Opinion & Analysis
The 10 best things about playing golf alone
A rarity in sports, golf can be properly played and thoroughly enjoyed when utterly alone.
There is something alluring — romantic even — about heading to your local course and playing 18 holes by yourself. It’s a silent battle, just you and the course slugging it out away from prying eyes. It’s a chance to do things your way.
In praise of the solo round, here’s a list of the 10 best things about playing alone. Feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments section.
No. 1: Fast Play
Solitary golfers can play fast, because they aren’t forced to waste time watching someone else play.
As a single, there is no waiting for your playing partner to hit, no need to remain greenside while he or she putts out and certainly no protracted search for that ProV1 that was sliced into the woods.
If you’re alone, you can easily tear around the course in under 3 hours (as long as there’s no one ahead of you). Just hit your ball, find it and hit it again. It’s a beautiful thing.
No. 2: Choosing Your Own Rhythm
When playing in a group, the rhythm of your round is at the mercy of your playing partners. If they are constantly whiffing and shanking, it’s difficult to establish a consistent cadence in your own game. On the other hand, you might feel rushed if you’re hitting more shots than your partners on every hole.
Playing by yourself allows you control your rhythm. Each shot can be studied, hit and assessed in your own time. Better still, the time between shots is relatively uniform, because you‘re always away. This constant, steady tempo undoubtedly helps you focus your mind and shoot lower scores.
Smart solo players can also manipulate the momentum of their round. When you’re playing well, you can easily continue at your current pace. When you’re playing poorly, you can take an extra few minutes on the next tee, or even hit a couple of practice balls, o help reset the momentum of the round and get your game back on track.
No. 3: Practice Opportunities
The fast pace of solo golf — together with the absence of other people — provides the perfect opportunity for on-course practice. If you want to work on a particular shot, you can simply drop some extra balls and swing away.
By hitting real shots on a real course in real conditions, you’re engaging in valuable game-specific training which cannot be simulated at the range or anywhere else.
No. 4: Real Integrity
When you’re all alone on the golf course, you can theoretically cheat as much as you want. No one will ever know.
So when you do the right thing and play every ball as it lies, call penalties on yourself and refuse to give yourself that slippery three-footer, there’s a higher level of integrity involved. In short, you’ll be able to look in the mirror with pride, no matter what you score. Playing by the rules will help you become a better golfer too.
No. 5: No Temptation to Outdo, Impress or Emulate Partners
Let’s face it; we all love to hit the longest drive or shoot the lowest score in our group. Most golfers carry the macho man gene, which leads them to compete against other players rather than themselves or the course. While this instinct can be a good motivator, it can also lead to some poor decisions and wasted strokes.
Playing alone eliminates the desire to outdo, impress or emulate anyone else. You can stick to your own strategy without any temptation to match others. Your scorecard will thank you.
No. 6: Fewer Nerves
We’ve all encountered the dreaded first tee jitters: shaky hands, dry mouth, inability to tee your ball and a million conflicting swing thoughts.
If you think back to times of nervousness (or even fear) on the golf course, I’d wager every one of them occurred in the company of people whose approval or acceptance mattered to you. It’s simply human nature.
When there’s no one around to judge or evaluate you, you’ll generally be looser, freer and more relaxed. In this optimal state, you’re more likely to play well and get a glimpse of your potential as a golfer.
No. 7: Play Your Way
It’s often awkward when you want to play from a certain set of tees, but a playing partner wants to play from another. Either someone yields and ends up playing from tees that don’t match their ability, or the players use separate tees and chaos ensues as everyone tries to decide who should have the honor.
The same principle applies when you want to ride but your buddy wants to walk, or vice-versa. Either someone caves and opts for a non-preferred mode of transport, or you both stick to your guns and play at wildly different paces for the entire round.
These dilemmas are completely avoided when you’re by yourself. Simply choose the tees you want, choose your preferred mode of transport and away you go.
No. 8: Spontaneity
Solo golfers are the masters of the spontaneous round. If you’re happy to play without company, you can head straight to the course whenever the mood strikes. No need to book tee times or work around anyone else’s schedule. Just go!
