[Mike Hendren]

Thought this might deserve its own thread. 

I started playing the game at 12 on a 9-holer where the family dues were $15/month.  No other kids took up the game and I was a one-man golf team through my senior year of high school.  I had to get permission to enter the bar to accept my two men’s championship trophies before I turned 18.  I was welcome to join my dad’s group on the weekends – a retired postman, the president of the bank and an elderly gentlemen who owned the Ben Franklin Five & Dime on the square.  But 90% of my rounds were played solo – that’s all I knew.

While I can be the life of the party (as some here might attest) it’s all an act that I’ve grown tired of playing.  I’m very comfortable by myself, whether at lunch or on the golf course.  That’s who I am.  If given the opportunity, I prefer to play golf solo, particularly when visiting a new course.  Just glancing through my list I’ve played the following courses as a single:  Cape Arundal, Yale, Streamsong Blue and Red, Sunningdale Old and New, Walton Heath Old, The Eden, Beverly, Blue Mound, Brora, Castle Stuart, CC of Troy, Mimosa Hills, Omaha CC, Ozaukee, Pine Hills, Wild Horse, Fenway, French Lick Hill, Kilspindie, Linville, Miami Valley, Prairie Club Pines, Royal St. George’s, Yeaman’s Hall and Yahnandasis.  Among others. 

The world’s a noisy place (enemy-occupied territory according to C. S. Lewis) and the golf course is a great escape.  I like to clear my head and think about a myriad of topics uninterrupted – a detox if you will.    I also like to carry a pocket full of balls and hit abundant mulligans and pitch shots since I don't play much anymore.   Lately, I like not having to excuse away my incredible ineptness.  Otherwise I cannot force myself to accept my incompetence without feeling compelled to verbalize an excuse.  Par’s a good enough opponent, though now I require him to spot me a stroke a hole. I like setting my own pace and don’t mind waiting on a group in front of me – I try to go to great lengths not to push them. 

That said, it has always been wonderful to tee it up with you guys - just incredible times.

Cheers.

[John Kavanaugh]

It would have been a better thread if you had it written long hand on a piece of paper and put it in your desk for no one else to see.

[Mike Hendren]

Thanks Barn! What took you so long?  With apologies to Voltaire I have printed a copy of your post and am taking it to the smallest room in the house. Soon it will be in front of me, then behind me.

[John Kavanaugh]

Thanks, I had never heard of Voltaire but must say that he lived a long time for being such a smartass.

[Kalen Braley]

Bogey,

I was initially thinking of that dude in the machine from Big, but his name is Zoltar...

P.S.  Barney, take a load off on the chaise lounge.  Whats the first thing that comes to mind when you think of singles on the course?

[Michael Whitaker]

Masturbation can be satisfying too, Bogey, but I don't think it truly qualifies as "sex."

Solo golf is golf-masturbation.

[Pete_Pittock]

Most of my golf trips have been solo, or mostly solo tied into a GCA event or special outing. Mostly before GCA was born. No wonder I feel spent after an exhilarating round.Not a talkative person, so that checks one box. Hard to have a roommate after they put up a bout of my snoring. Sort of a mano a mano experience.


Won't provide a list but probably a few under 100 outside the us and an equal number within.

[Peter Flory]

Solo golf is golf-masturbation.

I'd hate to know what you call it when you golf with your buddies. 

[John Kavanaugh]

I find it troubling that when we live in a time where we struggle with human interaction someone would celebrate playing golf alone. When you take it to the extreme and imagine 18 holes with 54 individual golfers all playing as singles it becomes quite sad. Hey, at least it's outside, for now.

[Michael Whitaker]

Solo golf is golf-masturbation.

I'd hate to know what you call it when you golf with your buddies.

I call it playing golf. Golf is not a verb.

[Scott Sander]

I'm great with strangers but often surly to family and friends.
Yes, a real peach.
Heading out alone from time to time is pretty much a win/win/win.

That, and...
My work life runs at odd hours, and it's all bright lights and loud noises.  I take peace whenever I can grab it.  Often, that's late morning, when the course is still largely empty and only the squirrels can hear my irons clack. 

That, and...
The kids get off the bus at 2:40, and I enjoy them more than donating $20 in the choose-up.

