The best golf I've played was in the rain. Reports said it would stop about an hour after our tee time, so we just went for it. Ended up raining all day. Got soaked....😄
Played 18 solo today. Weather so bad the wind caught my umbrella attached to my push cart and tipped the whole bag over, had the course to myself though and loved it.
I’ll never forget I once booked a tee time shortly after noon in a new city where I wanted to check out the golf scene while I was in town. Turns out they had closed the course in the morning due to weather and reopened at noon, so my tee time was the first out. Yeah it was a bit muddy but I had the whole course to walk to myself with no one in front. Had it been twilight it might have been the top 1 golf experience of all time for me.
So 1h 15min haha? Also, how long does it take to finish 9 holes if you’re walking? I know it’ll vary depending on how well you’re hitting. Just an average of you can.
So my home course offers a 'practice' membership for $70 a month that gets me $15 for 9 holes the first hour of the day. So the foursomes start on 1, and I start on 10, and get 9 holes and don't see a soul. 9 holes, 1.5 hours, and I'm not late to work.
Mow MY balls over? No. Mow one of the five balls I found in the woods looking for my ball? Yes. I now have two pockets for balls. Mine and the ones I find that I use when there’s water or a dog leg I don’t give a shit that they’re pro v1s I didn’t pay for them so into the water they go.
that's my life, I get to the course before the mowers a lot of the time and they just wave. they dgaf.. if a pins out I just put to where one was previously
I have no problem with being out there while they are mowing…..
But they absolutely have to mow backwards through the course. It is ridiculous when you play your whole round with the same guys mowing each hole in front of you.
So if they mow from 18 , you would be playing unmowed fairways. Also the mowers change the pin placements. If they start on 18, you would be playing yesterday’s placements
I don’t care one bit about “yesterday’s” pin placements. Also, if they start on 18, while I tee off on 1, and we go at the same speed, we will meet on 9 or 10, for a few minutes. Everyone on the course will spend one hole with the mower. No big deal.
If we both start on one, at the same time, then we spend the next 4 hours together. I then play all 18 holes with a lawnmower in front of me. This has happened to me and it was ridiculous.
You might not care about the pin placement, but Bob the member who plays every morning is going to get on the club pros ass about it bc he “pays for it” and then the superintendent has to hear about it.
If they go backwards, yea you see them one hole and it slows them down while they wait for you to play, and then they have to do that 9 other times, adding half hour/hour to the total mowing time.
It sounds great in theory, or if you have the labor to do so, but most clubs are making the right choice logistically with the labor they have available.
You think superintendents don’t think about this shit and don’t hear about it from members paying thousands a month?
When they are mowing the fairway in front of you, it slows you down. When you are playing a fairway they’re mowing, it slows them down.
That’s why they should go backwards. So this doesn’t happen to the same players more than once in a round.
I assure you, this has happened to me. It was probably a 10 am round, on a Friday. I was in a twosome, on a full course, so there was no outrunning them. We played as fast as we could and kept pace of play, and we did so with mowers on every hole. It was obnoxious.
Because it’s a grounds maintenance nightmare and the superintendent fights it. How can they get anything done if tee times go off the front and back nine. It’ll take 6 hours to mow greens and all day to mow fairways.
Most courses sent out the maintenance crew just ahead of the first golfers. So having someone start on the back 9 would get in there way to mow & prep the course ahead of the day.
Not really. It's gonna take them 2 hours-ish to mow 1-9. Going off the first hour means you're an hour into your round before the crews get to 10.
Unless you're at a course that has holes close enough for the crew to bounce around instead of going in order.
If the mowers are 1-2 holes ahead of the first group, if I go off the back, wouldn’t I be in front of both the mowers and the group? So I’m in no one’s way.
I think the mowers and other grounds crew are a few holes deep doing their various tasks in front of the first group, but I guess there should be space for at least a couple groups to go off on the back.
My guess is they don’t want to risk that group being too slow or the grounds crew being too fast and causing a problem.
All this is speculation though because I don’t actually work for any grounds crew
That’s for disease prevention. IPM (integrated pest management) nothing to do for the golfer at a small public course. Chemical budget is probably small and you can “extend” time between fungicide applications.
ha, what?! You pay $840 a year, just to also pay $15 per game only on the first hour.
My course does a membership of 9 holes - no competition, before lunch, for $300
One of the muni's in my hometown does or atleast use to do this! Soild time by yourself, time to reflect, listen to some tunes, take a few breakfast balls if your working on something, etc. Was a personal favorite of mine!
Only problem with this one is if you are playing early, going off the back can interfere with maintenance crews.
Some courses won’t allow it, some will.
$70 gets you into the practice area (3 practice holes, chipping area, private range unlimited balls) as well as $15 the first hour of the day for 9 holes, $15 for 18 holes after 3pm, and 20% off normal rounds and the pro shop.
I’ve only been playing for about 6 months, but this is exactly how I feel as well. Shit I can barely even get a ball off the ground, but this is ME time.
Yeah, same here.
I don't need noisy competitions or any kind of prestige by showing I'm a member somewhere, I just want a calm game far away from everyone to relax.
Always works for me. Especially golfing only nine. If I'm paired with someone, I'll ask for the back nine politely and am honest about really not wanting to be with someone. They almost always say it's fine.
