Golfing Alone: Pros and Cons

The idea of playing a solo round of golf may seem like heaven for some, and hell for others. However, there are actually a number of both pros and cons associated with going solo. 

So, what are they, and which ones will stand out for you?

The Pros of Golfing Alone

First, let’s look at the positive associated with going out onto the course all on your own.

You Have Time to Relax

The first major pro is that you still have that ability and time to relax. The fact you can do this all on your own is pretty cool, and you still get outside in the fresh air and can focus on your own game without there being any other distraction.

There is a real serene feeling when out on the course on your own. Sure, there may be others walking around playing their own game, but they are far enough away from you to not be bothering you.

So, if you like the idea of being off in your own world, then this is a major benefit.

You Can Work On Your Game

Another major positive is that you have the time and space to work on your game. You can try out a new swing, and you won’t have to put up with comments from other people as you do so.

You can make a mess of a swing or a shot, and then make changes without even having to think about scoring.

All of that does then mean you feel more relaxed and confident in trying out new things. At that point, it’s a wonderful position to be in.

You Get More Time to Think About Shots

When playing alone, it means you can work on what’s known as your course management. You may also see it being referred to as shot management.

To lower your handicap, you need to be capable of choosing the perfect shot each and every time. Do you go for the green? Do you lay up? Which club should you use? All of that plays a role, and if you are playing with someone else, then your mind tends to wander away from it all as you are focusing more on the scoring aspect.

Playing alone will remove that problem. 

You Don’t Have the Scoring Pressure

This has been mentioned before, but removing the pressure of trying to get a low score will also make it easier for you to then develop your own game. 

This pressure of scoring low doesn’t only happen in a competition round. Playing against friends leads to that natural sense of competition because nobody likes to lose.

Playing on your own means you can make a mess of things and nobody cares or even sees. Don’t even think about scoring as you work your way around your round all on your own. 

You Can Play a Round in Less Time

This is perhaps the most obvious advantage of playing on your own, you get around the course in a fraction of the time. There’s only you out there, so no need to wait on anybody else getting to their ball, lining up the shot, taking the shot, and then the chat that goes on as well.

You can focus on your game, and will whizz around the course in next to no time at all.

However, it’s not all plain sailing when you go out on your own.

The Cons of Golfing Alone

There are a number of real negatives linked to playing a round by yourself. However, none of the negatives are going to be impossible to get over, so it’s not all going to be bad.

Being Stuck Behind Groups

The first negative is linked to the positive of the speed of play. It may be the case that you get stuck behind a larger group that is going more slowly than you would like.

It may be the case that they allow you to play through and to get ahead of them, but that’s not always going to happen. Instead, you find yourself dragging your heels as you get the holes finished in a fraction of the time compared to them.

Playing Through is Tough

The idea of playing through was just mentioned, but there’s a problem. 

While regular golfers are well aware of the concept, those that are out at the weekend don’t always have the same understanding. However, there’s another issue that you need to deal with.

That issue is the pressure you are going to feel on the tee if a slower group does indeed let you play through. They are all watching and paying attention to what you do. That’s not always an easy thing to cope with for everyone, so be warned that you may very well end up having a hack at it and not getting the sort of drive you hoped for.

You Cannot Submit a Scorecard

The final negative is perhaps the biggest one as it does mean you are unable to submit a scorecard. Clearly, this is because it is only your word that you scored what you did, so it’s not going to help you to reduce your handicap.

However, that’s not always a bad thing. Like we said earlier, it does give you the opportunity to work on your game, and then you can show others what you’ve got the next time you are in a pairing.

But then, it also fits in with the idea of it removing the pressure of scoring and just enjoying the game. This can be especially useful if you have been struggling with some aspect lately. You can forget about trying to better your scores or handicap and just deal with the problem areas all on their own.

Conclusion

So, the pros certainly do outweigh the cons, and that does mean you should perhaps give this idea of playing alone some thought. It can certainly be beneficial to your overall game, and you do have a real sense of freedom that will often be lacking when playing with others.

So, why not give it a shot and see how you get on? You may surprise yourself as to how much you enjoy it leading to you heading on out for additional rounds all on your own.

Enter your text here...