Playing golf alone

Osgoodisgood

I was wondering how many golfers here enjoy playing on their own. Or whether you prefer to only play when you have company? I would very very rarely play alone, I don't really know why, maybe I get more fun from the banter and the competition than from the game itself. I'm not sure. Any thoughts?

L.O.F.T

I do enjoy my weekend three ball but you cant beat a weekday late evening during the summer going out for 3 or 4 holes. I kind of get transported back to being a kid and call my shots as if it was a putt to win the British Open or an up and down to win the Masters. I'd take an hour at the course on my own over the range any day and prefer to practice on my own.
Its also perfect to spend 30 minutes on a green hitting bump and runs and putts up against the fringe, fluffy lie's and worst case scenarios around the green. That's when 30 minutes turns into an hour in a flash, bliss.

WHIP IT!

I rarely do it as I'm no longer a member of a course but, as LOFT said, there's something therapeutic about the solitude of getting out into your course on a quiet day & stopping along the way for a few chips & putts... I've always quite enjoyed having an hour on the range alone with the thoughts & same goes for the course.

I wouldn't say I prefer it to playing with a pal or group of pals - but it's a nice way to relax, kill an hour & keep the game sharp for sure.

ssbob

I don't mind either......for instance last Friday after work I hit the course and after 5 holes I had caught up with a gentleman who was also playing on his own, there was a two ball in front of him so i asked if I could join and away we went............I get a great kick out of meeting the characters.

You tend to play your best on your own too.....nobody see's those pitch shots over a bunker to a pin cut 5 feet from the edge of the green!!!!!!

WHIP IT!

ssbob wrote: »

You tend to play your best on your own too.....nobody see's those pitch shots over a bunker to a pin cut 5 feet from the edge of the green!!!!!!

That's actually the worst part of it!!

L.O.F.T

ssbob wrote: »

You tend to play your best on your own too.....nobody see's those pitch shots over a bunker to a pin cut 5 feet from the edge of the green!!!!!!

WHIP IT! wrote: »

That's actually the worst part of it!!

It's a fact! I can still see one of the finest four irons I've ever hit to this day drawing into a pin from a slight downward lie over water and not a soul or competition in sight.

stockdam

I prefer playing by myself in the evening where I can concentrate on my own game and try different shots that I may not normally play. I also at times will play one ball versus another. As LOFT said it also takes me back to my roots. I love a warm evening when it's just me, the course and the rabbits.

That doesn't mean that I don't like playing with others.........for practice I prefer to be alone.

Golfgraffix

I have to say I love 12 holes on my own, great way to turn off on summers evening. I am lucky to live 5 minutes from where I play, not sure I would be as enthusiastic to play if I had a 30 min drive to get there.

To try and stay focused I have a game of V Par.

J

ssbob

I only ever play one ball(reason being I very often follow a slice with a hook) but as the evenings get longer this year I might try two especially around the greens, I must vastly improve on my putting if I want to break the "100" :rolleyes:

hades

I'm in the same boat as you ssbob, playing 2 balls makes it a very long trek around the course.

I do enjoy heading out by myself for a quick run, but at the mo i tend to have an issue with keeping my head down/straightening my right leg. So when focusing so much on that i tend to completely miss the flight of the ball, and spend the next while just looking for it.

I do find you concentrate a lot more tho, i usually play my best with strangers or myself. Playing with the lads, while great fun, i tend to neglect going thru my set up motions.

ThunderCat

I love playing both ways. At the weekend I much prefer playing as part of a group because lets face it, getting stuck behind all them 4 balls as an individual is a pain. Even getting called through numerous times is a pain. But if im playing midweek and the course is quiet then I prefer to be on my own. Also when Im playing a course I havnt played before and it happens to be a top quality links course for example, then I much prefer to play by myself and take it all in.

ssbob

I played my new club(Blarney Golf Resort) for the first time last week but on the first tee had to tee off from the green tees because hadn't a clue where the pin was........possible downside from playing by yourself.