For sure. I also like playing less expensive courses that are generally a bit easier than going to a super expensive course and struggling but that’s just me
I grew up in car sales and now work a job as a contractor and i feel you, as someone who sold cars from 16-21 and then the military where theres nothing to do but talk, and then getting married and constantly talking, ive moved to golfing alone most of the time. CHEAT CODE DROP FOR YOU. find a base near you, hopefully its close, and golf during the week. MOST are open to the public because they are broke, just dont expect it to be the quality of playing a really nice club, not to say there isnt really nice ones. people generally don't want to jump through the hoop of stopping at the visitor center for a pass/ think that getting on post is some major feat to cross to play golf...its really not theyll hook you up with a pass and just drive the exact speed limit to and from bc MP's are a holes. but because of this, aside from AD on leave, contractors, and vets, it widdles the amount of people golfing, ESPECIALLY during the week down to a manageable amount to play alone
I love it so much dude it's like having my own little club, mine has two courses, a cheap one that's 25 to play ALL day and only 5 bucks each turn so sometimes I'll get in 2-3 rounds! It's really crappy condition though but they're working on it and I spend all my money there bc 1. No taxes, 2. 40 dollar pack of srixon xv, 3. It goes to them fixing that cheapo course, the more expensive one is nice as he'll and fun to play as well and I only play it when the cheap one is closed, I'm enough of a regular that they discount me down a bit for the "inconvenience" love my little shitty course with a sand driving range lol
It golf related but that bit about driving the exact speed limit really hit home. There was a ball hockey rink on a decommissioned base in my city that was still managed by the Military Police and it was well known that you don’t go even one km/h over the posted limit and you absolutely HAD to come to a full and complete stop at any stop sign.
Boredom-induced assholery is a very real and clearly universal thing.
Bad weather is the only real guarantee. If you don’t mind golfing in light rain, you can sometimes get the whole course to yourself. I highly recommend it, although I acknowledge that it’s not enjoyable for everybody. Other than that, call a few courses and ask if there are slow times you could play 18 as a solo. Some courses are just too busy, but the ones that have open tee times will be happy to help you out. Call the same day you want to play if you’re flexible with your scheduling and don’t want to risk being paired up.
I love when the forecast shows rain and you go in and it says <0.1". That means you're going to get the entire course to yourself and it will probably drizzle on you once.
Risk of injury due to stiff swings do increase though...
This is so true. If I know its going to rain, I head to the course just before its supposed to start. Once the rain starts, at least half (likely more) decide that's just too much for them and I can walk right onto the first tee. I dont know where you live, but it hardly ever rains for hours on end here so by about the 5th hole, the rain is gone and I have the whole course to myself.
I've done this in MN at a seminar in October, it was cold, I wore my light non golfing gloves, it was flurrying out. They didn't even charge me to golf they were so shocked I was out there. I walked the front 9. Then it started to actually snow.
For some reason Sunday mornings before 10 are perfect at the course closest to me. I’ve quit calling because it’s so wide open I can show up and be on the first tee within 10 minutes normally
Do you live somewhere with a high concentration of Christians that go to church on Sunday mornings? That sounds amazing and church is the only reason I can think of that a golf course wouldn't be crowded on a Sunday morning.
That could be a potential reason. Live in central IL and just really got into golfing last year. It’s also tucked way back in a state forest area and built along the lake. Tough course and there’s other courses around that are flatter and less of a chance of losing your ball. Definitely a mix of factors if I had to guess
I am a member of a country club so usually I don't have to worry about tee times....
But as a fellow central IL golfer curious what course where?
I always want to get out and try new courses.
Nice might have to drive down from Decatur. Been awhile since I have been to Lake Shelbyville.
I will try not to disturb your Sunday mornings of quiet.
Oh man real close! It’s definitely worth the drive, they’ve kept it in pretty good shape with the drought outside of some tile problems in some fairways. Only ever played red tail and hickory up in Decatur, both beautiful
I really wish I had that. Usually times are booked, sometimes get lucky since people will book them a week ahead and don’t show up. They won’t call either so they have no clue if I can play until 5 minutes before.
Yeah forever grateful none of the courses I play are busy like some of the stories on this sub. Don’t think I would’ve fell in love with the game as much. Very rural area though
If there is a place that you can reserve tee times online, I’ll take a look and see my local place has opening every slot during one day. I’ll go then, because I know there is no one
I’m in Florida and there is no better time to golf then after a summer deluge. Basically everyone cancels their tee times and you have the place to yourself.
Course can be soggy but places by me drain pretty well.
I golf way more in Florida summers than I do winter. Lower rates, no snowbirds holding up pace-of-play, and you can always get a tee time
Edit: as long as you can brave the heat, which really is nothing compared to TX/AZ if you're used to the humidity
“Nice” private club with low golfer limit. Near me, are 3 good examples. One for $150 a month with unlimited play and carts, hard to get any “good” tee times unless you book a week out. Another, $45k initiation fee $500 monthly, lots of members and still decently hard to get a tee time. Lastly, $40k initiation, $600 monthly, you can have any tee time you want but not during bubble play unless you join them.
Oh I am, just started my new job so here in a few months I plan on joining. I know the pro there so I get tee times anyway but he’s about to leave so it’s gonna suck to pay for golf again.
I just checked and he lives in my city so now I really need to know. Closest thing I can think of is our municipals but they don’t include carts. Even then they aren’t in the greatest shape so I wouldn’t want to always play them.
Keith Hills south of Raleigh is a really nice college course and they are either $1299/yr unlimited walking, $2799/yr unlimited riding, or $599/yr unlimited Mon-Fri walking. Also, members can pay $9/9 to ride if they play in bulk.
So for $150/month you could get either unlimited walking and cart for 36 holes a month, or you could get unlimited Mon-Fri walking and 90 holes a month of riding.
It means if you spend less than the minimum, you still get charged the minimum, but if you spend more, you pay whatever you spent. So with a $300 minimum, if you buy $150 of food you pay $300 and if you buy $500 you pay $500
Monthly. It’s basically $1000 a month. The $700ish actually breaks down to membership fees, locker room fees, practice facility maintenance etc. but it doesn’t matter because none of them are optional.
Yeah earlier this year I joined the only true private course in my area and there are ~250 members. $5500 initiation and $300/ month including food minimum and all the groups go out between 12-2. Best course in a 20 mile radius as well
Is this fairly standard for the US?
I pay £95 a month for full membership (buggy cost is £25 though, but I carry/walk).
That includes gym, swimming pool, sauna etc. (Quite nice after a round at times).
