Conference 7.286::golf

    	Mike, there's nothing wrong with what you are trying to do.
    What you are doing wrong is trying it on the wrong course or courses.
    If the course you do this on is at all busy, they will probably
    insist you pair up with another golfer.  I assume the course you
    mentioned is busy by the fact that you said they told you, you should
    have called up for a tee time.  Try it around 9 - 11 am on a course
    that isn't as popular.  Another good time, is after 5 pm on Sunday
    evenings in the summer.  I used to do this on Sundays before I got
    married.
    	I myself, enjoy playing golf with other people.  I've met a
    lot of people on the golf course.  Some I see again and others I've
    never seen since, but I've had very few experiences where I didn't
    get along with them or didn't enjoy myself.
                                                    Beak

	 Somewhere within the Rules of Golf there is a rule that says

		``A single player has no standing and should give way
                  to a match of any kind''

	 which means  exactly  what it says - if I play alone, I have to let
	 two-, three-, and foursomes play through.  The problem is that some
	 people  interpret this rule as if playing by oneself is prohibited.
	 I  have come across a lot of people who say that I'm not allowed to
	 play  alone, referring to the above rule.  They could never be more
	 mistaken!

	 What could be nicer than getting up at 0600 in June and playing the
	 deserted  course  alone,  when  the morning dew has barely left the
	 grass...?

	 -- Mr Litby

     re .2:
     
     > What could be nicer than getting up at 0600 in June and playing the
     > deserted  course  alone,  when  the morning dew has barely left the
     > grass...? 

     For one thing, owning your own golf course, then getting up at 9am,
     enjoying a nice breakfast, then playing the deserted course alone,
     when the morning dew has evaporated, so that you don't soak your shoes
     and so that the speed of the greens doesn't keep changing.
     
     But if you don't happen to own your own course, Mr Litby is correct
     about both the rules and the pleasures of an occasional solitary golf
     round.
     
     --Mr Topaz 

    re .2
    
       Its great first thing in the morning.  Two or three times a week
    I get up early (0530), play a quick 9 ( usually in an hour ), shower
    and go to work.  Great way to start a day, its so quiet and  serene,
    no one to bother you, complete concentration, you can re-hit poor
    shots if you want,  I recommend it highly.

    Mike,
    
        Don't feel too intimidated about joining up with someone that
    appears to be a good player. One of the best ways to get better
    at golf (or any sport for that matter) is too play with someone
    who plays better than you. Most players that are good, have been
    around the game long enough to understand this, and are very
    understanding to the novice golfer. If the player appears to be
    impatient, frustrated and too serious, then he has the problem
    not you. 
        But the occasional round playing alone is nice too!
    
    -rick-

    If I want to play a round of golf by myself I either choose the
    early morning or the twilight hours. Now with the early morning
    I'm normally just trying to get a round in so I'll play rather quickly.
    Besides there is often someone you is doing the same thing and you
    don't want to slow them up. 
    
    In the twilight hours I'll sometimes play two ball. The advantage
    of Twilight is the activity on the course is decreasing instead
    of increasing and I'll often not have to worry about someone behind
    me.
    
    There is one aspect that you haven't considered. I started playing
    golf in the 6th grade when my father quit softball. For the next
    6 summers I played almost every day. The times I enjoyed most was
    when I was paired with senior citizens. 
    
    I learned a lot about the game from those folks. The are discustingly
    consistent. Oh yea they don't play par but they hit the ball up
    the middle, chip with amazing consistency and putt like a demon.
    Besides that they are so even keeled that nothing bothers them.
    
    I've played hundreds of rounds with older people and enjoyed every
    one (I think...at least no bitter memorys). Playing with older people
    you'll learn a lot about golf and probably more about life.
    
    Roger
    

    
    Thanks to all for the replys!!!
       A couple of comments:
    
    RE .1  Beak, the course that I go to is right by my house, so I
    have monitored when they were busy, and when they were not. Between
    0630-1300 they are fairly crowded especially on sat. and sun. Early
    afternoons seem like the best time and werent crowded the times
    I went.  Maybe some other course would be less strict on tee times?
    
    RE .4  Maybe getting out of a warm bed at 0530 am is your way of
    starting the day, but I think I would prefer to have my eyes open
    when playing!  ;^
    
    RE .5  KO, unfortunately there are only a couple of private courses
    in my area, and they are very expensive, so that will be a 'someday'
    dream.  Thanks for the vote of confidence, although I'm just a
    beginning golfer, I do play serveral other sports and have learned
    that the only way to become 'good' is to have fun while playing...
    Anyone who gets too serious at anything will have problems.
    
    RE .6 &.7  Rick & Roger, I know that I would learn alot from playing
    with other players... but Ive only actually played about 10 rounds
    so far, and would like to have just a little more confidence before
    risking other peoples lives!! ;^  and while by myself I can rehit
    shots or play two ball if I want.
    
    			Again thanks to all for their support;
    					...mike