So I've been playing a lot as a single lately, trying to work on my game, but I'm having trouble finding courses that are friendly to singles. I usually play municipal courses. I like to play early morning, walking. I play fast, get some excercise, and I get 18 holes done in 2 - 2.5 hours. Then I have the rest of my day to do whatever.

The problem is the course around don't like having a single player on the course. Even if the first tee time of a foursome is not there, the pro shop people bitch and moan that I am going to upset the other players, but reluctantly let me play.

I think this is lame, b/c if I'm out first, I'm gone, and I don't see anyone behind me after 2 - 3 holes. If I'm off 2nd or third, I'm patient, and usually the fousomes or threesomes let me play through, which I do quickly.

Am I committing some golf etiquette taboo by playing as a single?

I guess I need to try some other courses.

I hear you. Like you, I also play quite a bit as a single when the course is not busy and there are no other players or groups to join. Some courses have no problem accomodating the single golfer while others treat us as a nuisance. Since I know where I am welcome, I tend to go to "single friendly" courses when I haven't put together a group in advance.

In defense of courses that discourage singles, when a course is moderately full, a single occupies a space on the course that could/should have 3 or 4 players. If a course allows singles during slow periods, there will always be people who assume they can go out as a single even if the course is full.

What I like are courses that work at putting together foursomes. If you call in with a twosome or threesome, the course will try to find one or two singles to round out the group. At the same time, as a single you can usually anticipate getting a chance to play by rounding out a group. While occasionally you end up with a dud, most of the time it is fun to make new friends, if only for 4-5 hours.

bkuehn1952 wrote:

I hear you. Like you, I also play quite a bit as a single when the course is not busy and there are no other players or groups to join. Some courses have no problem accomodating the single golfer while others treat us as a nuisance. Since I know where I am welcome, I tend to go to "single friendly" courses when I haven't put together a group in advance. In defense of courses that discourage singles, when a course is moderately full, a single occupies a space on the course that could/should have 3 or 4 players. If a course allows singles during slow periods, there will always be people who assume they can go out as a single even if the course is full. What I like are courses that work at putting together foursomes. If you call in with a twosome or threesome, the course will try to find one or two singles to round out the group. At the same time, as a single you can usually anticipate getting a chance to play by rounding out a group. While occasionally you end up with a dud, most of the time it is fun to make new friends, if only for 4-5 hours.

Yeah, I hear you about a packed course. In that situation, a single golfer is obviously not a good idea.

What I am talking about is going off first thing in the morning, when there are no other players on the course. The problem is the people in the municipal golf course pro shops don't even golf, as far as I can tell, so they just hear "singles are bad" from whatever boss and can't think of exceptions.

I mean, if I am playing up to 4 times a week and I don't slow anyone down, that would make sense for them to let me play to get my $.

Also, let's say the course is at much less than capacity. For example, there is no wait or back up and ther is a hole break between groups, on average. In that case, do you guys have a problem with a single player playing through your foursome? Are people of the opinion that single players should not be on the course? I know when I am in a group of whatever size, if there is a faster paced group behind me and space for them to play through ahead, I let them do it without getting upset. Apparently, some people turn around and bitch to the pro shop about groups coming up and rushing them.

There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for a course to discourage singles on the course. What needs to happen if the course is too busy is that the course needs to work at putting the single with a twosome or a threesome to make a larger group.

I talked at length with one of the local course pros earlier this summer about problems I was having getting on their course. She ended up changing their policy to accomodate me, but before then, I did feel like an outsider at a course that I have played some 50-60 times over the past two years.

However, I must also state that anyone who regularly golfs as a single needs to get used to playing with strangers. Personally, that's one of my favorite parts of the game. I love meeting people out on the course, and the range of players I have met is truly something I cherish. From ten year old kids to a 90 year old duffer who somehow managed a ten handicap without being able to hit the ball more than 150 yards, meeting these people has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of playing for me.

It strikes me as odd that you can actually get a tee-time before the very first group goes out... at my course, I usually play the earliest teetime available and almost always in a three- or fourball flight. The place buzzes in the early morning, there simply is no empty spot available until maybe 10 o'clock or so.

Having said that, yes, I do mind a single player "going fast" and pushing our flight or almost demanding to let him pass (especially since usually there is no large gap between our flight and the one in front of us when not starting first). It breaks concentration and usually the lonely golfer simply get stuck in front of us for a couple of holes.