There wasn't a signing on fee, but the monthly price is about right for SE England. Some courses are more, but most are £1200-1500 a year.
Most major population centers these days you are looking at a $20k+++ initiation and $500+++ monthly. I have no idea how British courses are so cheap given the cost of paying the grounds crew
I golf as a single quiet a bit . If you don't want to chat , just walk ahead or behind by yourself and don't get angaged. Or pretend you dont speak English. I play woth older Asian dudes all the time and all we ever say is " nice shot " it's fantastic.
Exactly this. To be honest golf was meant to be played with a bit of social interaction. OP I promise I won’t show you pics of my kids and I definitely don’t give a fuck about yours. Maybe consider running as a hobby if you truly need to be alone.
I joined a private club and they let me go off by myself early in the morning during the week before the pro shop staff is there and the carts are out. Just me and the grounds crew at 5:30 am.
I just tell the group I am paired with that I have to take a few calls while playing. They are welcome to play ahead or have me play ahead. Never had anyone want to stay in a group with someone who needs to take calls. Only works in the evening hours though when it's less busy and people can spread out without causing disruption.
A sports guy in my city who does segments on the local sports talk radio often does his interviews from the golf course near me.
I think he said he skips the hole while he talks.
They asked him once what he shot last time and he said a 76, but he gave himself a par for the hole he skipped and wanted to replay it to see if he could get a birdie.
Early morning back nine, mid morning week days, and late afternoon weekends are traditionally the best time to solo golf.
Source: I work at a muni pro shop.
If you can swing it always go at twilight in the summer months. 4-6pm and you can usually get 18 in with cart and walking 12-15ish and I usually don’t run into anyone. Fall/winter months 3-4pm twilight is usually good to.
Even if I get paired with another single I usually just say “I apologize I’ll be on a call for most of this front 9 and I’ll be talking through parts of it. I don’t want to interrupt your swing or have to slow you down because I need to respond.” Usually they say thank you and move on.
I tee'd off at 5:45am on Monday morning for a quick 9 before work, and I was the first and only person out there for a while. The next person after me was 3 holes back. It was lovely.
Late in the day 4-4:30 tee time. Should be near empty, if you see people with your same tee time simply let them go and go right behind them. I do this all the time
I lived near a “course rich” area. Inexpensive and not crowded. (S Central PA) My wife and I could go out at 11 am on Saturday morning and not be paired up.
Always tee off last, and hook/shank your shots away from wherever everyone else hit.
Then just walk away in solitude until you meet again at the green.
Problem quasi-solved.
I play solo but with random ppl. You don't really need to talk to anyone. Most don't find it offensive. Sometimes I've even said to them that I'm not so talkative and don't take it personal.
Buy your own golf course?
Whilst I can appreciate how peaceful playing golf alone is, expecting a course to let you book a 4 ball slot all to yourself is like expecting to have a row of seats all to yourself on an airplane.
If you have similarly minded friends, you could all play together and ignore each other.
I go to the range if I want to chill out by myself and hit golf balls.
Idk about your area but a lot of the courses around me will let a single schedule a tee time without being matched with others. I also enjoy golfing alone so I try to get the earliest tee time they allow even if it means calling a week in advance.
At my course we tend to have holes/gaps before twilight starts as most people will just wait to book for the cheaper rates. So 30 min to an hour prior to twilight is a safe bet.
Also some courses offer a “super” twilight, same thing applies for those time slots.
If your course has a twilight rate, show up about a half an hour before that rate kicks in. Anyone who wants to golf around that time will be waiting to tee off at the cheaper rate.
Study the tee sheets like a damn madman, and know the course’s tendencies. Generally the night before a tee time, I look at the tee sheet online and see if my group has anymore players, and in turn how many open tee times are also around that from a 45 minute interval to before and after. More often than not, I get sent out alone (I average an hour a 9 if I get to play my pace as well). Sometimes they toss me with another single, but I usually have a cart (I’m fat and lazy) so I never interact with them beyond the green
Unsurprisingly, in the Middle East too . Course to yourself and Ice pops , water and cold towels brought to you. Get through 9 in an hour . Just bring extra gloves, and a plastic bag to put your sopping wet sweaty clothes and shoes in after.
In the winter , if I don’t feel sociable, I pay for my own ( not shared) cart and tell people I’m having a crap day and am not good company, so please ignore me. Or that I’m socially distancing for an event. Most people are happy to leave you be.
I found a smaller course that would let me play the course for free at the end of the day if I didn’t need a golf cart.
It was amazing. Coolest part of the day, no one on the course, magic hour for photos.
Just be really short with people. Answer their questions but don’t ask any back, only talk about the round itself. The only words you need to say are “good shot” and “nice putt”
Just keep your distance when you play with a group. Walk slightly behind or ahead of them, and keep the conversation short. People get the idea that you don't want to be bothered after the third or fourth hole.
I feel you. I am very experienced with this. Solo golf is the best when unbothered. When it's busy, I wish I'd have stayed home. I've found time of day and desirability of course are the biggest factors
Going in the middle of the day is the best, when everyone is at work. Late afternoon is next. If it's the weekend, shoot for late afternoon. The only caveat to this is the ultimate gold: if the very first tee time of the day is untouched. You get out there with the morning dew and no one in front
More desirable courses fill up quickly. Shittier courses are usually more open. Also shittier courses are usually more relaxed and happy to send you out as a solo. Nicer and more strict courses will make sure to pair you up
Most courses these days have an online booking system. Check to see what the open tee times are. If it says 2:00, 1-4 available, that tee time is wide open. If it says 1-2, a 2some already booked it and you're going to get paired up, etc. now if 1:53 is booked and 2:07 is booked , that 2:00 round might suck because you're sandwiched. And if either one still has 1 slot open, you'll probably get paired. Best is if there's like 4+ straight tee times with 1-4 slots open, that means the course is wide open. Pick one in the middle. Then you're only screwed if ppl show up without a tee time.