Once you’re on the course, you can go wherever your heart takes you. You’d prefer to play the back nine instead of the front? No problem. There’s a slow group on No. 6? You can skip ahead to No. 8 without having to seek anyone’s consent. You’re tired after 15 holes? Just walk in.
No. 9: Score However You Want
Some days you want to work on your game or just enjoy the experience of playing golf without worrying about the scorecard. Playing alone provides the ideal environment for doing just that. If you don’t want to think about shooting a number, you don’t have to.
If you must have competition or scorecard pressure, you’ve got plenty of options. You can score a traditional round of stroke play, or drop two balls and play one against the other, or perhaps use two or more balls for a round of best ball. The choice is yours.
No. 10: No Banal Banter
Playing on your own obviates the necessity to keep saying “nice shot” and, worse still, “hard luck.”
You don’t have to feign interest in your playing partner’s vacation plans, views on popular culture, marital woes or latest swing thought. You also don’t need to share your life story or engage in pointless small talk. You’re liberated to focus solely on whatever you want, whether that’s your swing, strategy, the scenery or whatever else floats your boat.
For some, golf will always be a social experience, where playing the game is equal or secondary to forming friendships with playing partners on the course or at the 19th hole. While the social side of golf is a definite drawcard, the benefits of playing alone should be considered too.
If you’ve never tried a solo round, get out there and have a go at the next opportunity. You might just discover a new passion.
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s LIV Golf Singapore betting preview: Course specialist ready to thrive once again
After another strong showing in Australia, LIV Golf will head to Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore looking to build off of what was undoubtedly their best event to date.
Sentosa Golf Club sits on the southern tip of Singapore and is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The course is more than just incredible scenically; it was also rated 55th in Golf Digest’s top-100 courses in 2022-2023 and has been consistently regarded as one of the best courses in Asia. Prior to being part of the LIV rotation, the course hosted the Singapore Open every year since 2005.
Sentosa Golf Club is a par 71 measuring 7,406 yards. The course will require precise ball striking and some length off the tee. It’s possible to go low due to the pristine conditions, but there are also plenty of hazards and difficult spots on the course that can bring double bogey into play in a hurry. The Bermudagrass greens are perfectly manicured, and the course has spent millions on the sub-air system to keep the greens rolling fast. I spoke to Asian Tour player, Travis Smyth, who described the greens as “the best [he’s] ever played.”
Davis Love III, who competed in a Singapore Open in 2019, also gushed over the condition of the golf course.
“I love the greens. They are fabulous,” the 21-time PGA Tour winner said.
Love III also spoke about other aspects of the golf course.
“The greens are great; the fairways are perfect. It is a wonderful course, and it’s tricky off the tee.”
“It’s a long golf course, and you get some long iron shots. It takes somebody hitting it great to hit every green even though they are big.”
As Love III said, the course can be difficult off the tee due to the length of the course and the trouble looming around every corner. It will take a terrific ball striking week to win at Sentosa Golf Club.
In his pre-tournament press conference last season, Phil Mickelson echoed many of the same sentiments.
“To play Sentosa effectively, you’re going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full 6-, 7-, 8-iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well.”
Golfers who excel from tee to green and can dial in their longer irons will have a massive advantage this week.
