Last Updated on April 17, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
Golf is almost always played by a group of four people. It’s rare to find a solo golfer at most courses. I’ll be honest with you: I love playing golf by myself. I wouldn’t want to do it all the time, but I find it to be a great way to get better at golf. As a golf professional, I’ll show you what I do when I play golf by myself when you should consider doing this, and clear up any of those questions like: can you play golf by yourself?
Is It Ok To Play Golf By Yourself?
Playing golf by yourself is within the rules of the game and can be a great way to practice. Being a solo player on the golf course takes a little bit of preparation and understanding.
However, once you have this down, you may find that scheduling a solo round of golf is something that you want to do more often. There is one caveat to playing golf alone that you should be aware of. Your score is not going to count.
Does My Golf Score Count If I Play Golf Alone?
When you play golf by yourself, you do not have anyone to review your scoring. The USGA and World Handicap System say that single players must have someone with them if they want their score to count towards their handicap. This process is called peer review, and it is covered in rule 2.1 of golf handicapping.
For a 9-hole score to be posted, you must have someone with you for at least 7 holes. This can be a caddy or a friend riding along in the cart with you. You won’t have to be with playing partners who are also playing their round.
When playing 18 holes of golf, you must have someone with you for at least 14 holes.
It’s a shame that the USGA doesn’t trust us to keep our own score when playing golf solo.
However, to keep things fair, it’s understandable. Let’s face it: many amateur golfers don’t do a very good job keeping score even when four people are in the group.
Benefits of Playing Golf Alone
As I said, I love playing golf alone. I learned a lot about my golf game, and I can practice shots. The USGA rule of not being able to count my score doesn’t really bother me. When I play by myself, I look at it as more of on-course practice and player development.
Here are some of the benefits I find to playing golf alone.
- It’s easier to concentrate and improve your skills
- No distractions and pretty stress-free (turn the phone off!)
- Choose your own pace as long as the golf course allows
- Take some practice shots, try different angles and various positions
- Enjoy some alone time
- Hit that shot over the water, go for a green in two, and see if you can do it
- Track some data and stats about your game
- Learn weaknesses
- Practice concepts you can’t when playing with others
Negatives of Playing Golf Alone
Golf is a social game. Even when you go to the driving range, you will likely strike up a conversation with another golfer and start to learn about them, maybe even going to play a few holes. When you play golf alone, it’s a much different feel on the course.
There is no small talk, nobody to say “great shot,” and nobody to make fun of you when you hit 3 balls in the water. If you are going to miss all those things, solo golf may not be great for you.
Here are a few of the negatives of playing golf alone.
- If the golf course is filled with people, you will wait ALOT
- You can’t count your round
- If you hit a bad shot, there is nobody to spot it for you and help you find your ball
- Playing through can be a bit of a pain (see below)
- Some courses do require you to join up with other players
Can A Single Golfer Play Through The Group Ahead of Them?
It is typically considered common courtesy to let any group that is playing faster play through. However, for a single, this can be a bit tricky. Let’s say it’s a typical morning at a golf course, and the tee sheet is stacked one group after the next. For a single golfer to play through is tricky. Once they make it through one group, they will hit another, etc.
If, however, there is a large gap in front of a foursome and a single is coming up behind, go ahead and let the golfer through.
For singles, if your score is not going to count and you are just out there to hit some shots, you can always ask a group if you can skip a hole or go around them, as you are just working on your own game.
The foursome does have the right of way on the golf course, so if you are a single golfer, you may want to head out there in the early mornings or late afternoons when there are few people on the golf course.
Best Strategies for Playing Golf Alone
If you are ready to get out there and play some golf on your own, there are a few tips I’ll share with you. When I was a PGA Professional, I would jump on a golf cart after work and play golf by myself quite often. Here are the things I learned about the best way to do this.
If It’s Busy – Walk
If you are playing alone for the first time and it’s during a time of day when there are a lot of golfers on the course, go ahead and walk. Walking the course may slow down your overall pace of play a bit and make it more manageable.
In addition, you will have some more time to focus and enjoy being outside. Riding in a golf cart just isn’t the same.
Don’t Keep Score (Or Keep Double Score)
You have two options for scoring. One is to just forget about your score because you can’t count it towards your handicap anyway. The second is to play two golf balls and keep score on both. Different shots will come up, and you really almost get two rounds for the price of one.
You won’t play in record time, but you can learn a lot and see how course management decisions affect each shot.
Try A Different Strategy
If you always bogey on the 17th hole, why not try a new strategy?
You can hit shots from different areas during your solo rounds and see what they do for you.
One example is when I took the driver out of the bag and played 18 holes with just my 5 wood from the tee. I shot the same score I always do, but I learned a lot of different shots, I had to get up and down a bit more, and it was good for my game.
Give this a try the next time you are playing alone. You may be surprised by the number of good shots you are capable of hitting.
Take Notes
I like to take notes when I play golf alone.
Maybe it’s a swing thought I had or just a concept I discovered about my game, but writing these things down can help with player improvement.
When playing with a foursome, golf becomes so much more of a social sport. It’s hard to have the time to take notes and really focus on playing better golf.
Seize the opportunity when you are alone.
Avoid Peak Times
Stay away from the golf course during peak times. Not only are you going to play slow, but there is a good chance you will get paired up with another player.
Getting paired up is good if you want to meet new people, but it’s not ideal when working on practice swings, extra shots, and game development.
Check Your Gear
This last tip may seem like a simple one, but it can become an issue. When you play golf alone, make sure you count your clubs a little more often. Sometimes, when enjoying this fast play and zipping around the course, you forget a wedge around the greens.
With a group of players, somebody usually sees it, but when you are by yourself, you may miss it.
How Do You Not Get Paired Up In Golf?
Getting paired up with new players in golf can be a problem. If you want to play golf on your own at a public course, make sure you go very late in the day and ask the golf shot if it’s possible that you don’t get paired up.
At a private club, it’s common to ask to play by yourself. Simply ask the staff and let them know you want the entire tee time.
As long as it’s not a Saturday or Sunday morning, you probably won’t have a hard time getting this to work out.
Public courses make all their revenue by filling every single tee slot with as many people as they can. With single golfers, you just don’t have much of a say unless you are playing on an off day at a time that isn’t popular.
If you are really set on playing single golf, you may have to purchase all four slots of that tee time. This has been done before, and the golf course won’t stop you, as their main goal is the revenue they need to produce that day.
Is It Weird To Play Golf Alone?
It may be considered a bit weird to play golf alone if you are doing it every time. However, if you run out for a quick round on your own here and there, it’s not weird at all. In fact, it’s a good idea if you want to shoot lower scores and enjoy some practice sessions on the course instead of the driving range.
If you want to make sure you don’t get paired up with another golfer in front or behind you, make sure you have something prepared to say when you get the invite.
Typically, letting another golfer know that you are just trying to work on your game should be enough to guarantee you get your solo golf round.
Any golf enthusiast would understand.
Final Thoughts
The first time I played golf by myself, I learned what it truly means to play on the golf course. I hit a drive down the middle, stuck an iron shot, and then made a tap-in putt for birdie. Nobody was out there to say anything or to go +1 on. Just me and the golf course. It’s a unique feeling and something that can bring you back to the reason you love the game of golf. I suggest playing golf alone if you get the chance.