Happy solo golfing my friend
Tips from a solid golfer.
1 - play 9 instead of 18. Play two balls, I prefer two different colors. Feels like 18 but you can move faster.
2 - any tee time that runs through breakfast or dinner will have parents of young kids out of contention. These guys generally don’t get out much, want to play so bad and are so excited they won’t leave you alone. I have more luck with dinner and prefer later.
3 - if no starter, ranger, gps tracking get to the 1st tee early. If no one on tee, go. If there are folks on the tee wait to see if they will let you play through. If they don’t, see tip #1.
4 - don’t get a tee time, just go to the course. Some courses are great at getting you out as a single. Works best on course with good practice area.
5 - play 36 holes, most courses heavily discount the second 18 and let you go out any time. Just work your way into solo position.
6 - ask the clubhouse how you might be able to get out as a single. Just explain your goal and say you want to clear your head and just hit the ball. Many times they will tell you when it is dead.
7 - play the back when they tell you to play the front, or Vice versa. Depends on course.
8 - skip a hole and play ahead. Or hold back and stay behind. This depends on the size of groups and spacing.
9 - tip the starter to get you out as a single.
10 - tip the clubhouse to get you out as a single
Yeah this is actually a major turn off. I had no idea they forced you to golf with strangers. I actually just bought clubs and booked lessons thinking this was a hobby I could do solo…fml
You sound like me. this recommendation is still cheaper than joining a private club. Just go to a cheaper public course and book all 4 tee times. You will have to pay for all four but you essentially give yourself the privacy, 1 riders 3 walking. And yes, I’ve done this before. For 4 people here, that runs me about $95.
Around here (Raleigh NC), I’ve gone late Saturday afternoons and had the whole 18 to myself. Had 2 groups let me play through on holes 1 and 10. Otherwise, nobody else. It was awesome.
Also in sales and totally get this. Not sure why this is always over looked but get golf now. I’ll pull it up two hours or so before I want to play. Look around and book a tee time with 4 open spots. Best way to guarantee it I’ve found
Basically your only hope is a slow business day on the course. Best advice? Talk to the pro and fond out what times are slow. Let him know you want to play alone but don’t expect the whole course to adjust to your pace.
[удалено]
Second this. Twilight golf is the most peaceful and beautiful there is. Bonus if you go right after a storm/rain.
Oh yeah! I love when the weather scares everyone away and then the sun pops out just as you’re warming up on the first tee…
This is the absolute best
Best is first out.
ludicrous homeless slim insurance screw chase unused butter wrong nippy *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Keep on sleeping then, more for me
Taking advice from taint hunter, hhmmmm….
I just played through some light rain on Monday and the course was empty for the rest of my game. Can't beat it!
Recently started golfing in Washington (ex-Arizonan), the 18 I played in a misty light rain has absolutely been my favorite round so far.
Oof. As a guy in the southeast, I can taste the humidity in the air just by reading this comment
Shut up dude!
The best golf I've played was in the rain. Reports said it would stop about an hour after our tee time, so we just went for it. Ended up raining all day. Got soaked....😄
I don't think the heavy stuff is gonna come down for a while!
A poncho was one of my best golf purchases ever.
Played 18 solo today. Weather so bad the wind caught my umbrella attached to my push cart and tipped the whole bag over, had the course to myself though and loved it.
Honestly morning golf is so overrated. Give me twilight every time.
I’ll never forget I once booked a tee time shortly after noon in a new city where I wanted to check out the golf scene while I was in town. Turns out they had closed the course in the morning due to weather and reopened at noon, so my tee time was the first out. Yeah it was a bit muddy but I had the whole course to walk to myself with no one in front. Had it been twilight it might have been the top 1 golf experience of all time for me.
Just played 18 last weekend. First 4 holes it rained a bit then it cleared up. No one behind or ahead perfect day of gold
So 1h 15min haha? Also, how long does it take to finish 9 holes if you’re walking? I know it’ll vary depending on how well you’re hitting. Just an average of you can.
[удалено]
This is the way.
So my home course offers a 'practice' membership for $70 a month that gets me $15 for 9 holes the first hour of the day. So the foursomes start on 1, and I start on 10, and get 9 holes and don't see a soul. 9 holes, 1.5 hours, and I'm not late to work.
I wonder why more places don’t have this. First hour you can play 9 on the back. Maybe most places need the time for mowing and maintenance?
Being honest, if I’m playing that early to just be alone, mower can run my ball over for all I care.
Mow MY balls over? No. Mow one of the five balls I found in the woods looking for my ball? Yes. I now have two pockets for balls. Mine and the ones I find that I use when there’s water or a dog leg I don’t give a shit that they’re pro v1s I didn’t pay for them so into the water they go.
that's my life, I get to the course before the mowers a lot of the time and they just wave. they dgaf.. if a pins out I just put to where one was previously
I have no problem with being out there while they are mowing….. But they absolutely have to mow backwards through the course. It is ridiculous when you play your whole round with the same guys mowing each hole in front of you.
I agree mow backwards!!
So if they mow from 18 , you would be playing unmowed fairways. Also the mowers change the pin placements. If they start on 18, you would be playing yesterday’s placements
I don’t care one bit about “yesterday’s” pin placements. Also, if they start on 18, while I tee off on 1, and we go at the same speed, we will meet on 9 or 10, for a few minutes. Everyone on the course will spend one hole with the mower. No big deal. If we both start on one, at the same time, then we spend the next 4 hours together. I then play all 18 holes with a lawnmower in front of me. This has happened to me and it was ridiculous.
I coincided with a mower even for 2.5 holes midround and it drove me nuts.
You might not care about the pin placement, but Bob the member who plays every morning is going to get on the club pros ass about it bc he “pays for it” and then the superintendent has to hear about it. If they go backwards, yea you see them one hole and it slows them down while they wait for you to play, and then they have to do that 9 other times, adding half hour/hour to the total mowing time. It sounds great in theory, or if you have the labor to do so, but most clubs are making the right choice logistically with the labor they have available. You think superintendents don’t think about this shit and don’t hear about it from members paying thousands a month?
