch]

Most of my rounds consists of just showing up at a golf course, and seeing if the counter person can get me out. Very seldom do I call a head and schedule a tee time in advance. Yesterday was an exception, since some long time, good friends and I got together for a couple of rounds. Tee times were made for that outing.

About half the time I start off by myself, and later on I sometimes join up with those in front of me. Other times I meet new people on the first tee, and go from there. I have no problem playing golf with folks I have never met before.

Rather I play alone, or with others is not a big deal, as I like both. Playing alone does offer some on course, self applied instruction. It's all good. Playing with others offers up some good conversation.

As for getting worn out, playing alone has nothing to do with that. When it's time for a break from the game, I go hiking or fishing. After a few days, (very few) when I get the itch to get the sticks out again, that's what I do.