I have a flexible schedule that allows me to play when most of my friends and golf buddies are at work, so I'm tempted to just start playing more on my own to get more rounds in.
Do the people you get grouped with look at you like an unwelcome weirdo or is it generally normal?
I'm fine with singles joining but as an introvert I find it extremely awkward/terrifying being social with them. It would be much the same if I was the single, probably worse actually. Just expect a quiet round in terms of conversation, not because I'm anti social but because I fid it hard to strike up a casual conversation with a stranger.
I consider myself pretty introverted with strangers, but I've golfed as a single many times without issue. The basics:
1) Be polite on the first tee and then you are pretty much not obligated to speak for the rest of the match
2) Be sure you don't slow the others down (play the right tees, don't look for your own ball too long, be ready to play when it's your turn)
Mostly just don't get in their way and you can easily keep to yourself. I would say that this is significantly easier to do if you can play well, but if you are thinking of going as a single, then I assume this is the case.
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There’s nothing that’s more annoying than landing in someone’s divot that they didn’t bother replacing or dealing with. It should be a free lift, because it’s really not fair, but that’s just my (and many others) opinion.
We all need to remember this. Generally, we are all paying to play. So, play in the way that you need to enjoy your time on the course. If you are in a tournament, know the rules of the game and employ them as required.
Turner Valley even has a local root rule. If your play/ball in impeded by a tree root, simply move it. Who wants to break a $200 club for the "respect for the game".
This is generally how I play the game - Except Thursday night match play, then it's serious and worth money. The full rules apply.
I golf as a single when I'm vacationing with my wife.
Haven't had any issues of note and have had the opportunity to meet some really good people.
Played with one couple who apparently were having a serious money match and I told the wife that a putt was "good for me" and the husband wasn't impressed. It was maybe a foot which seemed normal to concede, but not for him. I kept quiet for the rest of the round.
I used to be leery of playing alone but started doing it a fair bit recently because it is much more enjoyable than I expected - most people are great. I would reiterate what others have said, be respectful, casual, and play quickly.
To the bold, my advice (and experience) is that you should MEVER give a putt when playing with people that you don't know their position on it. When playing with strangers, I wait and watch a few holes before throwing out any gimmies. I have gotten the stinkeye in the past for it, and I think it is important to respect others' views of the game and the rules.
It's also a good idea to avoid fiddling with the husband and wife dynamic - again, wait a few holes until it is more clear what you're dealing with.
I used to be leery of playing alone but started doing it a fair bit recently because it is much more enjoyable than I expected - most people are great. I would reiterate what others have said, be respectful, casual, and play quickly.
To the bold, my advice (and experience) is that you should MEVER give a putt when playing with people that you don't know their position on it. When playing with strangers, I wait and watch a few holes before throwing out any gimmies. I have gotten the stinkeye in the past for it, and I think it is important to respect others' views of the game and the rules.
It's also a good idea to avoid fiddling with the husband and wife dynamic - again, wait a few holes until it is more clear what you're dealing with.
It was probably on 6 or 7.
But thanks tips.
__________________ It's only game. Why you heff to be mad?
my wife and i played with two other guys not long ago - on the fist hole one of the guys told my wife to pick up her ball. well that annoyed her to no end. we both like to hear the ball fall (to me it gives slosure to the ole and provides a mental reset); however, it is not like we agonize over putts either.
when we got to 9 - one of guys says i have a function to get to so we are going to play ahead (it was twosomes in front of us and we had had a 6.45am tee time - i did have the gut feeling we were a little slower - so there was a gap) - so i said fine as the wife was not disappointed to hear that.
one of the guys was likely a 5 hcp, and the other guy was solid and they were in a cart. they wound up finishing about a half of a hole ahead of us and from what i could see there was nobody in front of them, but they were very slow and methodical while putting.
the whole situation made me laugh as the better golfers in a cart seemed to be the cause of our slightly slower play.
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my wife and i played with two other guys not long ago - on the fist hole one of the guys told my wife to pick up her ball. well that annoyed her to no end. we both like to hear the ball fall (to me it gives slosure to the ole and provides a mental reset); however, it is not like we agonize over putts either.
when we got to 9 - one of guys says i have a function to get to so we are going to play ahead (it was twosomes in front of us and we had had a 6.45am tee time - i did have the gut feeling we were a little slower - so there was a gap) - so i said fine as the wife was not disappointed to hear that.
one of the guys was likely a 5 hcp, and the other guy was solid and they were in a cart. they wound up finishing about a half of a hole ahead of us and from what i could see there was nobody in front of them, but they were very slow and methodical while putting.
the whole situation made me laugh as the better golfers in a cart seemed to be the cause of our slightly slower play.
Good golfers being fast players is nothing more than a myth. Some of the slowest guys I know are some of the best players I know. The opposite is true as well...some of the worst players I know are speedy.
Personally I like to have a quick read of my putt, line my ball up and off I go. No 360 walks around the golf ball for me. To each their own though as long as it maintains a reasonable pace.
The guy that drives me nuts the most is the guy that tees his ball up and looks back at the group and exchanges some conversation. Worst guy in the league!!!!!