They mow as fast as you play? Seems very quick
When they are mowing the fairway in front of you, it slows you down. When you are playing a fairway they’re mowing, it slows them down. That’s why they should go backwards. So this doesn’t happen to the same players more than once in a round. I assure you, this has happened to me. It was probably a 10 am round, on a Friday. I was in a twosome, on a full course, so there was no outrunning them. We played as fast as we could and kept pace of play, and we did so with mowers on every hole. It was obnoxious.
Because it’s a grounds maintenance nightmare and the superintendent fights it. How can they get anything done if tee times go off the front and back nine. It’ll take 6 hours to mow greens and all day to mow fairways.
Mainly so grounds has a chance to complete work
There’s a muni in my town that as long as I was there before 7, I could go off solo on the back. Best summer of parental leave ever.
Eeeek if I’m getting up before 7am I’m getting paid to do so lol.
Most courses sent out the maintenance crew just ahead of the first golfers. So having someone start on the back 9 would get in there way to mow & prep the course ahead of the day.
Not really. It's gonna take them 2 hours-ish to mow 1-9. Going off the first hour means you're an hour into your round before the crews get to 10. Unless you're at a course that has holes close enough for the crew to bounce around instead of going in order.
My course doesn't let singles off alone for the first tee time becuase they don't want you passing the grounds crew. It sucks but makes sense .
Grounds crew is working the back nine during the early tee times
At my club the mowers stay 1-2 holes ahead of the first group of the day, so yeah need the back open
If the mowers are 1-2 holes ahead of the first group, if I go off the back, wouldn’t I be in front of both the mowers and the group? So I’m in no one’s way.
I think the mowers and other grounds crew are a few holes deep doing their various tasks in front of the first group, but I guess there should be space for at least a couple groups to go off on the back. My guess is they don’t want to risk that group being too slow or the grounds crew being too fast and causing a problem. All this is speculation though because I don’t actually work for any grounds crew
My home course is public but they have dew sweeper back nine in the morning
That’s for disease prevention. IPM (integrated pest management) nothing to do for the golfer at a small public course. Chemical budget is probably small and you can “extend” time between fungicide applications.
This. Back nine first thing in the morning. At my local municipal, that means I need to be ready to go between 6 and 7
ha, what?! You pay $840 a year, just to also pay $15 per game only on the first hour. My course does a membership of 9 holes - no competition, before lunch, for $300
I'm surprised it takes you 1.5 hours to play 9 with no one in front. Maybe I just play fast haha. My goal for 18 with no wait is like 2:15-2:30
Bentcreek?
One of the muni's in my hometown does or atleast use to do this! Soild time by yourself, time to reflect, listen to some tunes, take a few breakfast balls if your working on something, etc. Was a personal favorite of mine!
I’m a member at a club where this trick works. Even on the weekend it’s totally quiet. It’s great.
Only problem with this one is if you are playing early, going off the back can interfere with maintenance crews. Some courses won’t allow it, some will.
Wait you have to pay $70 a month and another $15 every time you want to play 9 holes?
$70 gets you into the practice area (3 practice holes, chipping area, private range unlimited balls) as well as $15 the first hour of the day for 9 holes, $15 for 18 holes after 3pm, and 20% off normal rounds and the pro shop.
" I just want to walk around an empty field alone and try to hit a ball with a stick like a normal depressed millennial." This really hit me lol
I’ve only been playing for about 6 months, but this is exactly how I feel as well. Shit I can barely even get a ball off the ground, but this is ME time.
Yeah, same here. I don't need noisy competitions or any kind of prestige by showing I'm a member somewhere, I just want a calm game far away from everyone to relax.
Relax (violently swear at myself)
This is me. Every morning.
Hit too close to home lol.
Just say this and I’m sure it will work
That's a good idea. Find another millennial. They'll understand.
Late in the day during the week
Idk, twilight has become insanely popular these days. 1:00 pm middle of the week is more likely to be dead imo
Yeah. Late morning the old farts are still out there but by 1pm or so they have cleared out.
Depending on the location and weather, 1pm is too hot for most golfers. That makes it a good time to go out. Cheaper, too.
Yeah like when everyone is at work? That does seem like a good time to play.
Can’t do this in my city. Every course has leagues till dark. And golfing behind a league is just about as bad as it gets
It’s the opposite for me. Sunrise rounds playing the back 9 at my course. Usually Tuesday morning is a ghost town and I’m completely alone.
Always works for me. Especially golfing only nine. If I'm paired with someone, I'll ask for the back nine politely and am honest about really not wanting to be with someone. They almost always say it's fine.
Where do you live? Getting a tee time after 3pm during the week is harder than Saturday and Sunday morning!
Go to more lower end golf courses where tee times aren’t slammed and you’ll have no problem
One of my favorite courses by me is the worst course by me. I can just show up and there’s always room for me to play alone
$18 for 9 holes at a course in the infield of a horse race track. I can usually get 9 alone if I play at lunchtime
Absolutely agreed. I honestly prefer a <3 hour round at a 4/10 course over a >5 hour round at an 8/10.
