The Solitary Golfer vs the Marche Militaire

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

If you saw my last post please don't think I am batshit. I am just trying to throw out some interesting topics for discussion while my beloved course slumbers under a pile of frozen precipitation, 2-4" additional due tonight.

I have played competitive golf, solitary golf and what I will refer to here as the marche militaire when foursomes depart from tee number one about every 8 minutes every Saturday and Sunday morning with wagers ablazing.

In the past 10 years life intervened and with teenage children especially a daughter who ended up deeply immersed in the equestrian sport of eventing I had to pretty much give up the marche militaire and console myself with solitary golf.

I love solitary golf!!

Generally, I find myself going out in the late afternoon. Hardly a soul is on the golf course and I can sail around 18 holes, walking, in 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The shadows are lengthening as I meander about. Sometimes, if encountering a roadblock of a wayward after hours foursome (usually mixed) I will dispense with the notion of playing through and simply deviate around them, rerouting the course to my fancy.

Now, my parental obligations have subsided and given the choice I'm not sure that I don't prefer the solitary peacefulness to the mental gymnastics of juggling socializing, thinking about my game, trying to keep all the bets straight and the four hour duration that the marche militaire entails.

As a bonus I usually return to the clubhouse in time to enjoy an adult beverage right at the appropriate cocktail hour as the sun ebbs over the horizon.

Who amongst the GCA discussion group stands with me regarding the joys of an antisocial round of golf?

[David_Tepper]

Malcolm -

You are not alone. I have played many rounds as "The Solitary Golfer,"  either early in the morning or late in the afternoon and found them quite enjoyable. I hardly regard that as being antisocial!

DT   

[Jason Walker]

Malcolm-
Let's get together in 2011, I'm only 30 miles down 295!

And I have to admit, I thought after your first post you were batshit.  Especially with 'song' in the title.  Be that as it may...

I love solitary golf.  Never thought I would. Then daugher arrived, and two years later son arrived  (they're now 3 and 1).  I'm also assisted by the fact I live 1/4 mile from my club, so late afternoon solitary nines (or sixes given our routing) have become norm.   The genius, though, is you'll never know who you run into, and you know there's always someone in the bar to have a post-round drink with.

[Jason Walker]

I should also add that during all my solitary golf last year I devised my own scoring system  that takes into account time and strokes.  Par for nine holes time-wise was 1:08.  It's only workable during solitary golf but I have to say even the asst pro was impressed!

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Jason,

What! You dare to disturb my enclave of solitary golf!!!

Please contact me and I would be delighted to get together with you. I am brand new to the GCA universe but assume there is a way for you to contact me privately. If not figure out another way public or private.

Malcolm

[Rob Rigg]

Malcolm,

Plus one to solitary golf - not 100% of the time, maybe not even 50% - but an early morning or - even better I think - late afternoon round with the course to yourself is probably the most relaxing experience in the world.

There is nothing like playing the back nine quickly, but not rushed, as the shadows lengthen across the course and the sun slowly descends behind the trees, hills, etc.  - walking up eighteen just before sunset is brilliant.

A great way to finish the day.

[Duncan Cheslett]

I agree entirely.

When I first took up the game properly I would go out on my own because I didn't want to share my ineptitude with others. When I did eventually start hooking up with other players however, I soon discovered that my ineptitude was shared by most others already!

I still love the odd few holes by myself, though. It's a marvellous way either to prepare for a days work or to wind down afterwards. Or to bunk off for an hour at lunchtime.  In summer all three!  Thank God for self-employment...

If I want to add a little spice to the walk I put two balls down and play white vs. yellow.  Stableford, of course...

[Doug Siebert]

Malcolm-
Let's get together in 2011, I'm only 30 miles down 295!

There is some sort of irony involved with a post like this in a thread about solitary golf!

[Scott Warren]

Duncan,

I do the same, but I always end up rooting for one of the two balls to win! Crazy, but true!

[Chris Shaida]

I have to confess that I envy you guys. I like the idea of playing solitaire golf ( it seems so pure!)--actually doing it though just doesn't work for me. I don't think I have the mental discipline for it...or something. I'm an introvert but somewhat counterintuitively I think a primary attraction of golf for me (I've come to it fairly recently) is to force me out of my introversion--golf is a perfect opportunity to engagewith someone without having to talk (or be talked to!) the whole time.  I hope I haven't just disqualified myself from GCA...

[jonathan_becker]

I would say 25% of my golf is solo and it's mainly 9 holers during the week.  I live right down the street from my course so it's easy to get out there and play fast.  25% solo is perfect for me and I hope I can continue it for a long time.  It's just you, your game, and the course.

[Jud_T]

I love playing solitary golf.  Nothing better than being alone on a golf course.  You can play as fast (or slow) as you like and you usually score better because it's easier to focus and there's no outside pressure.  But the best thing about it is the solitude.  If golf is about getting away from the stimuli and stress of everyday life, then solitary golf is it's quintessential expression.  Kind of like a meditation for me....

