Playing by yourself

I am kind of new to golf and feel that I would just be a drag if I was paired with someone so how bad is it to ask to play by yourself? Is it rare that this happens? Should I not even ask? I think it's just comfort level and I can't imagine anyone enjoying their partner taking a long time on every hole.. Anyways, any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

If you want to play alone, you have to show up nice an early. At peak times most courses will not let you out alone and would add you to a twosome or threesome. If you are really new I would suggest that you try a par 3 or short course at off peak time and get comfortable with teeing off, full shots, pitching chipping and putting. Then progress to a full size 18 hole golf course.

I myself worry about upsetting the people that I get paired with but every time it has happened I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. The people usually turn out to be either at my level, or slightly better or worse. I congratulate them on good shots and say nothing if they make a bad shot.

Who knows you make some new friends that you can golfing with all the time.....problem solved!

__________________
Personal bests:
18 holes - 92 (+21 02/08/06), 92 (+20 24/06/07)
9 holes - 43 (+7 02/08/06), 41 (+7 24/06/07)
Putts (18) - 30 (04/09/07)
Putts (9) - 12 (02/08/06)
Fairways - 11/14 ((02/08/06, 24/06/07), 10/13 (09/06/07)
GIR - 4/18 (09/06/07, 24/06/07, 03/07/07, 12/07/07)
Pars in one round - 7 (24/06/07)

Lifetime birdie count - 7 Latest - 03/09/07 - 15th hole Champlain 126 yard par 3
Lifetime eagle count - 1 Latest - 15/06/08 - 4th hole Canadian G&CC 9 hole 481 yard par 5

Just ask. Especially if you're a member - the proshop may work to get you out (squeeze you out).

Otherwise, be upfront with the others in your group about your skill (or lack thereof).

Then try not to 'keep up' with the other golfers - just play your game.

i suppose it depends on the club
i often go out to play solo and somebody joins in somewhere on the course but im under no obligations to pair up with anyone.

early doors or early evening would be your best options

95% of the golf I play is solo, not because I'm an antisocial git, but because I try to play so much. I couldn't possibly organise that many games - particularly at the time I tend to play. As others have said, early or late tends to help this, but it just depends on where you play, I think.

That said, I always enjoy joining in with others when I can, but it can be nice to have a mix of the two.

Traveling as much as my wife I do, if I see a "golf" sign, and I am in the mood, I will stop, and ask if the they can get me out. Most of the time the answer is yes, and they send me out as a single. I even stop at private clubs, and sometimes they will even let me go out. Now if by chance I get paired up with a group some where along the 18 holes, that is just fine with me. Or maybe the starter will send me out with someone. Sometimes if there is a single behind me, I will wave him, or her up to me, and we play from there.

Nothing wrong with playing as a single, but don't be surprised when after playing quite well as a single, when you pair up with one or more golfers, your game will faulter some. When playing with others everyone in your group whether they admit it or not are comparing their game with the others in that group. This is especially true when the group you are with are all friends, and you are the so called unknown player. It is human nature, and in most cases playing in a group will make it tougher to focus of what you want to do on the course. The mental aspect of the game becomes even more important when playing with others. GJS

hi
i like to play alone on a monday morning at my new club and i tee off about 6am and get finished about 9.30am. it lets me work out what clubs to use and what works in diffrent weather condisions, i sometime play two balls to see what club would be best and if a pitch is better than a chip. only people i see at this time of morning are the ground staff. i also take notes off where i hit each club, say a driver or a 1 iron or say a 3 iron and work out what club is better for the second shot. hitting close to green is not always the better shot.
it does help as i shot 4 over for the back nine on friday and i only hit a driver twice and that was on the 10th and 18th.
if you want to play alone then i would say to start out early in morning.
bill

This exact scenario happened to me on Friday. I started out by myself and eventually caught up with a threesome. They offered to let me play through but I asked if I could join them. It was fun to meet some new folks and I would say the social element of golf is probably one of the reasons it is so popular.

If I'm put in another group and they're much better golfers, it's no big deal to me. First of all everyone has to start somewhere. Second of all, you'll learn from good golfers, you won't learn much from golfers who are worse than you!

I've picked up lots of great tips on chipping, putting, reading greens, grip etc. Some things you can't learn anywhere else except while playing the game.

That said, I like to play alone sometimes, I find it relaxing and if it's quiet, I can replay a hole or hit a few more off the tee or around he green. No pressure. Again, some things you need to learn by playing the game. You can go to the driving range all you want, but you really never get a feeling for the variables you encounter on the course.

I actually agree with everything you said except this so maybe I'm being overly semantic, but I firmly agree there's something to learn from everyone - some of it positive ("Wow - I never thought of playing it from that position short, and then over to that side - great idea!") to negative ("Hmm - crazy loop at the top of his swing, and he isn't Jim Furyk. Still it's the kind of thing I could imagine I do if I try and hit shots as hard as he's trying to - maybe I'll video myself down the range next time and see if I do it").