[Mike Sweeney]

I live in the middle of about 12 million people. I had a meeting on Long Island last week, and it was 52 degrees, windy and cold at 320 PM when I hit Bethpage Yellow:





I had a new driver (see fitting thread) that I wanted to test on the course by myself. It was awesome. I banged the driver and texted the son who is 50 yards past me, "I am back"!! I am sure that the next time I play with GCAers, the new expensive driver will not work - and that's golf!!

Stop picking on Bogey, he has Cape A in his "Top 10 Experiences" (or similar) and he gave me his Maine lobster count from his trip. He is doing just fine. Bogey asked me to play Yale with him, and I just could not swing it that day.

I love golf, and Bogey is one of the more interesting characters to post here. Let's celebrate golf and Bogey.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Thanks, I had never heard of Voltaire but must say that he lived a long time for being such a smartass.

Yet your participation on here is living proof of the importance of his thinking (at least to Ran).
Summed up (by another).


"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."


Good for you Bogey I doubt you'll spend any time on your next round worrying about the naysayers. I've been thinking a lot about this recently and plan to get back to some solo rounds next year. They have a valuable place in the wide world that is golf.

[Jud_T]

Bogey,


I agree wholeheartedly.  There is something quite meditative and zen-like about playing quickly by yourself.  Love it.

[JC Jones]

Solo golf is golf-masturbation.

I'd hate to know what you call it when you golf with your buddies.

I call it playing golf. Golf is not a verb.

Precisely.

[JC Jones]

Bogey,


I agree wholeheartedly.  There is something quite meditative and zen-like about playing quickly by yourself.  Love it.

In your case, its not a choice.

[Jim Nugent]

Golf is not a verb.

Merriam Webster, Dictionary.com and the Oxford Dictionaries all disagree with you.

Bogey, I hope you ignore the self-appointed culture cops.  Golf whenever, wherever you want, with whomever you choose.   

[John Foley]

Amen Bogey!


If I didn't play alone when I am on the road I'd missed a crazy # of great places.


Hope to get out a few more times before winter sets it - and after reading this now I can't wait!

[JC Jones]

Golf is not a verb.

Merriam Webster, Dictionary.com and the Oxford Dictionaries all disagree with you.

Bogey, I hope you ignore the self-appointed culture cops.  Golf whenever, wherever you want, with whomever you choose.

A dictionary is a registry, not a promulgator.

[Kalen Braley]

Its barely November and the sniping has already commenced...usually this stuff dont pop up till Feb or March when the cold state peeps are getting antsy.


That said, in the grand scheme of things, playing golf alone has gotta be way down the list of what ills society.  Sorry Barney, you need to take up a different cause...

[John Kavanaugh]

I play a lot alone, I get it. I just don't remember ever going off the first tee when someone in the bar or practice area wouldn't have enjoyed an invite. It's selfish. Guilty, guilty, guilty.


I am however proud to say that I have never played through another group as a single. I just find another hole. Being played through by a single is like having someone you know interrupt your dinner and ask if he can taste your dessert. Don't hover. If we wanted to watch you eat or hit a golf shot we would have asked you to pull up a chair.


As long as you insist on interacting with other golfers you are not truly playing alone.

[Kalen Braley]

John,


I think those are excellent points.  Typically when I play as a single, its almost always a slow time of day or cold out when the course has several empty holes.  But even when its not the group ahead will often wave me thru even thou i'm perfectly fine playing at their pace.


But I play 95%+ of my golf at public courses, so there could be a cultural issue as opposed to private clubs...

[Evan Fleisher]

Bogey,


I agree wholeheartedly.  There is something quite meditative and zen-like about playing quickly by yourself.  Love it.

What he said!!!  I too am a lover of solo golf.  I enjoy the time alone and peace of doing my own thing.  Although I too enjoy the company of others...sometimes "alone time" is just what the doctor ordered.

[Pete_Pittock]

and you can play as well or poorly because, in the US, the score is not postable.

[Dan Smoot]

Most of my golf trips have been solo, or mostly solo tied into a GCA event or special outing. Mostly before GCA was born. No wonder I feel spent after an exhilarating round.Not a talkative person, so that checks one box. Hard to have a roommate after they put up a bout of my snoring. Sort of a mano a mano experience.


Won't provide a list but probably a few under 100 outside the us and an equal number within.

A funny moment.  I was playing golf alone which I enjoy.  A friend in another group spotted me and veered in my direction.  He walked right up to me and said "I see you are playing with all your friends".  I was a little stunned but thought it was very funny.  He must have been waiting to say that to someone.  I had never heard that one before.

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