[Steve Lang]

i did that for about 10 years monday -friday when ms sheila was working-travelling across 48 states..

she knew not to call home before dark..

got me down to a 5 index, playing 3-5 times during the week and then on weekends ..

I met a lot of people doing that

[John Foley]

Love the feeling of late in the day or early AM and the shadows are long and the course is empty except for the occasional deer.

Play a few extra shots, discover things about your course you never saw before and lets the worries of the world just leave you alone.

Other than pre-kids w/ a semi regular Sunday AM game I've never been a weekend AM core golfer. Once the girls came along I always feel that I would be missing something as weekend AM's are always filled with something - dance class, X_C meet - softball or basketball practice - heading out for breakfast.

The Solitary Golfer route is always treated me well!

[Carl Johnson]

We're not all in the same choir.  If I don't have one or more others to play against, I just don't feel like I am really playing golf.  The neat thing about golf is that it presents so many different kinds of opportunities for people to enjoy themselves in different ways.

[Tim Bert]

I enjoy solitary the golf experience, but I enjoy even more an early morning or late afternoon round with a really good friend on a quiet, mostly empty course.  I'd take a twosome over a playing as a single any day, as long as I get to pick the company.

[Mark Pearce]

I play a lot of solitary golf, first thing in the morning when on holiday.  At Elie I can be on the course at 6.30 and back at our cottage before the kids have had breakfast.  And links courses can be stunningly beautiful at that time in the morning.  One of the few times in life you can really have time for your own thoughts.

[Mike Hendren]

Wtih the exception of playing with a few, select close friends and the occasional GCA nutjobs, I greatly prefer playing alone.  I took up the game at the age of 12 and until I left home I was the only teenager who played at all at our modest 9-hole course.  Few of the adults showed little interest in playing with me so by default I probably played 200 rounds annually for six or seven years by my ownself.  At 52 I still find it a hard habit to break.  I still find the golf course to be a magical place, a sanctuary from the hustle/bustle of life that more often than not is compromised by the pace and sounds of company.  I'm probably down to 20 rounds a year, but I treasure each one immensely.  

BTW, I look forward to renewing old acquaintances at Kings Putter - that and kicking Rich Choi's butt.

Mike

[Carl Rogers]

Playing combinations of scramble and worst ball with myself was one of the ways I was able to improve in the game.  I will sometimes throw a ball or two into a bunker and take some practice shots.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I probably play one third of my rounds alone. They generally are nine holes in the evening. I enjoy playing in a twosome but prefer not to play in a foursome. I don't really enjoy having to wait for others to hit their shots. When I do play in a four ball, I will only play with guys who play quickly and don't care if I watch their shots. I absolutely hate what you might call social golf. I get enough time with people on my job. Give me one good friend on an uncrowded course and I am a happy camper.

[Mark Luckhardt]

I would have to say 75% of my golf is on the solitare side.
I just slip out to a local 9 holer with my hickories that has sand greens and little play.

This time alone on the course helps me free up the mind and think through any issues dogging me at the time.

[Wade Whitehead]

There's nothing quite like a solo game of worst ball as the sun drops in the sky.

WW

[Garland Bayley]

Careful you guys. Barney labels your kind douche bags.

[Joe Grasty]

I haven't played alone in quite a while, but when I first started to play golf a few years ago, I was a frequent solitary golfer. One of my favorite rounds was at Arizona National in Tucson a few years ago. I'd never played a desert course before, so I was quite excited to be there.  I played on a Sunday afternoon in mid-September on a nearly deserted golf course. There were a few University of Arizona golfers out on the course (ye gods, could they pound the ball) and they played so fast that I didn't have to ask to play through.  The day was perfect, almost no wind, warm and sunny.  I didn't play particularly well, but I didn't care, because the day was so peaceful and the course so beautiful.  There were desert animals everywhere: wild pigs, snakes, hawks, woodpeckers, lizards, even a coyote.  The course climbs up and down the mountains north of Tucson, and at the top, you could see the whole valley that Tucson occupies.  And I loved that 18th hole, the tee perched way up the side of the mountain and smashing a hybrid farther than I usually hit a driver.  Three hours of perfect golf.

[Jud_T]

I've got a good story in this vein that a few of you may have heard but is worth recounting here.  A few years ago I had arranged a game at Lost Dunes at the tail end of the season.  Well, as the day approached my playing partner had a work conflict and couldn't make it.  As I had never seen the course and the season was essentially ending, I decided to head up myself anyway.  The weather was also conspiring against me.  Low 40's, windy with an on and off drizzle.  But I was determined.  I figured out my best layered ensemble to fight the elements which still allowed me to make a decent pass at the ball and headed out.  The pro was surprised when I showed up in those conditions in early November.  Nobody else had seen fit to make the effort.  And by nobody, I mean NOBODY.  After the front nine, he asked if I needed anything and said he was taking off as I was the only guy on the property and told me to just let myself out when I was finished.  So I literally had the place to myself the entire afternoon.  I got 27 in, finishing with a birdie on 18 with a light cold rain stinging my cheek.  One of the best days ever.