Stat Leaders at LIV Golf Adelaide:
Fairways Hit
1.) Louis Oosthuizen
2.) Anirban Lahiri
3.) Jon Rahm
4.) Brendan Steele
5.) Cameron Tringale
Greens in Regulation
1.) Brooks Koepka
2.) Brendan Steele
3.) Dean Burmester
4.) Cameron Tringale
5.) Anirban Lahiri
Birdies Made
1.) Brendan Steele
2.) Dean Burmester
3.) Thomas Pieters
4.) Patrick Reed
5.) Carlos Ortiz
LIV Golf Individual Standings:
1.) Joaquin Niemann
2.) Jon Rahm
3.) Dean Burmester
4.) Louis Oosthuizen
5.) Abraham Ancer
LIV Golf Team Standings:
1.) Crushers
2.) Legion XIII
3.) Torque
4.) Stinger GC
5.) Ripper GC
LIV Golf Singapore Picks
Sergio Garcia +3000 (DraftKings)
Sergio Garcia is no stranger to Sentosa Golf Club. The Spaniard won the Singapore Open in 2018 by five strokes and lost in a playoff at LIV Singapore last year to scorching hot Talor Gooch. Looking at the course setup, it’s no surprise that a player like Sergio has played incredible golf here. He’s long off the tee and is one of the better long iron players in the world when he’s in form. Garcia is also statistically a much better putter on Bermudagrass than he is on other putting surfaces. He’s putt extremely well on Sentosa’s incredibly pure green complexes.
This season, Garcia has two runner-up finishes, both of them being playoff losses. Both El Camaleon and Doral are courses he’s had success at in his career. The Spaniard is a player who plays well at his tracks, and Sentosa is one of them. I believe Sergio will get himself in the mix this week. Hopefully the third time is a charm in Singapore.
Paul Casey +3300 (FanDuel)
Paul Casey is in the midst of one of his best seasons in the five years or so. The results recently have been up and down, but he’s shown that when he’s on a golf course that suits his game, he’s amongst the contenders.
This season, Casey has finishes of T5 (LIV Las Vegas), T2 (LIV Hong Kong), and a 6th at the Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour. At his best, the Englishman is one of the best long iron players in the world, which makes him a strong fit for Sentosa. Despite being in poor form last season, he was able to fire a Sunday 63, which shows he can low here at the course.
It’s been three years since Casey has won a tournament (Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2021), but he’s been one of the top players on LIV this season and I think he can get it done at some point this season.
Mito Pereira +5000 (Bet365)
Since Mito Pereira’s unfortunate demise at the 2022 PGA Championship, he’s been extremely inconsistent. However, over the past few months, the Chilean has played well on the International Series as well as his most recent LIV start. Mito finished 8th at LIV Adelaide, which was his best LIV finish this season.
Last year, Pereira finished 5th at LIV Singapore, shooting fantastic rounds of 67-66-66. It makes sense why Mito would like Sentosa, as preeminent ball strikers tend to rise to the challenge of the golf course. He’s a great long iron player who is long and straight off the tee.
Mito has some experience playing in Asia and is one of the most talented players on LIV who’s yet to get in the winner’s circle. I have questions about whether or not he can come through once in contention, but if he gets there, I’m happy to roll the dice.
Andy Ogletree +15000 (DraftKings)
Andy Ogletree is a player I expected to have a strong 2024 but struggled early in his first full season on LIV. After failing to crack the top-25 in any LIV event this year, the former U.S. Amateur champion finally figured things out, finished in a tie for 3rd at LIV Adelaide.
Ogletree should be incredible comfortable playing in Singapore. He won the International Series Qatar last year and finished T3 at the International Series Singapore. The 26-year-old was arguably the best player on the Asian Tour in 2023 and has been fantastic in the continent over the past 18 months.
If Ogletree has indeed found form, he looks to be an amazing value at triple-digit odds.
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In Tampa, there is a golf course that boasts carts that do not work, a water range, and a group of players none of which have any chance to break 80. The course is overseen by a staff of crusty men who have succeeded at nothing in life but ending up at the worst-run course in America. However, this place is no failure. With several other local courses going out of business — and boasting outstanding greens — the place is booked full.
While I came for the great greens, I stayed to watch our resident instructor; a poor-tempered, method teacher who caters to the hopeless. At first, it was simply hilarious. However, after months of listening and watching, something clicked. I realized I had a front-row seat to the worst golf instructor in America.
Here are some of my key takeaways.
Method Teacher
It is widely accepted that there are three types of golf instructors: system teachers, non-system teachers, and method teachers. Method teachers prescribe the same antidote for each student based on a preamble which teachers can learn in a couple day certification.