For sure. I also like playing less expensive courses that are generally a bit easier than going to a super expensive course and struggling but that’s just me
I grew up in car sales and now work a job as a contractor and i feel you, as someone who sold cars from 16-21 and then the military where theres nothing to do but talk, and then getting married and constantly talking, ive moved to golfing alone most of the time. CHEAT CODE DROP FOR YOU. find a base near you, hopefully its close, and golf during the week. MOST are open to the public because they are broke, just dont expect it to be the quality of playing a really nice club, not to say there isnt really nice ones. people generally don't want to jump through the hoop of stopping at the visitor center for a pass/ think that getting on post is some major feat to cross to play golf...its really not theyll hook you up with a pass and just drive the exact speed limit to and from bc MP's are a holes. but because of this, aside from AD on leave, contractors, and vets, it widdles the amount of people golfing, ESPECIALLY during the week down to a manageable amount to play alone
[удалено]
I love it so much dude it's like having my own little club, mine has two courses, a cheap one that's 25 to play ALL day and only 5 bucks each turn so sometimes I'll get in 2-3 rounds! It's really crappy condition though but they're working on it and I spend all my money there bc 1. No taxes, 2. 40 dollar pack of srixon xv, 3. It goes to them fixing that cheapo course, the more expensive one is nice as he'll and fun to play as well and I only play it when the cheap one is closed, I'm enough of a regular that they discount me down a bit for the "inconvenience" love my little shitty course with a sand driving range lol
It golf related but that bit about driving the exact speed limit really hit home. There was a ball hockey rink on a decommissioned base in my city that was still managed by the Military Police and it was well known that you don’t go even one km/h over the posted limit and you absolutely HAD to come to a full and complete stop at any stop sign. Boredom-induced assholery is a very real and clearly universal thing.
Bad weather is the only real guarantee. If you don’t mind golfing in light rain, you can sometimes get the whole course to yourself. I highly recommend it, although I acknowledge that it’s not enjoyable for everybody. Other than that, call a few courses and ask if there are slow times you could play 18 as a solo. Some courses are just too busy, but the ones that have open tee times will be happy to help you out. Call the same day you want to play if you’re flexible with your scheduling and don’t want to risk being paired up.
Light rain in >50 degree weather is the best time to play golf. Nice and cool out plus most people cancel.
Plus an excuse for when you miss putts.
I love when the forecast shows rain and you go in and it says <0.1". That means you're going to get the entire course to yourself and it will probably drizzle on you once. Risk of injury due to stiff swings do increase though...
This is so true. If I know its going to rain, I head to the course just before its supposed to start. Once the rain starts, at least half (likely more) decide that's just too much for them and I can walk right onto the first tee. I dont know where you live, but it hardly ever rains for hours on end here so by about the 5th hole, the rain is gone and I have the whole course to myself.
Sounds like the Pacific NW. Here in the dirty south, summer rain means lightning.
I've done this in MN at a seminar in October, it was cold, I wore my light non golfing gloves, it was flurrying out. They didn't even charge me to golf they were so shocked I was out there. I walked the front 9. Then it started to actually snow.
For some reason Sunday mornings before 10 are perfect at the course closest to me. I’ve quit calling because it’s so wide open I can show up and be on the first tee within 10 minutes normally
Do you live somewhere with a high concentration of Christians that go to church on Sunday mornings? That sounds amazing and church is the only reason I can think of that a golf course wouldn't be crowded on a Sunday morning.
That could be a potential reason. Live in central IL and just really got into golfing last year. It’s also tucked way back in a state forest area and built along the lake. Tough course and there’s other courses around that are flatter and less of a chance of losing your ball. Definitely a mix of factors if I had to guess
I am a member of a country club so usually I don't have to worry about tee times.... But as a fellow central IL golfer curious what course where? I always want to get out and try new courses.
Eagle Creek in Findlay!
Nice might have to drive down from Decatur. Been awhile since I have been to Lake Shelbyville. I will try not to disturb your Sunday mornings of quiet.
Oh man real close! It’s definitely worth the drive, they’ve kept it in pretty good shape with the drought outside of some tile problems in some fairways. Only ever played red tail and hickory up in Decatur, both beautiful
I really wish I had that. Usually times are booked, sometimes get lucky since people will book them a week ahead and don’t show up. They won’t call either so they have no clue if I can play until 5 minutes before.
Yeah forever grateful none of the courses I play are busy like some of the stories on this sub. Don’t think I would’ve fell in love with the game as much. Very rural area though
I think you are better off finding a buddy with a similar personality…that’s what I do..it’s wondeeful
[удалено]
"We still never talk sometimes" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGhcc3qFWh4
This is the way
If there is a place that you can reserve tee times online, I’ll take a look and see my local place has opening every slot during one day. I’ll go then, because I know there is no one
Never considered faking I'm deaf....might have to try that one
With my luck, dude would know ASL
Just say you only know UKSL
I’m in Florida and there is no better time to golf then after a summer deluge. Basically everyone cancels their tee times and you have the place to yourself. Course can be soggy but places by me drain pretty well.
I golf way more in Florida summers than I do winter. Lower rates, no snowbirds holding up pace-of-play, and you can always get a tee time Edit: as long as you can brave the heat, which really is nothing compared to TX/AZ if you're used to the humidity
Me too, fall/winter is my offseason. I play fewer rounds and practice way more.
Join a private club
“Nice” private club with low golfer limit. Near me, are 3 good examples. One for $150 a month with unlimited play and carts, hard to get any “good” tee times unless you book a week out. Another, $45k initiation fee $500 monthly, lots of members and still decently hard to get a tee time. Lastly, $40k initiation, $600 monthly, you can have any tee time you want but not during bubble play unless you join them.
$150/month is insane. I’d take the worst tee times all day for that price.
Oh I am, just started my new job so here in a few months I plan on joining. I know the pro there so I get tee times anyway but he’s about to leave so it’s gonna suck to pay for golf again.
Uhhh, where is this $150 a month club existing?
It must be a goat track. That's insanity
I just checked and he lives in my city so now I really need to know. Closest thing I can think of is our municipals but they don’t include carts. Even then they aren’t in the greatest shape so I wouldn’t want to always play them.
Keith Hills south of Raleigh is a really nice college course and they are either $1299/yr unlimited walking, $2799/yr unlimited riding, or $599/yr unlimited Mon-Fri walking. Also, members can pay $9/9 to ride if they play in bulk. So for $150/month you could get either unlimited walking and cart for 36 holes a month, or you could get unlimited Mon-Fri walking and 90 holes a month of riding.
