Golfing alone

[Lobby]

The only situation that I'd prefer over playing alone is playing with an LPGA pro and having her spank my ass.

In golf, I mean.

Really.

I'm not kidding.

:-)

[shoot4par]

I don't mind playing alone. It's one of the beautiful things about the sport. Its peaceful and you can concentrate more deeply while observing more natural scenery. I enjoy playing with friends or competitively. I just enjoy hitting the ball when I can.

[JerkChicken]

I can walk 9 alone but prefer not to. 18 requires company.

[Greenie]

When I got laid off from my job of 24 yrs. some years ago I had to start over and I was unable to make the regular tee times with all of my buddies due to my new job hrs.. I went out on my own since no one wanted to adjust to when I could play. I started walking, playing alone and I found out how much more I enjoyed playing. I usually play alone but have paired up with some really nice people along the way. Usually other single walkers.

In more recent yrs my group has tried to get me back since my work hrs. are more flexible now. I play with them occasionally but really prefer and play most of my golf alone now.

 

[dukebasketball717]

I can jump on my course around 6:00 am everyday and get a few holes in before I work. It's nice to carry the bag in the morning, but I am really stiff at 6

[jyett21]

When I play alone I tend to have so little focus and I hurry every shot for some reason. There is just something about having a friendly competition with your friends and aiming to have the low score. Sometimes you have no choice but ?‍♂️

[Liveonce]

I play alone once per week. However, get matched up with others a good bit. Sometimes it’s nice to meet new people other times I just want to get out by myself and relax

[Sandman19]

Mine is practically the same Florida story...I like to go out mid-afternoon as I have a garage on the 12th hole and will stop there for an hour or so for supper, then finish up the round just before dark. I have a beer or two and a cigar over the last 6 holes and it is quite enjoyable. There's nothing like seeing the Florida wildlife come out as the day fades away.

The course doesn't mind my taking 5+ hours to play as I volunteer there for 4 hours as week raking bunkers, fixing ball marks on greens, picking up beer cans, cigarette butts, etc. There's been many a day where the maintenance guys come to the garage and have a beer after work if they know I'm there.

[extrastiff]

[zer0]

LOL, I could not be more opposite than this. When I play with friends I get distracted with socialization and lose focus, even if we are playing a competitive game. When I'm playing alone I do nothing but think about my game the entire round. I focus the entire time. I take my time on shots especially if I am out there completely by myself. If I'm by myself and alone out there I'll check out every angle of my putts and spend a lot more time setting up for putts, something I don't come close to doing when I'm with people.

[sheppy335]

Golf is enjoyed alone and with a group but has to be correct company. I love playing alone, i have music going and work on things and talk to myself. I am lucky now i have a built in playing partner, my daughter so i dont lack that aspect, she is fine cause we are alike and love golf move at a good pace. WE understand each other, so it works.

My Saturday foursome are like minded men, we go early so we can be home with family afterward. They move like i do and we mesh well. If this didnt happen i would rather play by myself it is better then being miserable for 2 to 4 hours.

[hunterdog]

I’ve enjoyed reading this thread. I belonged to a private club which was reasonably close to my office. I would often play, alone, before work or near dusk. It was great. If there was a shot I was working on, I could try it or even have a few attempts, I could really determine wedge distances. And especially in the evening it was especially beautiful. That club closed and I still play but it’s at a public course, farther away, and it’s harder to beat the daily golf traffic. Not knocking the course, it’s a business. But I do miss those quiet rounds, carrying a half set, walking off the course well after dark.

[Planks]

Some of my best rounds have actually started solo, and collected 1-2 people over the course of the round on a very slow day.

[St Jimmy]

Over the past five years or so I've played about 80-90% of my rounds solo. This year it's really getting to me. I haven't played anywhere near as many times because I didn't want to go out alone.

 

Might be time to make some friends...

[SurfDuffer]

I prefer to play alone walking and carrying. The only exceptions are my son and one particular friend. Otherwise I just want to be alone on the course. Thankfully I primarily play at a private course where I can go out late in the day and pretty much have it to myself. People are a distraction to me as are golf carts. All I want to do is hit my shot and walk directly to my ball and hit my next shot. I'm mentally preparing for my next shop the entire time I'm walking to the ball. Deviating from that routine by playing with other people really kills my score and my enjoyment. The worst is sharing a cart with another person. I hate that. If I'm sharing a cart with another person you can easily add 4 or 5 shots to my score. If I'm sharing a cart I pretty much quit caring about the round within the first 4 holes.

[NoTalentLefty]

Social animal . Hate playing alone. Golf for me is a time to be with golf buddies. The harassment and positive comments are all part of the picture of Golfing. Something about the fellowship adds to the excitement of the game.

[harolease]

I rather play with others. 90% is great but there’s always annoying /impolite people the other time that makes me wish I was on my own

[mkuether]

Playing alone can be cool, but I need an empty course so I’m not constantly waiting and I wouldn’t want to do it every day. I’d generally prefer to play with friends and family, I enjoy the social aspect of golf plus it’s best to have witnesses for those really amazing shots (I’ve often thought that with my luck I’ll make my first ace while playing alone).

[jrice19]

I like playing alone here and there for the peacefulness. My favorite is my wife and I on the course together, having some drinks and enjoying each other’s company.

[chipa]

I rarely have had friends to play with so I am usually matched up with other people and usually walk why they ride, but I am a fast player, plus playing in the lesser expensive courses in the afternoon generally has meant one's playing partners always had someone looking for a ball so I never really slowed anyone down. Also, I don't mind a light conversation about golf and life in general.

[alexdaqt3]

I play solo every once in while since i enjoy being the first tee time of the day and getting a round completed in 2-2.5 hours. Most of my friends dont enjoy that early of a round

[braincramp52]

Playing alone is my practice time. I get nothing out of beating balls on the range. But working on my game on the course has brought my handicap down from a 13 to a 8 in 3 years.

[AngryGilmore]

My work schedule is hectic so when I get out, it is usually alone. I love it. I played alone a lot growing up but there were a lot of older guys who would invite me to play with them. Those guys gave 15-16 year old me the BEST life advice. I had a blast and miss those old guys sometimes.

[mzimmers]

Seems to me there's a time and place for it. If you're fortunate to have access to a very lightly-trafficked course (say, 12-20 players out at any given time), playing alone gives you a chance to take some mulligans, try shots you normally wouldn't, and just lose yourself in the beauty of the surroundings.

But...IIRC, rounds as a single aren't recognized by the USGA, so God forbid you make your ace with no witnesses. Plus I enjoy the company of (most) other golfers.

[chippa13]

I prefer to play with people. Sure, every now and then you can get matched with someone who just sucks the life out of the round but for the most part it is pleasant. I find when I play alone that it is much harder to get things back to good when things start going downhill. So much easier when you have someone to joke away the bad shots.

[Used2PlayALot]

This. I was a member of a small club and mostly played alone. I could play 5 balls out of the sand. Hit 3 balls onto the green. Take 10 putts. PRACTICE.

Once you get "serious", other people are an optional distraction. Way easier to schedule alone and not accommodate other schedules.

[Jcbgt106]

Absolutely - playing alone with the earphones in was my go to for a good while. I can really focus on making those small technique changes in a way that I just can’t when I’m in my normal group. It feels like a treat now to play solo, the courses around me are slap full all the time recently.

[Chris52]

Too many people on the courses at the moment to even think about playing alone,unless you don’t mind waiting ages on every hole.Even playing in a three ball took nearly 5 hours to get round ,because of the constant waiting.Waste of time playing since lockdown ended.

Better off just going to the driving range.

Like to know these courses people are playing solo with no waiting.

[extrastiff]

Country clubs in mid to small sized cities

[adl300]

maybe this doesn't sound nice but i much prefer to play alone or just play with family. i am not really into meeting with people on the course. honestly, i can't even bring myself up to start a conversation. i work all the time and the last thing i want to do is meet people on the course and make the effort to get to know them.