What time of day do you like to play at?

[Jordan Caron]

I'm sitting here looking at pictures of Ballyneal and can't help but notice how much the setting sun and it's long shadows have influenced the rugged contours there.  This makes me realize why I don't enjoy playing in the middle of the day.  I am not able to see the contours of a golf course when it's bright out but I can when it's lighter out. 

This leads to a question.  What is your most desired time to play?

[cary lichtenstein]

Early, 8 AM

[Phil_the_Author]

Afternoon to just before sundown.

[Carl Nichols]

Like Philip, I prefer afternoon to just before sundown, especially in early and late summer. 

[Matthew Delahunty]

In the warmer months, I prefer late afternoon with the course to myself and the sun setting. Magic!

[Phil_the_Author]

Carl,

Gotta like a "Newbie" who agrees with you! 

[Melvyn Morrow]

Never enjoyed an early start on a course, but had no problem on an early start to visit a distant course or two.

The early morning is a beautiful time of the day, but not for golf. The grass,
wet from the morning dew, following other footsteps in the damp grass and watching my ball slow (like the bow of a speedboat once the engine is stopped) as it makes contact with the water laden fairway is not on the top of my list. Early starts are now also a fading memory from my youth.

Depending if it is an 18 or 36 holes we are playing. For 36 start latest by mid morning (10am), but for 18, then mid to late afternoon, back to the 19th for 7 to 7.30 for a few cool beers and a few more.

[Matt Bosela]

Well, there is certainly a difference between when I'd like to play and when I DO play.

Being newly married with a child on the way, it's important for me to get the golf out of the way as quickly as possible so most of my golf is played very early in the morning on weekends (before 8am).

However, my favourite time is late in the afternoon when the course isn't busy and the sun is setting - very tranquil atmosphere and I love the feeling of having the entire place to ourselves!

[David Ober]

Afternoon when the course is playing it firmest/fastest.

[A.G._Crockett]

Daylight.

[Jeff Evagues]

8 AM is not early, I'm usually on the back nine by then.

[Jason Hines]

Used to prefer 645 am, but now try and go during my 1 and 3 year olds naptime in the afternoon.  Funny how a person’s priorities change.

[Ash Towe]

We normally tee off first.  Nobody in front and we move at a good pace.  We do not hold up anybody else.  The greens do not have footprints and the surface is true.
Disadvantages are the cold temperatures in winter, the dew on the ground and lack of role.
We do get home to the family and over half the day is left.  That is the biggest plus.

[John Moore II]

I prefer to play whenever I can play fast with no real waiting or interuptions. In spring and fall (my high season in Pinehurst) I play (very) early morning or late afternoon. In the winter, I pretty much play at any time, since the courses are never crowded, and in summer, I somehow manage to play at mid day, since no one else is crazy enough to be on the course at that time. I can play 18 holes, by myself, walking in about 2 hours 30 minutes. Anything longer than that, feels like forever.

[Mark Smolens]

Daylight.

Amen!

[Dan Kelly]

As the sun is rising or setting.

Photographers' hours.

Or under a cloudy sky, at any time -- so long as it's not leaking.

[Adam Russell]

I like to play in the middle of the night with glow-in-the-dark balls. Seriously.

[John Moore II]

Adam-thats quite the fun thing to do. It gets more interesting when just the right amount of alcohol and girls are involved.

[Tom Dunne]

I'm not much of a morning person, so I prefer the afternoon round that transitions into that magic hour before sunset. That said, I'll take whatever golf I can get...

[wsmorrison]

If I have a guest, I prefer lunchtime so they can appreciate the experience of teeing off about 10 feet from the lunch crowd dining on the upper terrace, especially if they are left-handed!

[Dave_Miller]

Afternoon until just before sundown.  That last hour really is the magic hour.

I play a lot of my rounds just after sunup, but here's one problem with that -- and I'm sure you'll all agree with me:  dew.

Now, I really don't mind the dew that much, even though it creates an occasional flyer from the fairway.

The reason I hate the dew is that when your ball rolls into a bunker, you get this little stripe of sand on the ball because the ball is wet and as it rolls through the bunker it picks up the sand.

It's particularly annoying from fairway bunkers, where you're not hitting a splash shot, and it can screw up your shot if there's sand between the clubface and the ball.

Plus, in any bunker, it reminds me of a CHEATER LINE.  I hate that!

Dave:
Stay out of the bunkers and the dew won't be a problem   Boy you are consistent on that "cheater line" even if the R&A and USGA do't agree with you
Best
Dave

[Richard Choi]

First thing in the morning. Never have to worry about slow play and I still have most of the day to spend with my family.

It's kinda funny since during the week, I cannot wake up without an alarm. But I wake up at least an hour before when I have to get up for tee time on weekends

[K. Krahenbuhl]

I like to start early...that way I can maximize the amount of golf that I can play in a day.

[Steve Lang]

  any time that there's sufficient light to catch the direction of the ball taking off

[Mike Vegis @ Kiawah]

I worked at our country club pro shop/bag room in high school (Riverside C.C. in Battle Creek).  In Michigan, sunset in mid summer was nearly 10pm.  Usually had about 1-2 hours to play at the end of the work day.  Always sqeezed in as many holes as we could.  From that early experience, I've always looked forward to late after/early evening rounds...