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I recently went to a course on a Thursday afternoon after work and tried playing as a single walk-on. The attendent told me they didn't accept single players, and I would have to pair up with someone else or join a threesome.

I understand this practice speeds up play, but I'm new to the game, so I'm not really fond of hacking around with a seasoned threesome (plus I usually play nine holes). I only have one playing partner myself, and he doesn't have much time in the afternoon to play, so I'm in a tough position.

Why do some courses insist upon pairing you with someone? I suppose it wouldn't be such a big deal, but I usually play from the front tees because of my lack of distance. I know courses want to speed up play, but I usually proceed faster than most doubles.

more than likely it has to do with them losing out on money. You shouldn't be hesitant to play with better golfers though, most guys are pretty friendly and will even help you out with some questions. I've found that playing with better golfers makes me play better.

A number of years ago, a course that I had been playing on as a single for quite awhile suddenly instituted a no singles policy. I didn't have a problem playing with others, but if there was no one else waiting to play, I had to stand around until somebody else showed up. Now that was dumb.

The owner said that he had too many singles coming out and playing multiple balls to cheat him out of fees and chop up the course without paying for maintenance. I protested that I had never taken advantage of him and that I had been patronizing his place for years. He was unsympathetic, and I stopped playing there until new owners took over. They allow singles, but if you're caught playing multiple balls or holding up play, you're gone--which is the way it should be.

No playing multiple balls? I play (practice) as a single every chance I get and always hit multiple balls. I use this time to work on the parts of my game that can only be improved by on course practice. I choose a time when the course has very little play, grab a cart to speed the gathering of loose shots, and I'm off. I pick up if I see a group behind me and wave them through. I don't hit multiple approach shots from the same area (avoiding damage concerns) and I ALWAYS leave the course in better condition than I find it.

I have never had any of the three main courses I play complain about my "practice rounds". This is much more productive for me than hitting buckets of balls off hard mats at the local ranges. There are only a couple of grass ranges and they're too far, too crowded, and too beat up, to be considered. The courses are aware of what I'm doing and welcome the added revenue during slow periods. The cost is the same as the range and the benefits to my game are vastly greater.

As long as it's not affecting the play of others, damaging the course, or denying the course revenue, why shouldn't this be allowed?

i don't think singles should be able to go out if there's someone to pair you up with... if nobody else is around, then why not let a single go? it seems kind of ridiculous to make him wait in the event that someone else comes along...

i also think it's perfectly acceptable to play 2 balls as long as the course is pretty empty when you go and you're not holding up play... really, i can't see the harm in it but every course has the right to make their own rules... that's still not to say some rules are often ridiculous...

If the course is not crowded, and no one is waiting to go out, singles should be allowed. Like Leaguegolf, I often do this and play multiple balls. I can play 9 holes with 2 or 3 balls, and get in "18." I've never held anyone up, nor "pushed" a group in front. I also think I leave the course in better shape when I leave.

Also, the idea of not "waving a single through," if the course is empty is stupid. When I'm in a foursome and have open holes in front of us, and see a single behind me, I make sure they get waved through. Common sense, courtesy, and takes only a minute.

agreed there is a course that i play frequently that has a monday, thursday special it is $24 and you can play all day (7am-7pm) I often play as a single and practice and as long as I don't hold up play (which i don't) then I see nothing wrong with it... Now that said I would never try this on a saturday or even friday afternoon mostly mid-week when no one is there anyway.. It has helped my game immensely. Besides most of the time I feel as though I am the only one repairing ball marks so they should be glad I play there

People who own golf courses are trying to make a living like everybody else. If they have 9-hole and 18-hole fee plans, you are cheating them by playing two or three balls and getting in "18" when you only paid for 9--or getting in 27 or 36 when you only paid for 18.

Back in the day, I'd pay my fee and be able to play all day, the courses virtually empty, and playing multiple balls was just fine. Now, the business has changed quite a bit, maybe not for the better, but it has changed nonetheless. Expenses in maintaining a course have increased a lot because the public demands better conditions than it did when I was a kid, and owners need the additional revenue to improve and maintain the facility. Maybe my attitude has been influenced because I know a young couple struggling to improve a local course.

If you have access to courses that don't mind your playing multiple balls or as many holes as you want for a single fee, God bless you--and send me the address.:)

Veleogut - I'm pretty lucky. I can play a local 9-hole layout - adjacent to a private CC in Central NJ. Its a par 33, with 6 par 4's, and 3 par 3's. A couple of the par 4's are 400+ yards, and the par 3's are all over 160 yds. All in all, not a bad place to play, or practice.

You pay one fee and play all day. After a nominal membership fee (less than $100) it costs $13 on weekdays and $15 weekends, less if you're a senior citizen.

During the week, when its not crowded you can go out as a single, play as many balls as you like, and no one will bother you. Play 9 in the morning, go home for lunch, play nine in the afternoon, home for dinner, play nine in the early evening. And their greens are maintained by the private CC and are some of the best around.

Lucky, isn't the word, GenErr. YOU'RE IN HEAVEN!!!

Are you sure that you're not dead and just don't know it? In central New Jersey, one of the most populous areas in the US, you find a little course with country club maintained greens that lets you play all day for $13?

I would consider moving if I didn't have a nine-holer 5 minutes away that I can play for $10 weekdays for 9 holes and have unlimited use of the putting green and chipping green for a $5 bucket of balls at the range. By the way, the guy who owns the course once worked at Augusta National.

Thanks Valeogut, I do consider myself lucky. sounds like you've got a great deal going too.

When I first played this layout 25 years ago, I thought it was a "cow pasture," and didn't play it too often. As I got older, I realized that although the fairways and rough are not the best maintained, the greens were what it was all about. And if you can hit from the long rough, and the not-so-perfect fairway lies (which I rarely see anyway) your game can only improve.

I like this forum.