I have never had any problem walking up to a clubhouse as a single and asking to walk on. Even in the winter time down here where 18 holes takes you 5 hours because it is just packed. I do see a problem though if the clubhouse is not willing to try and squeeze a single into a 3 some or a 2 some.


However, if you are at the clubhouse before the first tee time as a single and request to go in front of the first tee time I don't see a problem except the fact that the first group will see it happening and it may become more of a nuiscance if you become a trend setter.

I absolutely hate to play alone. When I'm on a trip and go to an unfamiliar course, I'll wait around until someone shows up. There'll almost always be someone else looking for a game.

I have to say I am not some loner. I do like playing with other randoms when I have time.

The thing is, I'm on a bit of a golf binge right now - trying to play as much as I can. But, I still work, so the easiest way I can play during the week is if i get out at sunrise and play fast. I'm done with 18 holes by 9:00 or 9:30, and I can still get a full days work in. Also, it is a decent workout to walk through 18 holes at a fast pace - can't do that playing with a big group.

I have friends that golf, but their work schedules don't allow them to play in the morning like this, and they are not as in to it as me, so I play with them every couple weeks.

What really annoys me is I like walking the course, I started playing to get some much needed exercise, and then they want to put me in with a 2-some or a 3 some who are riding carts. I've got nothing against carts, but don't pair up someone who's walking with someone who's riding

I'm often on off to the course by myself. Depending on the course, I'm usually either added to a group with less than 4, paired up with another single, or allowed out by myself.

I've never had a problem with a course not wanting me to go out by myself. I've even had courses offer to let me start on 10, so that I don't HAVE to be paired up with anyone.

The cart v. walking issue isn't something I've had a problem with. I've found that I can complete a round walking just as quickly as riding in a cart. The times I've walked and been grouped with riders, the riders usually get to their ball first, but I get to my ball before they have taken their turn.

RonInThornton wrote:

What really annoys me is I like walking the course, I started playing to get some much needed exercise, and then they want to put me in with a 2-some or a 3 some who are riding carts. I've got nothing against carts, but don't pair up someone who's walking with someone who's riding

This doesn't bother me so much. While I do get tired playing with another single in a cart, I tend to play just as fast walking as any twosome in a cart.

Bryan Kautzman wrote:

RonInThornton wrote: What really annoys me is I like walking the course, I started playing to get some much needed exercise, and then they want to put me in with a 2-some or a 3 some who are riding carts. I've got nothing against carts, but don't pair up someone who's walking with someone who's riding This doesn't bother me so much. While I do get tired playing with another single in a cart, I tend to play just as fast walking as any twosome in a cart.

I am with Bryan. Unless the course is empty and/or the players in the cart are scratch, I typically can keep pace. I just have to suppress my tendency to hurry to my shot so the cart riders do not wait. On the other hand, it makes sense to pair up walkers with walkers and riders with riders whenever feasible.

I recall only once that I played with a scratch golfer who was riding a cart. It was just us, and I had my push cart. It was after the 13th hole that I decided I was too tired to continue trying to keep up with him and hopped in.

I kept up no problem. When he caught fire on the back nine and birdied four straight holes, it really started to become a lot of work to do so.

Is it okay for a single player to play 2 or 3 balls per hole, or is that poor etiquette?

I've only been playing for about 7-months, and usually play with friends. I have been paired up with other beginners or easy-going players, but lately I started going out as a single. Usually, I go intending to practice on the range or putting/chipping green...but if I see the course is slow, I'll play a game.

If I play 2 or 3 balls, I find I move at almost the same speed as if I'm playing with a group, and never get in anyone's way or have to play-through...but is that kind of thing frowned on? Should it always be one player, one ball?

dmcadow wrote:

Is it okay for a single player to play 2 or 3 balls per hole, or is that poor etiquette? I've only been playing for about 7-months, and usually play with friends. I have been paired up with other beginners or easy-going players, but lately I started going out as a single. Usually, I go intending to practice on the range or putting/chipping green...but if I see the course is slow, I'll play a game. If I play 2 or 3 balls, I find I move at almost the same speed as if I'm playing with a group, and never get in anyone's way or have to play-through...but is that kind of thing frowned on? Should it always be one player, one ball?

This is one of those things where you'll want to read the course rules to find out for sure.

When the course is slow, meaning that there is no one behind me, I will sometimes play a scramble...where I play 2 or 3 balls and pick the best one.