Method teaching allows anyone to be certified. This process caters to the lowest caliber instructor, creating the illusion of competency. This empowers these underqualified instructors with the moniker of “certified” to prey on the innocent and uninformed.
The Cult of Stack and Jilt
The Stack and Tilt website proudly boasts, “A golfer swings his hands inward in the backswing as opposed to straight back to 1) create power, similar to a field goal kicker moving his leg in an arc and 2) to promote a swing that is in-to-out, which produces a draw (and eliminates a slice).”
Now, let me tell you something, there is this law of the universe which says “energy can either be created or destroyed,” so either these guys are defying physics or they have no idea what they are taking about. Further, the idea that the first move of the backswing determines impact is conjecture with a splash of utter fantasy.
These are the pontifications of a method — a set of prescriptions applied to everyone with the hope of some success through the placebo effect. It is one thing for a naive student to believe, for a golf instructor to drink and then dispel this Kool-Aid is malpractice.
Fooled by Randomness
In flipping a coin, or even a March Madness bet, there is a 50-50 chance of success. In golf, especially for new players, results are asymmetric. Simply put: Anything can happen. The problem is that when bad instructors work with high handicappers, each and every shot gets its own diagnosis and prescription. Soon the student is overwhelmed.
Now here’s the sinister thing: The overwhelming information is by design. In this case, the coach is not trying to make you better, they are trying to make you reliant on them for information. A quasi Stockholm syndrome of codependency.
Practice
One of the most important scientists of the 20th century was Ivan Pavlov. As you might recall, he found that animals, including humans, could be conditioned into biological responses. In golf, the idea of practice has made millions of hackers salivate that they are one lesson or practice session from “the secret.”
Sunk Cost
The idea for the worst golf instructor is to create control and dependency so that clients ignore the sunk cost of not getting better. Instead, they are held hostage by the idea that they are one lesson or tip away from unlocking their potential.
Cliches
Cliches have the effect of terminating thoughts. However, they are the weapon of choice for this instructor. Add some hyperbole and students actually get no information. As a result, these players couldn’t play golf. When they did, they had no real scheme. With no idea what they are doing, they would descend into a spiral of no idea what to do, bad results, lower confidence, and running back to the lesson tee from more cliches.
The fact is that poor instruction is about conditioning players to become reliant members of your cult. To take away autonomy. To use practice as a form of control. To sell more golf lessons not by making people better but through the guise that without the teacher, the student can never reach their full potential. All under the umbrella of being “certified” (in a 2-day course!) and a melee of cliches.
This of course is not just happening at my muni but is a systemic problem around the country and around the world, the consequences of which are giving people a great reason to stop playing golf. But hey, at least it’s selling a lot of golf balls…
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The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.
TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn’t make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.
Coming off of the Masters and a signature event in consecutive weeks, the field this week is a step down, and understandably so. Many of the world’s top players will be using this time to rest after a busy stretch.
However, there are some interesting teams this season with some stars making surprise appearances in the team event. Some notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala as well as a few Canadian teams, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners.
Past Winners at TPC Louisiana
- 2023: Riley/Hardy (-30)
- 2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
- 2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
- 2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
- 2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
- 2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)
2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks
Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy +2500 (DraftKings)
Tom Hoge is coming off of a solid T18 finish at the RBC Heritage and finished T13 at last year’s Zurich Classic alongside Harris English.
This season, Hoge is having one of his best years on Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach. In his last 24 rounds, the only player to top him on the category is Scottie Scheffler. Hoge has been solid on Pete Dye designs, ranking 28th in the field over his past 36 rounds.
McNealy is also having a solid season. He’s finished T6 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T9 at the PLAYERS Championship. He recently started working with world renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, and its seemingly paid dividends in 2024.
Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen +4000 (DraftKings)
Keith Mitchell is having a fantastic season, finishing in the top-20 of five of his past seven starts on Tour. Most recently, Mitchell finished T14 at the Valero Texas Open and gained a whopping 6.0 strokes off the tee. He finished 6th at last year’s Zurich Classic.