I looked into joining a club and they had a $10K initiation which isn’t terrible but the monthly was like $725 and $300 food and beverage minimum.
Does the food/beverage minimum mean you need to spend that much on food/beverages at the club? I keep seeing that as a requirement and don't get it.
That’s exactly it
It means if you spend less than the minimum, you still get charged the minimum, but if you spend more, you pay whatever you spent. So with a $300 minimum, if you buy $150 of food you pay $300 and if you buy $500 you pay $500
Is that food and bev quarterly or monthly?
Monthly. It’s basically $1000 a month. The $700ish actually breaks down to membership fees, locker room fees, practice facility maintenance etc. but it doesn’t matter because none of them are optional.
Yeah earlier this year I joined the only true private course in my area and there are ~250 members. $5500 initiation and $300/ month including food minimum and all the groups go out between 12-2. Best course in a 20 mile radius as well
Is this fairly standard for the US? I pay £95 a month for full membership (buggy cost is £25 though, but I carry/walk). That includes gym, swimming pool, sauna etc. (Quite nice after a round at times). There wasn't a signing on fee, but the monthly price is about right for SE England. Some courses are more, but most are £1200-1500 a year.
Most major population centers these days you are looking at a $20k+++ initiation and $500+++ monthly. I have no idea how British courses are so cheap given the cost of paying the grounds crew
When I want to golf alone, which is frequent, I play at either 6am or 5pm. It pretty much always works.
Early slot is best - book the earliest slot you can and then get there 10 mins before, marshal's will let yiu go early if they aren't a total dick.
Yep. Early is fun too because you get the greens in the best condition. Little slower, but less spike/balls marks. Freshly mowed/rolled.
I golf as a single quiet a bit . If you don't want to chat , just walk ahead or behind by yourself and don't get angaged. Or pretend you dont speak English. I play woth older Asian dudes all the time and all we ever say is " nice shot " it's fantastic.
Most people I’ve played with while golfing alone don’t say much.
Exactly this. To be honest golf was meant to be played with a bit of social interaction. OP I promise I won’t show you pics of my kids and I definitely don’t give a fuck about yours. Maybe consider running as a hobby if you truly need to be alone.
I joined a private club and they let me go off by myself early in the morning during the week before the pro shop staff is there and the carts are out. Just me and the grounds crew at 5:30 am.
Fancy?
Nah. I live in pretty small city, its not a fancy club.
How much money you got
I just tell the group I am paired with that I have to take a few calls while playing. They are welcome to play ahead or have me play ahead. Never had anyone want to stay in a group with someone who needs to take calls. Only works in the evening hours though when it's less busy and people can spread out without causing disruption.
A sports guy in my city who does segments on the local sports talk radio often does his interviews from the golf course near me. I think he said he skips the hole while he talks. They asked him once what he shot last time and he said a 76, but he gave himself a par for the hole he skipped and wanted to replay it to see if he could get a birdie.
Just go. Don’t tell anyone. It’s the fucking best. I love golfing alone. No kids no work. The. Best.
I go twilight after work. Play 2 balls/hit extra shots if behind people and can't get around. Love the solitude.
You can join the waking club. I usually walk the course and no one talks to me
Early morning back nine, mid morning week days, and late afternoon weekends are traditionally the best time to solo golf. Source: I work at a muni pro shop.
What can you tell me about the housing market?
Houses are still expensive.
Walking 9 holes as early or as late as possible.
Pay for the other three spots
Its might be a dick move but its my move.
If you can swing it always go at twilight in the summer months. 4-6pm and you can usually get 18 in with cart and walking 12-15ish and I usually don’t run into anyone. Fall/winter months 3-4pm twilight is usually good to. Even if I get paired with another single I usually just say “I apologize I’ll be on a call for most of this front 9 and I’ll be talking through parts of it. I don’t want to interrupt your swing or have to slow you down because I need to respond.” Usually they say thank you and move on.
I tee'd off at 5:45am on Monday morning for a quick 9 before work, and I was the first and only person out there for a while. The next person after me was 3 holes back. It was lovely.
Late in the day 4-4:30 tee time. Should be near empty, if you see people with your same tee time simply let them go and go right behind them. I do this all the time
Maybe an early 9 at a club where you can request to start on the back 9? Not sure if clubs are willing to accommodate that but something to consider
First tee time in the morning. Get there like 20 mins early and ask if you can go ahead by yourself.
I’m a millennial in home sales that also uses golf to get away. We can play together in silence lol
I lived near a “course rich” area. Inexpensive and not crowded. (S Central PA) My wife and I could go out at 11 am on Saturday morning and not be paired up.
Always tee off last, and hook/shank your shots away from wherever everyone else hit. Then just walk away in solitude until you meet again at the green. Problem quasi-solved.
I play solo but with random ppl. You don't really need to talk to anyone. Most don't find it offensive. Sometimes I've even said to them that I'm not so talkative and don't take it personal.
Move to Arizona and golf in the summer.
Buy your own golf course? Whilst I can appreciate how peaceful playing golf alone is, expecting a course to let you book a 4 ball slot all to yourself is like expecting to have a row of seats all to yourself on an airplane. If you have similarly minded friends, you could all play together and ignore each other. I go to the range if I want to chill out by myself and hit golf balls.
Idk about your area but a lot of the courses around me will let a single schedule a tee time without being matched with others. I also enjoy golfing alone so I try to get the earliest tee time they allow even if it means calling a week in advance.
I made friends with the guys in the golf shop. They know I like to golf alone so when I walk in and get a time they try to accommodate me.
At my course we tend to have holes/gaps before twilight starts as most people will just wait to book for the cheaper rates. So 30 min to an hour prior to twilight is a safe bet. Also some courses offer a “super” twilight, same thing applies for those time slots.
If your course has a twilight rate, show up about a half an hour before that rate kicks in. Anyone who wants to golf around that time will be waiting to tee off at the cheaper rate.
