Playing Golf with Stranger

I remember a very important life lesson I learning during my summer job in college as a roofer. I was pining over the release of Terminator 2 and having no one to go with (of course no girlfriend). My fellow roofer Glen said, “Go by yourself. I go to movies alone all the time. When the lights go out, we are all alone.” And I did. And now I apply this advice to playing golf. Which made me think of the three kinds of round golf I play defined by who I play with.

Playing Golf with Friends/Family

Golf is a great activity to play with close relations. Whether score is kept or not or money exchanged, I always enjoy this time because memories will be created. I always enjoy playing golf with my parents and other family as it gives us time to catch up and chat. Playing with friends is always a series of jokes and good hearted ribbing. Plenty of laughs to be shared.

Playing Golf with Strangers

The great Irish poet William Butler Yeats said:

There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t met yet.

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/william_butler_yeats_383082

This can be said of any golf course as well as long as it is public. In my travels and trials reviewing golf courses, I have yet to be paired with other golfers that I could not stomach or endure.

The social, casual golfer is on the golf course to have fun. Somehow, we all revert back to our kindergarten behavior. It is amazing how much from Robert Fulghum’s book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten apply to playing golf with strangers. For example:

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don’t hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don’t take things that aren’t yours.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (1993)

Golfers are always nice and friendly to other. We save their anger and ire for ourselves and our golf swing results.

Playing Golf Alone

Lately, I find myself on the first tee by my lonesome. No foursome to play in just an empty course and my thoughts. As a mid-range introvert, this fits me just fine. So how do I fill 4.5 hours of golf alone? First off, it is closer to 2.5 hours with no other golfers to slow me down. Second, I have talked to myself since I was a kid so there is a constant stream of play commentary and shot analysis. The rest of the time consists of pep talks about life and article brain storming sessions. I don’t mind playing alone as I can explore the course and take in the day and tranquility of the course.

It Doesn’t Matter Since It is All Golf

For me, I don’t care who i play with as long as they are cool. I just want to be on the course and playing well. Not great just well. Golf is golf and get me out there.