Joel Dahmen is having a resurgent year and has been dialed in with his irons. He also has a T11 finish at the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is another Pete Dye track. With Mitchell’s length and Dahmen’s ability to put it close with his short irons, the Mitchell/Dahmen combination will be dangerous this week.
Taylor Moore/Matt NeSmith +6500 (DraftKings)
Taylor Moore has quickly developed into one of the more consistent players on Tour. He’s finished in the top-20 in three of his past four starts, including a very impressive showing at The Masters, finishing T20. He’s also finished T4 at this event in consecutive seasons alongside Matt NeSmith.
NeSmith isn’t having a great 2024, but has seemed to elevate his game in this format. He finished T26 at Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass, which gives the 30-year-old something to build off of. NeSmith is also a great putter on Bermudagrass, which could help elevate Moore’s ball striking prowess.
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Pingback: How To Play Golf Alone Step By Step Guideline – Chooserly
John James
Jul 6, 2018 at 12:44 pm
No 11 – Enjoy The Beauty! There is nothing like hitting a perfect drive, with a little draw, watching the ball fly against the mountains, sky and setting sun. This must what heaven is like!
John James
Jul 6, 2018 at 12:40 pm
No 11 — Enjoy The Beauty! There is nothing like hitting a perfect drive, with a little draw, against the mountains, sky and setting sun — with nothing but silence all around you. It must be what heaven is like!
Mazhar Hussain
Mar 19, 2016 at 7:08 am
Playing golf alone early in the morning with birds chirping and moist fresh air penetrating the lush green environment surrounding you is the best thing you can find yourself in. On each Tee I silently watch the fairway ahead and focus on the ball with peace and serenity of mind and attempt a rhythmic swing. When the ball flies like a bird in a straight parabola I feel joy and indescribable pleasure. Inner peace and serenity is what converts a golf swing into a killer blow thereby achieving distance and confidence required for the next shot. You always play against the par.
Straightdriver235
Jul 3, 2014 at 10:32 pm
Golf should be a solitary game. Here’s to playing alone. If I do play with others, it better not be more than a twosome, anything more and it is drudgery. Indeed, I don’t think it is fair that many tour events send out players in threesomes on Thursday and Friday… It is quite possible some great player who can’t cope with more than one other partner just can’t play well enough to make the cuts, but could burn the course up once he got down to a twosome. It is true, the comments, if you are a tournament golfer, playing alone has its limits. You wouldn’t catch me dead in a foursome, maybe as often as I go to a wedding or a funeral… not very.
wakit300
May 13, 2014 at 3:42 pm
Just saw this article and ummm are you trying to follow in the footsteps of Rolling Stone? Top 10 list should always count DOWN from 10 to 1. If you know what #1 is right away, why bother with the rest?
Chris
Apr 23, 2014 at 4:38 pm
I play much of my golf solo. However, I consider most of those sessions to be practice. I believe that adjusting to the pressure of others, the pace with which they play, etc. to be an integral part of the game. While I find those solo sessions do help me improve more than a mindless session on the range, it still doesn’t compare to the pressure of playing with others. In short, I think solo rounds are the best way to improve, but the real test can only come when playing with others, when you can’t just put another ball down.
Alex K.
Apr 16, 2014 at 10:48 pm
I’m fortunate enough to live and work close enough to my course that I frequently have a round on my own after work. I find it a great way to keep fit because (as mentioned in the article above), there are no/few hold ups and I can play as fast as I want. Another bonus (of sorts) is, without the pressure of competition (or others’ critical eyes), I find I can ‘let it all hang out’ with shot selection resulting is some (all modesty aside), spectacular shots which over time has left me with several 2-3ft eagle and double eagle putts. I guess all I need to do now is capture and retain that mindset and unleash it on comp day!
steve
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:44 pm
double eagle putts? What kind of course are you playing that you can have double eagle putts?
erkr
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:03 am
In summertime I play on my childhood course alone at 6am. Its at the ocean. As I play the town wakes up and I watch people bike down on course for early swim. I go 18 holes and I’m back to have second breakfast with wife and kids.
