People that are new to the game of golf might wonder if it is acceptable or not very proper to play golf by yourself.
The answer is that you can absolutely play golf by yourself!
There are a few exceptions to this rule, and there are also variations that you can add to your round the next time that you are playing golf by yourself.
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When Can’t You Play Golf by Yourself?
Do not get me wrong, there are certainly times where it is unacceptable to play golf by yourself.
For instance, at a golf course that is busy and at a peak time, they will not let you go off and play by yourself in most cases. The reason for this is because it is inconvenient for them and will hold up the rest of the golf course.
Peak times are usually around 5 pm on weekdays and basically all day on the weekends.
At that point, they would probably pair you up with at least another golfer or two and have you play with them. It will speed up the overall pace of play and waiting times for other groups of golfers.
There are definitely some courses out there that frown upon golfers playing solo, but I have yet to find too many that do not let golfers play by themselves.
How to Play Golf by Yourself
Golfers can definitely show up to a golf course and play themselves if they choose to do so in most cases.
You could play a traditional 18-hole round and have a relaxing time out on the course and enjoy yourself! The great part about playing golf by yourself is flexibility.
If you are playing on a golf course that is not packed and there are not players behind you that are pressuring you, you can mix it up.
Play Best Ball or Worst Ball
A great way to play golf by yourself is to play formats like best ball or if you want a real challenge then play worst ball golf.
Best Ball Golf
Best ball golf with yourself is where you hit two shots from every spot, and you take the better shot. You can really aim for low scores and it can really boost your confidence out on the golf course.
After playing golf by yourself in the best ball format, you will see that you are capable of playing great golf if you limit your shanks and mishits!
On the other end of the spectrum, you can play the worst ball while you are on the golf course alone.
Worst Ball Golf
Worst ball is where you play two balls and you play your next shot from the shot that was the worst. This is an incredible challenge and I only recommend it to players that can keep up with the pace of play and not get too down on themselves.
Worst ball is my personal favorite way to play a round of golf by myself if the golf course is not packed and I am keeping up with the pace. It really challenges you and I think that you will become a much better golfer because of it!
Lastly, I would like to point out that 9 holes are probably best when playing golf by yourself. It can get boring with no one to talk to on the course, and it can really be draining. There is no point in playing this amazing sport and not being 100% invested in it.
Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
