I work crazy hours so I often play golf alone. I just started to take the iPod to the course to keep me company. I sometimes play 2 balls against eachother to keep things interesting. Anyone rock the iPod or do silly things to keep the focus when playing alone?

That sounds like a good way to get yourself hit in the face with a speeding golf ball without any warning.

Yes I do, but I always only use one earbud.

I switch ears out every couple of songs to keep from going deaf in one ear.

The last thing I want is to get clocked because I didn't hear someone yell FORE.

I don't always listen to the iPod; Often I like to just take in the quiet afternoon air. But if it's rainy or I'm just in the mood I will take it out with me on the course - this is usually when I am playing practice on the course - not keeping score, practicing recovery shots with more than one ball.

I actually like to listen to audiobooks even more than music.

Always. But the volume isn't so loud that I can't carry on a conversation or hear what's going on around me. I remember watching the Champions Tour clinic show on TGC a few nights ago with John Cook saying how he's "always got a song"...even without the ipod, I find that I'll sing to myself when I'm addressing the ball. Keeps me relaxed.

I watch tv and then commercials come on and the audio jumps up ten decibels and I cringe.
I am stuck in traffic in my car and realize the music has gone from fun to irritating.
Music, commercials, media etc bombard us.

...when i am playing golf I want to hear nothing but the squirrels, cdn geese and the birds....I leave the ipod to the gym.....not to mention the safety aspect. Covering one ear is still going to make sounds coming from a fairway over on that side...more difficult to hear. NOpe...ipod on range? maybe...saw a pro on golf channel yesterday touting that...but on the course?....nature.

One ear of course, and I keep my eyes open and know who's playing around me. I just took it with me recently, but play without it more than I do with it so I can enjoy natures plentiful goodness. I also produce and dj music, so it gives me some alone time to review some work while still getting some time in on the course.

wow, you honestly just described exactly what I do. I play the i-pod and then sometimes when there is absolutly nobody on the course i will play two balls against each other. I also sometimes will play one ball from the Tip/Pro tees and the other from the ladies tee just for fun. It makes you feel good when your -6 or -7 on your lady ball. Haha.

I have enough going on in my brain on the course that I don't need the ipod, I've never even contemplated using it out there

when I'm running on the other hand, it's an absolute necessity

I play with my ipod on all of the time.

When people are anywhere nearby I just loosen one of the ear bud a bit so I can her any FORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRE!

if its an important round, i always use my iPod on the range.

but never on the course. too scared that i will be hit. already been hit 3 times so i'm happy to sacrifice my tunes for my body.

I tried it once on the range and just couldn't concentrate. not the iPod's fault, but still I need the help I can get, know what I mean. On the other hand, maybe I should "let go" and let the mind and body just flow with the music.

I do it all the time during practise play, it's just something i've done for a few years now. But, it's kinda a pain when someone (on another hole) tries to say something and you end up not hearing what he/she said, and you don't wana come over as not being polite, sucks sometimes.

I use my Ipod all the time especially when I am playing. I feel more relaxed and at ease when I'm listening to some music. Something about the beat of the music that keeps me zoned in on being relaxed. I always use it at the range as well. I played in a tourney outside of the states that allowed me to use my Ipod while playing and I played great!!!

Rocking the iPod on the course here too, but only when I'm alone... but I'd rather to play with somebody than having my iPod on...

Jay

P.S. I enjoy some good Hip-Hop/R&B songs on the course

I couldn't do it I don't think, headphones anyway I need to hear the club making contact to play well...or at least I think..never tried it though. I got paired with a guy playing twilight this summer who brought his iPod and a little set of speakers and played music in between shots, sometimes during shots, and long waits on the tees. It was actually not too bad...I could seem myself doing that during twilight hours.

I wear a pair of oakley thump's when i play golf alone and its works great. Unlike an i-pod there are no cables.

Those are cool...do they work well?


I run the cable down my back under my shirt. It's like it's not even there...just a tip for anyone not already doing this

All the time.

Usually, just a bit of chillout/indie rock or something of that genre.

Thrash metal or Drum and Bass is a bit of a no-no.

Anything that helps me to chill out and focus is good for me!

I never thought about using an iPod until reading about it here awhile back. I found it useful while on the range & practice green so I took it to the course, when I'm solo. The music (only Pennywise when on the GC) tends to make me really focus on the game and at times I can't remember what the last song was. I also like it for drowning out the wind noise on those brutally windy days.

can't see using an Ipod, I like to relax and try to take deep breaths, look at the course, and hear the sounds of nature immediately before I hit a drive (which is followed by my cursing overcoming the sounds of nature when I hook one into a pond).

On the other hand, I will compete 2 balls against each other. Never done it from different tees though. The only problem I have is when playing 2 from the tee, and you birdie one and bogey the other, which one to count? I have kept 2 scores and put my best down on one line and worst on the other and seen what I am capable of in either direction, I have averaged the 2 balls, and I have also played 2 different brands and played Cally against Titleist.

I will also use it as a practice round when the course is wide open and hit 3 or 4 balls out of fairway bunkers, greenside bunkers, drives, etc just for real time practice.

don't even own an ipod.
i'm 25.

Deffinitely on a round alone, if I dont rock the ipod I would talk to myself , and that just looks weird to some.
Also BTW if you like playing a game against yourself, play a worst ball scramble. Just like a regular scramble hit two balls but play the worst shot each time. It makes you super consistent, ( sucks when you roll a 20" putt in and then have to do it again to count it!). if you break 80 you played one hell of a round!!

To answer the question about the Oakleys i LOVE them. I used to use an ipod but now it just sits in my car. The thumos are awesome because like a said before there are NO cables the only draw back is the amount of music they can hold but when you have music that you like and only play golf for at MOST 4 hours if your alone then i never hear the same song twice.

I HIGHLY recomend them 1,000,000% lol

I am 30 and I own 3 and my wife has 1. 1 for workouts, one for golf, and one for he car for me. I have a 30gb and 2 8gb including the newest one that is curved around the sides! I can not live without my ipod.

Most def rock the Ipod on the course when playing alone! Also have a small set of speakers I set up sometimes when there is no one else out on the course. Its sooo relaxing to me, walk a golf course, listen to your favorite music, and play your favorite game, its just peaceful. Id much rather play a 2.5 hour round rockin to my ipod late one afternoon by myself, then a 5.5 hour round on a weekend with 3 guys who are playing army golf all over the course!

Id highly recommend the Ipod thing, keeps something else on your mind, other than getting frustrated, or too many swing thoughts etc.!

when i play alone i play as two different players. one ball i only play agressive. driver off every par 4 or five, try to cut every corner possible and shoot at every flag and give all putts a run. the other ball ill play as if i was in a big time tournament and need to post a good score. ill play safer off the tee and play to center of the greens and think of the comebacker with putts. its fun to see who wins- the aggressive or the safe.