Can I play golf alone?
Yes, you absolutely can and might find some major benefits to some alone time on the course. However, there will be some barriers to your round of golf.
Have you ever wanted to just get out of the house or out of work and play 9 or 18 holes? Yes, here at golfjourney365 we know the feeling. We love golf as much as you and want to play as often as possible. Our goal is to play 300 rounds of golf this year between actual golf and simulator golf.
Maybe it’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining and it is 70 degrees. You haven’t played golf for awhile and you have that burning desire to play.
There are always some barriers to playing golf and one major factor is always finding a foursome that can play when you finally find the time to play. Which brings up the question of, can I play golf alone?
Can I Play Golf Alone?
Below we will talk about the barriers and then get into the 5 major benefits and why we love to play the occasional round as a single.
Barriers to playing golf alone overview
Barrier to playing golf alone #1 – Course Restrictions
One of the first barriers you will face when trying to play golf alone is that the course may not let you out as a single, especially during busy times. Singles are often viewed as an issue and aren’t overly embraced at a course.
However, if you simply want to play golf and don’t mind being paired up with another golfer, then still go out there and have fun. One of the great benefits of playing golf is meeting interesting people from different walks of life that share a similar passion to the game of golf.
Check out golfnow.com or other tee time provides to see if there are available slots in a current twosome or threesome.
Barrier to playing golf alone #2 – Course Etiquette
The following course etiquette does not call for a group to allow a single to play through. While many groups will honor you as you head up, other groups may simply ignore you. The reality is that they are following golf etiquette.
Having played a number of rounds by myself, if the course is only half full the majority of the groups will allow you to play through. They don’t want to feel rushed by you and just want you to go through. One of the most difficult things of playing through it hitting that shot as the other foursome stands around.
You want to hit a good shot to show them they are you are a good golfer and you won’t hold them up. This just puts more pressure one you.
Barrier to playing golf alone #3 – Handicap Score Restrictions
The third issue with playing golf by yourself is that you cannot enter your score into the USGA handicap system. I guess they don’t trust golfers to be honest with their score. I don’t understand this rule, but I guess we have to follow it.
However, you can still have a great time golfing and it can be an opportunity to hit an extra shot or spend time around the green working on your short game. We all know the importance of being able to chip and putt at a high level.
One of the worst parts about playing golf by yourself is the potential of hitting a great shot, such as a hole in one and not having a witness. Oh well, we can get past this and know deep down that we hit a great shot.
Benefits of golf alone overview
Benefit to playing golf alone #1 – No Need To Worry About Others
The beauty of playing golf alone is that you don’t have to worry about other people in your group. You can simply enjoy your round of golf and not worry about looking for your partners golf ball or holding them up or having them hold you up. It is just you and the golf course.
I prefer to put in some earbuds, turn on some music and walk the 18 holes. This can bring about a great amount of enjoyment as I can listen to my favorite music, play a game I love and enjoy the outdoors all at the same time. There is something about the peaceful nature I find in this experience that makes it rejuvenating.
Benefit to playing golf alone #2 – Potential Pace of Play
You typically don’t have to worry about the pace of play. As someone that enjoys playing fast, I prefer to cruise around the course and can walk 18 holes in under 2.5 hours.
This pace of play is conducive to my busy lifestyle. I just have to find the right time of day to play these types of rounds, which are generally very early in the morning or later in the evening. I would never show up at a course at 9am on a Saturday and expect to play a round as a single.
For those of us that live in colder weather areas during the winter, we can play the late season or early season round of golf when the weather is still too nasty for the average golfer.
Benefit to playing golf alone #3 – Practice Opportunities
If the course is more full and you aren’t worried about playing through people, it is a great opportunity to practice your game in different areas. If there is a group that won’t let me play through I will spend time chipping and putting around the greens.
After a round like this, I usually find myself playing better the next time I golf due to the amount of reps I get around actual greens. Chipping and putting is so much about the repetitions and finding the feel that is required to hit the shot when it counts the most.
You can also play certain games like a two man scramble or even a two man worse shot. See how good you really are by playing the worst of your two shots on a hole or two. This makes you really focus in and hit two quality shots at every spot. What a challenge!
If you are someone that struggles off the tee, this is an opportunity to hit several shots from a tee box and work on different shape shots or even seeing where your 3 wood would place you.
Benefit to playing golf alone #4 – Stress Free Alone Time
As I talked about briefly before, the earbuds in, out in nature and walking a round of 18 holes is a great stress relief for me. Working a stressful job and then getting the chance to golf is wonderful.
It can truly help to reduce stress and anxiety and provides an opportunity to do something that you enjoy. The key is to not get frustrated with your game and appreciate the fact that you found the time and location to play some golf.
What can be better than playing golf? I know! Playing golf well. If you need some tips, we have plenty here at golfjourney365. Check some out, here.
Benefit to playing golf alone #5 – Great Exercise
Did you know that a golfer can burn up to 800-900 calories walking 18 holes? I love on a hot day late in the evening heading up to the course as the sun is starting to set for the day and playing 18 holes in about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
I am enjoying the heat, the competition for golf and being outdoors. It provides me with a stress relief opportunity and an opportunity to get in a great workout. Carrying that 25-30 pound bag and walking between 4-7 miles provides a great work and calorie burning opportunity. Plus I get to be outdoors in the beautiful landscape playing the game I love!
Don’t get me wrong, I love to golf with others, but every now and then the combination of golfing alone and getting a great workout while reducing stress levels is difficult to beat!
Tips to Playing Golf Alone
First, The key is to find the right time of day. The courses around me seem to empty out at around 6 and 6:30pm on the summer evenings. This may be a result of different obligations that people and the majority of the leagues have already teed off.
Make some connections with the starter or the person working in the pro shop and treat them well. IN return, they will take good care of you and let you out last to enjoy the day.
Second, another great option is to secure the 6am tee time and get in a quick 9 or 18 holes before work. While walking may be the best option for exercise, a cart may help you play quicker and get to work. Regardless, you get to take advantage of the opportunity to golf as the sun is rising.
Third, you must enter with the right mindset. You never know what you are going to get when headed to the course to play as a single. They may match you up with someone or you may play by yourself.
You may play 18 holes in 2.5 hours or it may take you 4 hours to play. Either way, you have to start with the right mindset and be willing to adjust and adapt to your surroundings and situation.
At the end of the day, you are playing golf and doing something that you love while burning some calories. These rounds of golf are priceless and can help out in many ways.
Take Action…
Golf is a great game to play and enjoy. Find a way to play more golf and enjoy life. Here at golfjourney365, we try to play golf as frequently as possible. We have even built an indoor home golf simulator to help us play more golf in the winter. Interested in a golf simulator, check out some of our resources, here.
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Wherever you are in your golfing journey, we have provided a series to get you to the next level. Check our our awesome resources here: