I'm a new golfer without usual play partners and looking to make tee times by myself. Are people who get added on to tee times with strangers usually receptive to making friends? Anyone else in this same boat?
P.S. Any r/golf subscribers golfers at Enjoie golf course in Endicott, NY?
Posted Jun 4, 2021, 5:33 PM UTC
Most people will be receptive of you (maybe reluctant for you to join the group) but most people aren’t ass holes and all though they may not be super happy they’re getting paired with a stranger most will accept you and not make it awkward at all and everything will be just fine
Yeah I wasn't too worried about people being nice so much as their inclination to maybe make a new golf buddy. I'm trying not to be a solo golfer, just dont have any friends to golf with regularly.
Ya never know maybe they’ll really like u and you can exchange numbers to play again in the future. Can’t be pushy with it though. No one likes desperate lol
I joined a local league a couple months ago and made a few golf buddies since.
One happens to live in the same neighborhood as me and we play our home course together all the time now. I'm actually sitting here reading Reddit waiting for him to get off work so we can go get in a quick 9 before dark.
Nice, a success story!
Here is my breakdown as somebody who goes and gets paired up all the time.
Out of 10 golfers you get paired with:
1 you would actively avoid to play with again
5 you will have no opinion of
3 you will get on fine with, and would be happy to play with again but won't do anything about
1 you will really click with and will exchange numbers with to play again
Seems accurate.
I played a lot of single rounds.
Only once did I exchange phone numbers.
He recognized my golfsidekick bucket hat. So I knew he was cool.
Legend of the game
Great advice, I will just have to go a bunch then!
They're usually personable and polite, but I wouldn't say you are likely to become friends. If you want to make friends via golf you are probably better off joining a league.
Okay, I thought this was likely. Joining a league is intimidating as a solo
This is def how it usually goes. There's some people I've played with multiple times by chance alone and they are great to play with, but never seem interested in making it a habit. But there's also a few I've paired with that we always check in with each other to see if we can meet up.
It can be, but you have a lot more opportunity to get know people since you all meet up every week at the same time. with random pairing most people just go their separate ways after, and that's the last you see of them.
This makes a lot more sense when you put it like that. I'll be looking at making the plunge then!
theres a new app called "spark golf" that looks interesting, its an app that aggregates a bunch of weekday leagues. If I had weekdays free, and wasn't part of the league at the course I'm a member at, I'd take a look at that.
Ive gone solo plenty of times. I’ve gotten paired with people who were cool enough to exchange numbers with and I’ve since gone with them again. I’ve gotten paired with people who I barely spoke to the whole round. It’s definitely a mixed bag but more often than not they’ll be fine
Sign up as a single - usually, the starter will pair you up with a twosome or threesome. You'll meet new friends. Most golfers are just out to have fun.
Great, exactly what I'm hoping for!
If you have business cards, leave some in your bag. Towards the end of the round just say “hey, I usually go out single, not a lot of my friends golf. If you need someone to play with just shoot me a text” and give them your card. If they call you they do, if not they don’t.
But it’s just an easy way of saying here’s my number, up to you if you wanna take me up on it.
That is a great idea. My work doesn't have them but might almost be worth it to print just a few off with my work, its public knowledge anyway!
Or just make personal ones. Under the job title you could put "Golf Enthusiast".
I play as a single a LOT. 99% of the time I get paired with other golfers. I cannot recall one single time when the other players were not, at least, basically friendly. Sometimes, much more than that .... like people you'd like to get to know and play with more often.
Be reasonably friendly (whatever your natural inclination .... don't overdo/underdo it), keep up, keep a good attitude especially if you're not playing well, compliment and be considerate of your playing partners. That's it. Easy-Peasy.
I always get paired with much older men. Love hearing their golf slang and inventive curses but rarely get invited or want to to invite them to play again. Sometimes, you do have that unicorn though. My advice join a league and you will find some people to play with often.
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I'm lucky enough that I get travel all over because of my job and play golf on my days off.
Of the 100's of people I've been paired with I can only think of one person that was unpleasant to play with.
Just keep pace of play.
Mind etiquette like walking on people's lines, talking in their swing, etc..
Keep conversations light and fun, complement good shots, etc..
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I play most of my rounds solo, and I've made a bunch of friends that way. Be friendly and have a good attitude, even if you don't play well. Joke about bad shots, keep the excuse-making to a minimum. I've found that to be the most common thing strangers do when I play with them.
Mega helpful advice, thanks!