Does anyone have the same problem of me where you get called through after getting a bogey(good for me) on the index 1 on the course then hitting a 7 iron on a par three over the ditch twice in front of the people who called you through....morto.

hades

Happened me before, being left thru by a 4 ball... i insisted i was happy to wait behind them and that i was pants. Skulled my drive and the 4 ball jeered me. I don't mind if that happens now, as i'm a hairy assed 32 year old, but this happened when i was 15, and the men in question where in their 50's. Bad times.

Half the reason why i eventually left as a junior, and i'm only back playing golf recently.

rafared

I enjoy maybe 9 holes on my own, get a chance to try out a few different shots or situations. Sometimes I play a bunker shot on every hole, in other words aim for the bunker with my approach and then try to get up and down. Another thing I do is play "worse ball". Hit two balls off every tee and then play two more from the worse position and try to make as many pars as possible that way.

Kace

Weekend Golf with pals is an event to be savoured.

Likewise weekday evening golf by self with dusk approaching, making your own company and creating your own atmosphere offers something completely different.

I wish I had time to do both

charlieIRL

i leave the golf clubs in the car nearly all year around and a good few evenings i've calling into my club on my way home from work and played 18 on my own. Can't beat the round with a few mates or competition but its nice to get out on your own as well.

Like what was mentioned above - its always when you are on your own that you have "those shots!" I hit the pin on the par 3 4th in moate once, left the ball with 6" of the hole and the only thing that saw it was a rabbit!!

dvemail

It will never beat a round of golf with other people but it is nice to go out for a few holes
by yourself to practise and work on some parts of your game that you couldnt if you
were with other people.
As said before though there is nothing more annoying when your by yourself to play two
shots off the tee only to slice your first ball and then step up and hook your second.
And theres about a 70 yard walk between your two drives.

Webbs

Nothing more relaxing than playing those few holes on a summer evening, I usually hit one ball off the tee and then play as many as I can from say 100yds and in (depending on how busy the course is)
I often just play a competition with myself with 3 or more balls just off the green and have to get at least 50% up and down in 2, is just great practice for the chipping and especially for learning not too leave putts short!

But mainly its just a bit a time to let the days stresses just melt away.

WHIP IT!

I find if I play two balls I don't concentrate fully on either of them. So, even if I've the course to meself, I'll still only play one. If I hit a poor drive and want to to make up for it I might hit a second - but I'll pick up one or other of the balls (if I've a decent score going I'll naturally pick up the second ball and try make do with the first one that was 'in play'). Also, I might drop 3/4 balls around a green and have a few chips.

death1234567

I play on my own sometimes but I find its gets quite boring after 5/6 holes. I play two balls against each other but I think when your on your own you just lose interest after a few holes. I have played 18 on my own a couple of times but I probably wouldn't do it again.

Anto12

Have to say I love the competition at the weekend but ye cant beat a summers evening getting out for 9 holes .. or how many ye can fit in before dusk - there has been many an evening I've been the last one on the course - just messing around trying different shots - used to play 2 balls but just play 1 now - I'd often drop a few balls about 50 yards from the green and try different shots with them :) bliss .. although other posters are right ye often would hit some of the best shots ever when ye are on your own ...

upthe19th

I like to practice alone but I do prefer company when I am out on the course. Playing a few holes for practice is fine...but I find that I need someone to play opposite to keep me focussed and competitive. Not sure if many have this problem but I seem to need someone to compete against and the lower in handicap they are the better.

Unfortunately all too often I play the golf that would be best only seen by myself.

dec7golf

pencil bag with half a set of clubs for a few holes the odd sunny evening .. magic

Zak Flaps

WHIP IT! wrote: »

I might drop 3/4 balls around a green and have a few chips.

You can't beat dinner on the course!:D

ssbob

Zak Flaps wrote: »

You can't beat dinner on the course!:D

+1

truebluechippy

dec7golf wrote: »

pencil bag with half a set of clubs for a few holes the odd sunny evening .. magic

same as myself 6 clubs and pencil bag.i love the late summer evening mite only get on the course a 8.30 and play till dark once got locked into the course.


but the sunday 3 ball is always fun.

BraveDonut

The only problem I find is that I don't seem to care about putting when I am practising on the course on my own

DamienOB

BraveDonut wrote: »

The only problem I find is that I don't seem to care about putting when I am practising on the course on my own

This is it for me, i dont bother taking the flag out?

to be fair, im just a lazy bolox