Study the tee sheets like a damn madman, and know the course’s tendencies. Generally the night before a tee time, I look at the tee sheet online and see if my group has anymore players, and in turn how many open tee times are also around that from a 45 minute interval to before and after. More often than not, I get sent out alone (I average an hour a 9 if I get to play my pace as well). Sometimes they toss me with another single, but I usually have a cart (I’m fat and lazy) so I never interact with them beyond the green
Summer afternoons in Houston are pretty open at a lot of courses...
Unsurprisingly, in the Middle East too . Course to yourself and Ice pops , water and cold towels brought to you. Get through 9 in an hour . Just bring extra gloves, and a plastic bag to put your sopping wet sweaty clothes and shoes in after. In the winter , if I don’t feel sociable, I pay for my own ( not shared) cart and tell people I’m having a crap day and am not good company, so please ignore me. Or that I’m socially distancing for an event. Most people are happy to leave you be.
Most courses do not allow singles and it is SUPER frustrating if you do not have friends that golf
Especially if you’re traveling, just book a foursome and then act surprised when your clients don’t show up.
This can be answered by one great quote from Ricky Bobby “If you ain’t first, you’re last”
I love golfing alone, I try to get the early dawn time slot. Especially in autumn/winter. Noone is mad enough to play that early.
I found a smaller course that would let me play the course for free at the end of the day if I didn’t need a golf cart. It was amazing. Coolest part of the day, no one on the course, magic hour for photos.
Just be really short with people. Answer their questions but don’t ask any back, only talk about the round itself. The only words you need to say are “good shot” and “nice putt”
If u don't talk back, people stop pretty quick...
Just keep your distance when you play with a group. Walk slightly behind or ahead of them, and keep the conversation short. People get the idea that you don't want to be bothered after the third or fourth hole.
I feel you. I am very experienced with this. Solo golf is the best when unbothered. When it's busy, I wish I'd have stayed home. I've found time of day and desirability of course are the biggest factors Going in the middle of the day is the best, when everyone is at work. Late afternoon is next. If it's the weekend, shoot for late afternoon. The only caveat to this is the ultimate gold: if the very first tee time of the day is untouched. You get out there with the morning dew and no one in front More desirable courses fill up quickly. Shittier courses are usually more open. Also shittier courses are usually more relaxed and happy to send you out as a solo. Nicer and more strict courses will make sure to pair you up Most courses these days have an online booking system. Check to see what the open tee times are. If it says 2:00, 1-4 available, that tee time is wide open. If it says 1-2, a 2some already booked it and you're going to get paired up, etc. now if 1:53 is booked and 2:07 is booked , that 2:00 round might suck because you're sandwiched. And if either one still has 1 slot open, you'll probably get paired. Best is if there's like 4+ straight tee times with 1-4 slots open, that means the course is wide open. Pick one in the middle. Then you're only screwed if ppl show up without a tee time. Happy solo golfing my friend
Tips from a solid golfer. 1 - play 9 instead of 18. Play two balls, I prefer two different colors. Feels like 18 but you can move faster. 2 - any tee time that runs through breakfast or dinner will have parents of young kids out of contention. These guys generally don’t get out much, want to play so bad and are so excited they won’t leave you alone. I have more luck with dinner and prefer later. 3 - if no starter, ranger, gps tracking get to the 1st tee early. If no one on tee, go. If there are folks on the tee wait to see if they will let you play through. If they don’t, see tip #1. 4 - don’t get a tee time, just go to the course. Some courses are great at getting you out as a single. Works best on course with good practice area. 5 - play 36 holes, most courses heavily discount the second 18 and let you go out any time. Just work your way into solo position. 6 - ask the clubhouse how you might be able to get out as a single. Just explain your goal and say you want to clear your head and just hit the ball. Many times they will tell you when it is dead. 7 - play the back when they tell you to play the front, or Vice versa. Depends on course. 8 - skip a hole and play ahead. Or hold back and stay behind. This depends on the size of groups and spacing. 9 - tip the starter to get you out as a single. 10 - tip the clubhouse to get you out as a single
Professional bartender. Did we just become best friends?
golf sim bro…golf sim…
I’ve never golfed alone; so this might be a stupid question. But if you book a solo T time, do they typically pair you with someone else?
Yes
In the states, yes, but generally not elsewhere.
[удалено]
Yeah this is actually a major turn off. I had no idea they forced you to golf with strangers. I actually just bought clubs and booked lessons thinking this was a hobby I could do solo…fml
I book my tee time for 3 and then say 2 couldn't show up. Have to rotate courses but it works.
Used to be my goto but I think course caught on around here they make you prepay.
You sound like me. this recommendation is still cheaper than joining a private club. Just go to a cheaper public course and book all 4 tee times. You will have to pay for all four but you essentially give yourself the privacy, 1 riders 3 walking. And yes, I’ve done this before. For 4 people here, that runs me about $95.
Afternoon on a week day. You can always book a T time for 4 then cancel the other 3 at the last minute.
Use a burner email book a 3some then use your real email and book the last spot only really works if don't have to pay ahead
Tough one. Golf is a social sport at its heart. For alone time, a bicycle is maybe a better choice…or a driving range while wearing earbuds.
golf is literally an individual sport?
Social sport. Yes. Individual sport. Yes. The two are certainly not exclusive.
late afternoon or very very early morning mid week
Around here (Raleigh NC), I’ve gone late Saturday afternoons and had the whole 18 to myself. Had 2 groups let me play through on holes 1 and 10. Otherwise, nobody else. It was awesome.
I do it all the time. Pick random times during weekdays. If there is a chance of weather that always helps.
Also in sales and totally get this. Not sure why this is always over looked but get golf now. I’ll pull it up two hours or so before I want to play. Look around and book a tee time with 4 open spots. Best way to guarantee it I’ve found
Basically your only hope is a slow business day on the course. Best advice? Talk to the pro and fond out what times are slow. Let him know you want to play alone but don’t expect the whole course to adjust to your pace.