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Played Cordova Bay in Victoria yesterday, absolutely beautiful track. The fairview were impeccable.
Went solo and got put with a pair of former Calgarians.
Nice guys, was good for my first experience going as a single.
Don't think I'll do that often but definitely when traveling with my wife to places like Hawaii.
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Played Cordova Bay in Victoria yesterday, absolutely beautiful track. The fairview were impeccable.
Went solo and got put with a pair of former Calgarians.
Nice guys, was good for my first experience going as a single.
Don't think I'll do that often but definitely when traveling with my wife to places like Hawaii.
I got to play a few courses on the island on a work trip. Cordova Bay was one of them. It’s the only time I’ve been on the island and I was absolutely in love with not only the golf but the island itself. Just an amazing place.
I used to be leery of playing alone but started doing it a fair bit recently because it is much more enjoyable than I expected - most people are great. I would reiterate what others have said, be respectful, casual, and play quickly.
To the bold, my advice (and experience) is that you should MEVER give a putt when playing with people that you don't know their position on it. When playing with strangers, I wait and watch a few holes before throwing out any gimmies. I have gotten the stinkeye in the past for it, and I think it is important to respect others' views of the game and the rules.
It's also a good idea to avoid fiddling with the husband and wife dynamic - again, wait a few holes until it is more clear what you're dealing with.
I'm very casual and easy to play with, but I have to admit it ruffled me a little when I stuck a par 3 iron 3 feet from the pin and was thinking about how to get in the moment to make the birdie the whole drive up and the single with us said "Oh pick that up!!!" as I was getting in the zone behind the ball.
His intention was positive, but the result was annoying for someone who doesn't make a lot of birdies. I don't want a 3 foot gimme for birdies when I get 2-3 <10 foot birdie attempts per round. Unless they're a true tap in assume the guy wants to putt it, imo.
I usually don't give gimmies for birdies unless it's within a few inches, you have to putt those. Same with pars but with a bit more leniency.
What I've found about golf and the many different people I've played with is there is a wide range as far as playing by the rules goes and that's fine. Just don't brag about your score when everyone in your group knows you can easily add 10-20 more to that tally.
I probably don't golf as much as some in here but it's actually hard to break a 100 playing by the rules.
anyone have a tee time available for a single that would need a 4th tomorrow morning? I'd like to golf more and I prefer early morning so I'm back when the kids are up or shortly after. I also find the weather nicer and less wind in the morning.
Looking for more people to golf with, I want to get out more but most friends either dont like early morning or aren't available early weekdays.
I usually don't give gimmies for birdies unless it's within a few inches, you have to putt those. Same with pars but with a bit more leniency.
What I've found about golf and the many different people I've played with is there is a wide range as far as playing by the rules goes and that's fine. Just don't brag about your score when everyone in your group knows you can easily add 10-20 more to that tally.
I probably don't golf as much as some in here but it's actually hard to break a 100 playing by the rules.
That seems to depend on natural ability. It took me a good 10-15 years of playing somewhat regularly. My 13 yo son shot a 45 on 9 holes his 3rd time out on a full size course. Makes me wonder who is dad really is!
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I usually don't give gimmies for birdies unless it's within a few inches, you have to putt those. Same with pars but with a bit more leniency.
What I've found about golf and the many different people I've played with is there is a wide range as far as playing by the rules goes and that's fine. Just don't brag about your score when everyone in your group knows you can easily add 10-20 more to that tally.
I probably don't golf as much as some in here but it's actually hard to break a 100 playing by the rules.
Totally agree on this point. If you don't want to play by the rules then go ahead, it's not affecting me. But when you're looking for a positive reaction from me when you pretend to shoot 89, it's really hard to not roll your eyes.
While I'm thinking about this, is there any other sport where people break the rules as often as golf? Nothing really comes to mind.
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Totally agree on this point. If you don't want to play by the rules then go ahead, it's not affecting me. But when you're looking for a positive reaction from me when you pretend to shoot 89, it's really hard to not roll your eyes.
While I'm thinking about this, is there any other sport where people break the rules as often as golf? Nothing really comes to mind.
Some of it is because it's not that practical to follow some of the rules playing recreationally. ie, going back and hitting a tee shot when you walk up to your ball that is unexpectedly lost in the bushes or tall rough is not something people should be expected to do, but that is the only legal option.
Handicaps seem much better to compared golfing abilities than bragging about a score or two. It's practical to keep a proper hdcp score and taking max under ESC any time you can't play a hole properly by the rules, and I assume that most people who are avid enough to keep a handicap, more or less keep score that way.
Speaking of "handicap max score", I'm curious how many people use ESC and stop playing a hole? What are people's thoughts? I've always been of the opinion that ESC is pretty much BS - if you got a 9 or 10 on the hole, then that's what you got. You should only adjust to the max score (which is now a net double bogey) if you are entering the score for handicap purposes.
I also think that limiting players to a net double bogey artificially keep handicaps down as most players I know in my skill bracket (14 handicap right now) often struggle with big numbers on a few holes, but play pretty well otherwise. Take away a few 8s or a 9 and your score looks a lot better than it actually was (say an 89 vs 91)
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