I always keep score and no gimmies.
ParHunter
Apr 15, 2014 at 4:15 pm
I like to play two balls when I play on my own, both with different shots, a high chip vs a bump and run etc.
another good one is reverse scramble, where you hit two drives but have to take the worse of the two.
The only problem is if you play on your own in between 3 or 4-balls. You either have to wait all the time (hence playing two balls) or you get asked to play through and that can make you feel rushed. I recently played through 6 groups in the course of 5 holes. It felt more like jogging than golf.
Ryan
Apr 15, 2014 at 10:35 am
5 years ago I got to play a good bit of solo golf. I agree – some of the best “alone” time that can be had. I definitely improved as a player as well as enjoyed the solitude and the lack of “noise” created by playing partners. I can’t remember the last time I got to go around on my own. I wish I could occasionally still.
I think that is one of the best things about golf – I can go out alone, with friends, or be paired up with strangers and have a great time. There is something special about solo golf that I think most people aren’t aware of as they take having playing partners as a given. Great article!
Ryan
Apr 15, 2014 at 10:39 am
Forgot to mention my only hole-in-one was during a solo round. I was jumping for joy and not a soul around to see it. Most people think that’s a travesty but I think its wonderful and private memory I don’t have to share.
billy
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:08 pm
I had 6 other eyes on mine and it was pretty special also…+ the memory is with them too and there is a little something special knowing they occasionally mention …”I was playing with a Guy once on a elevated par 3 and the ball hit center green then started toward the hole like it had eyes”
I fear hitting that shot again alone…
Audrey
Apr 13, 2014 at 12:33 am
Loved this article! As a woman golfer, I have found solo golf a wonderful way to work on my game and enjoy the beauty of the course. I have also found you can find courses’sweer spot’ where you can golf solo without being slowed down by golfers ahead.. I have found there are not alot if woman golfers……and on the flip side, while solo golfing I meet two other women who have become great golf companions. Whether with them or going solo, it’s always a good day out there!
Jim
Apr 12, 2014 at 11:04 pm
This is my favorite way to play unless i play a round with my dad. Most people look at you funny if you say you play alone. Nothing like you the course and your clubs set to try to shoot your lowest round ever . Its like your own little get away if only for a few hours, escaping the every day hustle
corey
Apr 13, 2014 at 12:18 am
couldn’t agree more
Dave
Apr 15, 2014 at 11:37 pm
+2
Tom Duckworth
Apr 12, 2014 at 8:47 pm
Early morning just after the sun comes up…..best time of the day. I like seeing the dew on the greens just a few birds and the sound of the breeze the trees. You just dial into the rhythm of your swing. It’s the best I just can’t add anymore.
Brian
Apr 12, 2014 at 10:47 am
I play over half my rounds solo just for the solitude. Sure if I’m invited to play, I happily oblige. It’s like reading a good book. Once you get into it, you can’t stop.
Nice article.
paul
Apr 12, 2014 at 12:13 am
I play by myself all summer. Once a week, 9 holes, 6am, done by 7:20 and at work 5 minutes early.
Double Mocha Man
Apr 11, 2014 at 7:50 pm
Good topic! I played today by myself and propped up my cellphone on my push cart… and watched the Masters! While sipping a tasty Italian sports drink. Life is good. Only the green jacket was missing.
luke keefner
Apr 11, 2014 at 7:29 pm
Most of the guys I play with would never EVER consider going out to play alone but for some reason I crave it. Maybe I’m a little misanthropic but I’m usually at first irritated when I get paired up with someone. Fortunately I am usually surprised at how much I enjoy the company. But, still, I consider golf a solitary game for me unless my son is home. That is as good as it gets
j.a.
Apr 11, 2014 at 7:18 pm
I have experienced all of this and being a high handicapper, in few words I can say, it’s the only way to play in peace.
Billy
Apr 12, 2014 at 3:52 am
amen!
Dan
Apr 11, 2014 at 5:32 pm
You can plug in some headphones and listen to golf weekly or Metallica 🙂