Playing on your own

[pheel88]

Hi guys,
I normally play with a few friends from where I used to live down on surrey/hampshire border but then don't have anyone to play with in Oxford.

How do people find playing on your own? I am worried that playing on my own I will pick up bad habits and just carry on with them. Is this the case or have I got it really wrong and it's great for developing your game?

Thanks in advance.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

I think playing on your own is fine, for practice, or for consolidating your game, or familiarising yourself with a different course.

But I wouldnt do it all the time, it gets boring.
Its good to play with chums, the banter flows and everyone helps everyone else out.

If you are around on Friday mornings 9.15 and can get to Aylesbury Park, then you could make up a 4some with Imurg, CVG et moi.

Fragger

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Welcome at my gaff anytime too. I don't mind playing on my own except for sunny evenings like tonight when you hit it straight into the setting sun and have no idea where it ended it up = lost ball.

 

[pheel88]

I am away this weekend otherwise I would have been able to take you up on your offer. The reason I was a bit concerned is because when we all go round together the banter is good like you say but we can also point out where the other is going wrong. The only downside is none of us can do it right ourselves.

I started playing a couple of years back then had back problems so now just getting back into it. Will have a few rounds on my own and see if I can get my scores down.

 

[Screwback]

Welcome at my gaff anytime too. I don't mind playing on my own except for sunny evenings like tonight when you hit it straight into the setting sun and have no idea where it ended it up = lost ball.

Surely it should be straight down the middle homer???

 

[bigbiffa]

when i first starte playing seriously, i used to go play on my own during the day(as im a nightshift worker).
However that was B.C.(before children!) and somehow i cant find the time anymore,hmmmmmm wonder why!
What i will say is, i found it very useful for my short game,as i used to drop balls around various greens and try different stuff.

 

[davek]

I don't mind playing on my own as bigbiffa said,lets you work on different parts of your game, having said that I do prefer company for the banter!

 

[pheel88]

I reckon if I can find the time (never as much time as you want) then I will aim to play once a week on my own to work on areas then play with others at the weekend.

Is there any etiquette on how many balls you hit or is it just a case of as many as you like as long as you don't hold anyone up?

 

[bigbiffa]

I reckon if I can find the time (never as much time as you want) then I will aim to play once a week on my own to work on areas then play with others at the weekend.

Is there any etiquette on how many balls you hit or is it just a case of as many as you like as long as you don't hold anyone up?

depends how busy the course is, i always used to hit two off the tee, then two into the green, then if quiet, try a few chip/pitches etc close or by the green

 

[Imurg]

I actually quite like solo golf. Yeah the banter's good with Fragger and CVG but sometimes its nice to just get out alone and forget everything that's going on. A total switch-off from the world except the hole I'm playing.

 

[RGDave]

How do people find playing on your own? I am worried that playing on my own I will pick up bad habits and just carry on with them.

Sorry to be outspoken, but I just don't understand why playing on your own can be negative. If I'd only ever played with mates on proper comp days and in bounce games, I'm sure I'd be even worse. My biggest and quickest handicap drop (from 19-11 over 6 months) was achieved playing on my own twice a week and in the midweek comp. (I had 5 day membership)

 

[JT77]

Just played 10 holes there tonight on my own, I enjoy it. Gives me time to clear my head and try a few things. I never listen to my playing partners for advice, I find that any unsolicited advice can be harmful to your game, if you want someone to tell what you are doing wrong, see a pro.
when on my own, I like to hit a few approaches and a few putts, I think it would be disrespectful to playing partners to do this if out with friends for a knock.

 

[MarkHK]

I play on my own most mornings as I work nights,it's great being out on the course at 6 in the morning and no one else about. Tend to hit two or three balls into the greens and a few pratice putts on each green.

 

[CrapHacker]

A stroll on your own?

On a sunny afternoon / evening

So you can listen to the birds, and watch the squirrels, and think thoughts of paradise?

And then add to that the ability to hit a few balls.

Perfick

 

[Tiger]

I'll love it more when I get better. At the moment playing partners are great at helping me find errant shots

Being able to replay shots around the green or putts you feel you should have read better is great. Ivegot limited experience of it but when I have more control off the tee I think I'll do it more often.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Whenever I play on my own I normally play 2 or 3 balls if I can and I don't play for a score. I use it purely for practice. I normally only hit one ball off the tee and then drop the others at different yardages and hit them into the green. I'll then chuck all the balls into different spots round the green into rough and bunkers and chip them. The one thing I rarely do is putt out. I find putting really difficult when there's no pressure which sounds really daft but I get lazy and don't putt as well so I don't bother as I don't want any negative memories. Once I've chipped, if it's inside 8 feet I tell myself I can make it and pick up, if it's outside a range I wouldn't expect to make it I'll have a putt. I guess it's a strange psychological thing I've developed.

 

[Spinn77]

I do this loads during the school holidays, get out there and practice. I tend not to play lots of balls, just play and score as i usually would. I like to always assume i've a card in hand (and i think it helps with generally not having a mental block with playing comps).

There's nothing wrong being out there on your own, most members will let you through once you get to know them as well. i really enjoy it as 1. i play well as i've not trying to out-do anyone else and 2. i dont concern myself with anyone elses poor play (which i do a lot with my regular playing partner and it can be disruptive).

I also agree with whoever said that playing partner's advice is generally worthless!

 

[JustOne]

I'd rather play with a woman than by myself.. interpret that as you will

 

[RGDave]

Tend to hit two or three balls into the greens and a few pratice putts on each green.

This seems a popular thing to do (take a few balls).
I played 11 tonight after work and hit 2 balls into most and 3 into the longest hole.
I only "count" the first ball and mentally keep score.
I hit 3 x 3 woods (2nd shot) into our longest hole tonight (the 11th) and none of them got up. 230 to the front.
I found all three grouped 5-10 yards short. I pitched them on with my new Lob Wedge and single putted every one.
That's more pars on the hole in one day than in the last 6 months!!!
Put a smile on my face anyway.

I was 4 over par for the 11 holes with the first ball and 1 over for the "best of two"....

It's not unusual for my eclectic to be level par over 9 holes played with 2 balls. It's kind of cheating though, because I sometimes change clubs for the 2nd ball into the green.....to put right a misjudgement.

 

[viscount17]

it was suggested recently (could even have been on here) that the best way to play on your own was to play two balls off the tee (if that's your weak area) but to then play the worst of them.
this can be done anywhere on a hole, always playing two shots at your weakness.

does this make sense?