Playing alone vs. randomly paired

[NPVWhiz]

On tee five, he finally connects, somehow, with a tee shot and sends the ball out on a 19 degree launch with about 40 yards of left to right. But it's a big fairway, and things are looking up. As the ball leaves the tee and clearly is going to apex higher than 20 yards, he says....I should say "shouts"...."IT'S ON B#tC!"

 

I might have broke out and died laughing at that point! Im not great myself but im more of the quiet type when I hit a good shot. I rarely even say "thanks" when my partners try to congratulate me on a good shot. I prefer the quiet, cool demeanor until the ball gets in the hole, then I can relax for minute until my next tee shot. If I celebrate a good shot prematurely I will certainly muck up the next one.

 

I had a great 7i to 5' from the hole for birdie the other day, the random guys I were grouped with all wanted to high five me and all that. I didnt want to be rude by staying quiet and just walking to the hole but I still had a putt to make in my mind before any celebration..... I left it short... Ive never even parred that hole before though (wicked dog leg left par 5 with water in front of the green) so I was still happy with my first par on the hole.

 

It was one of those things where for a split second I thought he was sort of saying it in a competitive way, but once I thought about it for a second, I knew he was entirely engaged in a discussion with the ball. He had been talking to it all day, mostly at address, but I have to confess the burst of enthusiasm....for lack of a better way to characterize it...caught me a bit off-guard. It was a bit over the top, if only for the sincere seriousness with which he said it....exclaimed it, shouted it to the hills. It was the definition of cathartic.

[Hellstorm]

I play alone quite a bit but I never mind getting paired up with people. I have met some interesting random people that way and it certainly helps the pacing.

[art1066]

Funny subject, I’m going to MD this weekend and want to play . I’m sure I’ll get paired up. I figure I’ll play the more expensive course, hopefully get paired with regular golfers.

[Moo]

Always, always play with others. Maybe only 15 or so this year, but last year at least 150 people I'd never met.

 

Who is going to be there to see a great shot if you play alone!

[Justsomeguy]

Sometimes it's almost like two people playing the same hole alone.

That's kinda brilliant.

I play solo a bit at the cheap muni by my house, and often join up w others bc the group in front stinks and I play fast and run into people, and am not too shy about asking to join or go through.

When I get pairs, they're often abundantly nice. When I get trios, they kinda act like they think I'm trying to be their fourth more than just a random fourth.

But the most interesting is the solo I run into. Most often they're polite and not too chatty. Occasionally someone is super chatty. I fall a little above average on talkativeness, but not quite chatty.

But once in awhile you get someone who is polite, but refuses to talk at all. Not necessarily concentrating on the game, but otherwise somewhat aloof. Usually younger guys bc they're less socially comfortable w strangers.

Very rarely is an older guy so awkward. Usually they know all the customary polite conversations we all engage in as custom.

So that's a roundabout way of saying I think it's an age related query.

[FourTops]

My buddy got paired with a newbie who didn't even have golf shoes....haven't seen or heard fom him since....

[mcs4]

I prefer to play alone if given the choice and if the course isn't backed up, but every time I've been paired with another group it has been at least reasonably enjoyable.

[ebk]

Prefer to play alone. Never get to do so anymore, since I switched courses. Mostly I get joined up with guys who should go buy some common sense...

[HoosierHacker89]

I love getting paired up. Most people are weirdos who are super odd and interesting. The world is full of so many characters and getting paired up is a nice way to meet them.

[Moo]

I love getting paired up. Most people are weirdos who are super odd and interesting. The world is full of so many characters and getting paired up is a nice way to meet them.

 

Right on!

 

Last year I played with so many people I can't remember them all. It was an easy 150 people and all but four were awesome to play with. One round stands out. Me and a buddy got paired with two singles and one of the singles was strange. Dressed in all black, mumbled when you spoke to him, and looked like a newbie. It's difficult to explain his, "strangeness", but trust me, the dood was not just another regular guy. Well, that guy was the second best player I played with all year. Shot 2 over.

 

Then there was the guy that narrated his shots. And I mean every single shot from when it left the club until after it stopped moving. That was kinda entertaining...at first.