But yeah - as you said - there advantages and disadvantages to playing alone and in company, and the answer, like so much in life, is probably a sensible balance

__________________
~_~_~_~_~
Personal bests 2007;
Best 18: 78 (+12)
Best 9: 37 (+4)
Best Stableford: 45 pts
Best total putts: 28
Best total length sunk putts (ft): 54

Club tourney history this year: Captain's Day - 1st; Club foursomes - 2nd; Dimex Stableford - 2nd; Club Championship - 13/28 gross, joint 5/28 nett; Ferebee Shield - 2nd; Sept Medal 2nd; Autumn Stableford - 1st

I think there are HUGE cultural differences between countries on this matter.

In Denmark, if you're a club member, you pretty much just book at time when it suits you, no matter if there are other players in that time-slot or not.

It is mostly "accepted", that when you go for a round of golf and you are less than a four-ball, you could end up playing with people you don't know - like it or not.

This has of course cultivated a generally very good atmosphere in situations like that. People don't mind. Some "socialize" more than others, but you get a game if you want one.

That said, nothing is worse than playing with a slow, sketchy high-handicapper ... oh wait - something IS worse ... BEING that slow sketchy high-handicapper feeling that you are wasting everybody elses time by dragging your feet 'round the course. I know that feeling all too well, and even though your playing partners seem not to mind, it still feels like youre the biggest idiot in the world, and that does NOT help your game at all.

Playing alone quickly becomes an interesting alternative. However, playing alone is not "golf". It's whacking the ball around the course. Nobody there to validate your score, nobody to learn from, nobody to talk to, nobody to have that VERY tasty beer at the 19th hole with ... And with no validated scorecard, your handicap stays at a billion and a half.

Here's my suggestion:

When booking a timeslot, ask the pro-shop (or look yourself if it is possible) for a timeslot with other high-handicappers. Playing with other people at the same skill-level is by far the most comfortable way to play golf. You will not feel like you are the ball-and-chain around their ancles and neither will they.

That said, you WILL learn more from better players, but you also risk learning the WRONG things at the WRONG time. A high-handicapper is much better off trying to learn to hit it straight, then trying to repeat the draw shot that your handicap 7 playing partner wants to teach you.

But serisously - everybody has been a hacker at some point. Don't worry about that. Get out on the course and PLAY!

__________________
//Mox
2007 bag:
Mizuno MX-500 460cc 10.5* Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 stiff.
Wilson Deep Red strong 3w 13,5* and 5w 18* graphalloy fatshaft stiff
Cleveland HALO 3i hybrid 22* graphite regular
Mizuno MP-60e forged 5i-PW True Temper Dynamic gold R300 steel
Mizuno MP Black OX raw haze 50/6 GW, 54/9 SW, 58/10 LW
Odyssey White Steel 2-ball SRT putter
Titleist NXT Extreme

The only thing I can add to these great responses is if you do play by yourself dont rush yourself. When I play by myself (i rarely do ) I have the tendency to just beat the ball around the course as fast as I can. It seems like I just want to get it over with. Make every shot count even if knowone is watching.

All of the responses has been excellent. I can relate to all of them. I have play single in early morning, mid afternoon and late afternoon, both 18 and 9 holes.

My best game is early morning for me. I think better in every shot and and not waiting for the group in front of me or rushing my next shot because of the group behind me.

Just me, the course and the morning sun picking in the horizon.

Sometimes if there is a group in front wants me to join with them, I just say, thanks but no thanks.

I score better alone than with a group. No pressure for me.

On a tournamet on the other hand, I score higher about 10 strokes. I get so competitive that I lost my game.

So when I play in early morning by myself, it rejuvenates my game and enjoy it more.

I played a game of golf by myself this past saturday early morning and bet my handicap by 5 strokes. It was my best game in a long while.

Avid golfer,
Joeyg565

I went with my father in law in Hilton Head a few weeks ago. I knew he would be patient and he wouldn't make me nervous since I am really bad (my best is a 105). I was hoping we would end up playing as a twosome, but we wound up playing with a couple of guys from Michigan. They were pretty good (they each hit around 75), but most importantly, they gave me encouragement and told me to stick with the game. It really turned out to be a good thing that we paired up with them. Plus, I think I would get bored playing alone.

My only complaint is when a golfer is very slow. If you are a high handicapper, know when to pick up and move on to the next hole. Usually it is par + 3 for a high handicapper. Alternatively, if the others are on the green and you are taking your third stroke from a bunker, pick up the ball, drop in on the green and rejoin the group.

Also, hitting from forward tes will make your game much more enjoyable, whether you are playing by yourself or with a group.

Have fun!

I played with a 50+ year old friend who has not played competitve golf since high school. My golf game was decent and he all over the place.

And evertime he makes a bad shot he relished his glory days in high school. Mind you he was called "the Gorilla" back then for his massive 280+ yds drive with finisse short.

In a way I felt bad for his game. I was patient with him and some what a motivator. I encourage him when he falter on his game.

Towards the reamining holes his game started to improved a great deal and even par the last hole. His first par hole in a long while. I can see his excitement and accomplishment.

Any way I was a feeling good to see an ol' friend happy.

Going back on slow play. If I play with a friend who is very novice and I would tell him before we tee off on the first hole pick up the ball after 8 strokes so as not the slow other golfer playing behind us.

Avid Golfer.
Joeyg565