Libre
Well-Known Member
- Jul 29, 2007
- 185
- 107
- Country
- United States
Golf, in its essence, is a solo activity. Of course you CAN play with others, but the game itself is between the course and you. Nobody else is needed. No one is even allowed to interfere - which is rather rare in any kind of competitive sport. That's one of the things that I love about it. You can play it alone.
When I play alone, I start the round with one ball and hope for the best. I'll play just a straight round with one ball, and if things don't go horribly wrong, I'll play the one ball shot by shot and just keep score the same as if I'm playing in a group. If things do go horribly wrong and the score seems unsalvageable, I might ease up and play more of a practice round and hit several shots here and there. But my goal when I start is to play a regular round. I'm always walking, and can't go chasing 2 or 3 balls anyway.
Do you enjoy playing alone?
I used to actually try to avoid it - I was more competitive back then I guess - liked playing against someone - but now I like playing solo very much. I'm retired in New Mexico and there's a lot of golf here in Albuquerque and I usually walk right up - I have an annual pass to all the city courses - and go straight out. Different story from Bethpage State Park on the weekends, where I used to play most of my rounds.
One question for you - and as insignificant as this may seem in the scheme of things - still - this has tortured me.
How do you treat a tap-in? It really applies when playing alone or with others, but especially when alone. You're less than a foot from the hole. You get careless for one moment, rake the ball over, and it misses. I hate when it happens, and go from scoring it from par, no bogie, no par, no bogie - oh screw it. And the card can look sloppy. Numbers changed. Ugliness. And I want it to be right. But I'm not perfect.
The solution is take a moment and make sure you tap the tap-in, in. Still - it's going to miss sometimes and how miserable do you feel about it? OR do you just rake it away without holing it? I like to hole it (as everyone does) but it might miss! Raking away avoids this anguish. But spoils the round in a way unless you can forget about it. Which I can't.
What other things about playing alone come to mind? I love the solitude now. Only counting my own shots. Not worried about anyone else's ball but mine. And the new flagstick rule makes it more practical now. You really need zero assistance. I enjoy playing with others as well, but it's a wonderful game to play alone, if you like your own company.
When I play alone, I start the round with one ball and hope for the best. I'll play just a straight round with one ball, and if things don't go horribly wrong, I'll play the one ball shot by shot and just keep score the same as if I'm playing in a group. If things do go horribly wrong and the score seems unsalvageable, I might ease up and play more of a practice round and hit several shots here and there. But my goal when I start is to play a regular round. I'm always walking, and can't go chasing 2 or 3 balls anyway.
Do you enjoy playing alone?
I used to actually try to avoid it - I was more competitive back then I guess - liked playing against someone - but now I like playing solo very much. I'm retired in New Mexico and there's a lot of golf here in Albuquerque and I usually walk right up - I have an annual pass to all the city courses - and go straight out. Different story from Bethpage State Park on the weekends, where I used to play most of my rounds.
One question for you - and as insignificant as this may seem in the scheme of things - still - this has tortured me.
How do you treat a tap-in? It really applies when playing alone or with others, but especially when alone. You're less than a foot from the hole. You get careless for one moment, rake the ball over, and it misses. I hate when it happens, and go from scoring it from par, no bogie, no par, no bogie - oh screw it. And the card can look sloppy. Numbers changed. Ugliness. And I want it to be right. But I'm not perfect.
The solution is take a moment and make sure you tap the tap-in, in. Still - it's going to miss sometimes and how miserable do you feel about it? OR do you just rake it away without holing it? I like to hole it (as everyone does) but it might miss! Raking away avoids this anguish. But spoils the round in a way unless you can forget about it. Which I can't.
What other things about playing alone come to mind? I love the solitude now. Only counting my own shots. Not worried about anyone else's ball but mine. And the new flagstick rule makes it more practical now. You really need zero assistance. I enjoy playing with others as well, but it's a wonderful game to play alone, if you like your own company.
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