I am a Solitary Man
For many golfers, the game is a very social event. Most courses will book tee times for foursomes, threesomes and twosomes but very few will book a tee time for a single golfer. When we don’t have a companion that is able to join us then we must just show up and hope that we can be matched up with another group.
However, my favourite golf experiences tend to be when I get a chance to be out on the links by myself. Don’t get me wrong, I love to play golf with my friends and I enjoy playing with friends that I’ve just met, but for me golf is not about social interaction or even competition.
For me golf is a challenge between myself and the course. I want to play my best against what the course has to offer. A friend of mine who doesn’t play the game has told me, “Golf is not a sport because there is no defense.” I think the point that she is making is that the competition cannot do anything to prevent you from scoring so there is less of a challenge. While this is physically true, both your opponents and the course have defenses that they can use.
My Headspace
When we are playing golf we are playing against ourselves as much as our opponents. As so many have pointed out throughout the history of the game, golf is a mental game. We need to keep so many things in focus to be able to play well.
The 13th hole at my favourite local course, Huntsville Downs, is my nemesis. This is the only hole on the course which I have never been able to shoot par. I don’t believe I’ve even been able to bogey this hole. It’s a short par 4 (only 314 from the whites) yet it has my number (unfortunately 8 is usually it).
It is on the side of a hill sloping to the right with a big waste bunker that collects my ball more often than not. Even a 5 iron kept up the left side will usually funnel too far right. Then the green is squeezed between OB on the left and a pond on the right and runs at a left to right angle. The right fairway (or worse, the bunker) leaves very little green to work with. I’m usually quite flustered when I finally manage to get on the dance floor. It is hard not be flustered standing in the tee box looking down on all the trouble that awaits me.
The effects of this hole will stay with me for the next few holes if I let it. It is a struggle to get through it and remain positive.
Often we are our own enemy. Fear, anger and frustration have ruined scores for countless golfers.
The Course
However, for me the most important defense in golf is the course itself. In many ways, the course is a competitor (and by extension, the designer and the greens keeper as well). Each course has its own defenses which we all know too well from falling afoul of them. For me a large part of the beauty of a course is the way that it protects itself, requiring precision and strength to tame it.
I have played at courses that are far too easy and there is no challenge to inspire you. I have also played at courses that are far to difficult where there is absolutely no room for less than perfect shots.
I once played at a course which was wonderfully laid out but the greens were almost impossible. One green was so fast that when putting from below the hole you needed to sink the putt (either on the way up or on the way back down) or you would be chipping your next shot which would likely not stay on the green either.
We need to play on courses where reasonably struck shots have a good chance of being successful and poorly struck shots will be penalized but not overly so.
I love to play at courses where the holes are structured so that golfers of different abilities can be challenged. They must allow golfers with different abilities use different strategies to achieve the goal — the wonderful clink of the ball dropping into the cup.
Singles Golf
For me, golf is a solitary pursuit. Whether I’m playing alone on the course or with others, my focus is on playing my game against the course and my own thought process. I love to call up some friends and we have a great time as we’re competing with each other, but if no one can join me I’ll still pick up the clubs and go — the game calls.
This is part of the reason that I have chosen the LoneWolf moniker for this blog. I know there are other lone wolves out there and I salute you. Maybe someday a single will show up and join your group. Maybe it’s me and we can enjoy the solitary pursuit together. I’d like that.
Shalom
I love playing alone too. And there are a couple of places near me where at certain times it’s almost always possible. I really like it because I can work on my shots without having to explain them to anyone else :o) It’s funny because my husband hates playing alone…in fact, he’s never done it. I really hope the economy doesn’t force courses to close in the next couple of years, though I’m thinking it probably will. Then it’ll become ever more difficult to enjoy a solo round :o(
Comment by golfgirl — November 24, 2008 @ 1:16 am
@golfgirl
I think that creative courses will be able to make money by leveraging what they’ve got (beautiful space in the outdoors) so hopefully they’ll stay afloat.
I find the best time to get a solo tee time is just after sunrise (which can be pre 6 AM around here in July). Often I’ll be the only one on the course for a few holes.
Once I managed to have the entire course to myself for a while as they had a shotgun starting at 10 so they didn’t book any tee times. They let me go as a single just showing up though and I shot a 94 (personal best) in 2.5 hours.
Shalom
Comment by LoneWolf — November 25, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
[…] you may recall (or deduced from the handle LoneWolf), I am a solitary golfer. I enjoy hitting the links on my own — especially in the early hours of the morning. […]
Pingback by Buddies -- Part I — November 8, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
I usually play with my buddies when I play a regulation course. When I do play alone, I like to play this Par 3 course over in Prescott, Wisconsin called Clifton Highlands, which is in the St. Croix Valley. I live in Minnesota, but I love going over there and I go as often as I can. This course is a walk on course, you can always play it by yourself, and it only costs ten bucks to play. It sits atop a 150 foot hill. To get to it, you take a cable car ride to the top. The scenery is gorgeous. You can see for miles in every direction, as well as the 18 hole regulation course below. It is a very short course, only 1040 yards long, the average hole being about 110 yards. It is beautifully maintained and even has a little pond on it. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth, it is so serene. Every time I play it I take my time, I always feel like staying up there all day. It is so peaceful, it makes me feel closer to God, just seeing the beauty of His creation. On more than one occasion I have seen wild turkeys up there. It is so cool! Even though it is very short, it will challenge you. The grand finale is the ninth hole. You stand on the tee box and hit to the green 150 feet below. It looks visually intimidating, but a well struck 8 or 9 iron will get you on the green. On the way down there are wild raspberry bushes. If you happen to be there at the right time of year, you can grab a handful of berries and enjoy a good snack! If you ever happen to be in western Wisconsin or the Twin Cities area, I highly recommend this course. And while you’re at it, you gotta play the 18 hole regulation course. It is very beautiful and very challenging. I love those country golf courses!
Comment by Scottydog — February 5, 2010 @ 1:36 am
Hi Scottydog. I really enjoy it when I find a nice, challenging executive course like that. When I lived in Hamilton, there were 2 that I found that fit the bill — one in the Hamilton area and one in Milton near one of my customers.
It was nice to be able to get out and spend an hour and not a ton of cash. It sounds like the Clifton Highlands is an amazing place — the cable car ride sounds intriguing as well as the raspberries. I can imagine that there are lots of elevation changes to make it more exciting than your typical “farm field” par 3.
Thanks for visiting and for sharing this wonderful story. If I ever get out to Wisconson (who knows — it could happen) I’ll be sure to try both courses.
Comment by LoneWolf — February 5, 2010 @ 10:03 am
Golf is a very expensive hobby. I’d love for courses of golf. Someday I would like to invite all my family to play golf.
Comment by Stewart — May 21, 2011 @ 2:41 am