Solo tee times?

[CM12]

Just recently the municipal courses in my area have removed the ability to make online tee times for only one person  You need to have at least a twosome to reserve a spot on the tee sheet.  When I call some of the courses to make a solo tee time over the phone they still won't allow it.  This is so frustrating - it feels like I'm not even allowed to play the courses I paid to become a member of.

I've never had a problem with people joining my tee time as I know there's a good possibility for that.  Sometimes it works out really well because I meet a new golfing buddy that I otherwise wouldn't have known.  Also, I understand prioritizing foursomes over smaller groups, but it's tough to see a basically empty tee sheet and not be able to reserve anything.

Maybe I'm naive, and this is fairly common, but I don't ever remember having an issue with this in the past.  What do you all think?  Is this common in your experience?  Do you think solo tee times should be allowed?

[cnosil]

Seems to be the general trend especially with online booking systems.   

[I like to hit bombs]

I play a lot of solo rounds because I travel for work a lot. It can be a pain to book solo. 

My course I mainly play at when home only lets you book a solos online if a threesome is already reserved. I can normally just call them the day before and they'll just put me on if there aren't any single slots available.

[Hosel_Rockets]

The course I most often play solo does allow for booking online, however there are a handful of other courses in the area that won't let you book a solo tee time online or through an app. I haven't run into any courses that don't allow solo tee times up to this point, but I have had pro shop employees who seem frustrated or annoyed when I call in to book.

The biggest issue in my local area is that it's impossible to find a tee time after work during the week, because every course has 2-4 leagues running in the evenings 5 nights a week. 

Edited August 12 by Hosel_Rockets

[vandyland]

Can you look at the tee sheet and see it is empty and then just show up and play? Also, what happens if you book for a twosome and then cancel one of the spots a day later? 

[Stuka44]

If I am playing solo this is my routine.  I will get to the course a full half hour before what I figure the first possible  tee time.  As soon as the employee arrives, or right away I approach them.  I inform them I do not have a tee time, and that is why I am here this early.  I inform them as soon as you can take my money and give me a cart, I will be waiting on the first tee to hit my ball as soon as I am 65 percent sure I will find it.  I further inform them I expect to shoot under (insert appropriate score here(85 for me)) , and UNLESS I were to suffer a CEREBRAL HEMMORAGE and lose the ability to walk this morning, nobody will catch up to me.

This lets the course know you are PAINFULLY AWARE of pace of play issues, and that the "regulars" who perhaps covet the first tee time like they received it from the Lord Almighty via a burning bush, will have no issue with you.

The key OBVIOUSLY is to make sure nobody gets close to you as a single.

[jolter1]

Since I love to play sunrise golf, most of my tee times are booked as solo but I have no issues with others joining me. Plus if I am alone, with a cart and getting into a good groove, I am done in two hours or less which I love.

Edited September 3 by jolter1
spelling correction

[Chas c]

Pretty annoying to not be able to book solo online, I agree, however I generally look up the tee times online, see what's available, and then call the pro shop to reserve that tee time since every course near me that offers online booking charges an extra $3-5 as a 'convenience fee.'

[Rob Person]

If this is at your regular courses, get to know the proshop people. Once they know your face and name a little better, you can look online, then call down and ask to be placed on it, even if it's with another two or three some. Let them know that is OK too.

[buckpillar]

12 hours ago, Rob Person said:

If this is at your regular courses, get to know the proshop people. Once they know your face and name a little better, you can look online, then call down and ask to be placed on it, even if it's with another two or three some. Let them know that is OK too.

Good Advice @Rob Person when I rangered I would help the "usual" single golfers get their Tee Times during the busiest times of the day. They appreciated it and they got to interact and make new golf friends that down the road they may end up growing into a 3 some or 4 some.

[CM12]

On 8/12/2024 at 11:06 AM, Hosel_Rockets said:

The biggest issue in my local area is that it's impossible to find a tee time after work during the week, because every course has 2-4 leagues running in the evenings 5 nights a week. 

@Hosel_Rockets This is another huge problem in my opinion.  There's a course near me that I enjoy, but there's 3 leagues on Tuesday-Thursday, and they take up all 18 holes.  Then Friday-Monday the course is just packed.  Basically need to take a day off work to get out there.

[CM12]

On 8/12/2024 at 11:42 AM, vandyland said:

Can you look at the tee sheet and see it is empty and then just show up and play? Also, what happens if you book for a twosome and then cancel one of the spots a day later? 

Yes, and they're good about that.  But I'll see some open tee times a few hours away that fill up by the time I'd be going over there.   And yes, sometimes when I really want to go play I just book a tee time for 2 and then tell them it's just me when I get there.  Not ideal but it'll work, until they start remembering that I do that every time haha.

[Watty149]

There are some good tips here. If I want to play more golf I will have to play solo and like to hear how others go about booking solo tee times. 

[Hosel_Rockets]

1 hour ago, CM12 said:

@Hosel_Rockets This is another huge problem in my opinion.  There's a course near me that I enjoy, but there's 3 leagues on Tuesday-Thursday, and they take up all 18 holes.  Then Friday-Monday the course is just packed.  Basically need to take a day off work to get out there.

Yes! I have the same issue at a couple of local courses near me. I would love to play 9 holes a day or two a week after work, but it’s just not possible with leagues.

[Rob Person]

36 minutes ago, Watty149 said:

There are some good tips here. If I want to play more golf I will have to play solo and like to hear how others go about booking solo tee times. 

You can't, for the most part.  But you can get lucky.  Call and ask to be put with a 2some in the time slot you want. Get there earlier than your tee time by 30 -60 minutes.  Check in. Roll up to the starter and explain you are waiting for your group. Ask if he will let you go out if there's a slot open or someone no shows.

This only really works if your course doesn't have a starter shack that announces your group/names over a speaker.

[TAGolf13]

21 hours ago, Watty149 said:

There are some good tips here. If I want to play more golf I will have to play solo and like to hear how others go about booking solo tee times. 

I've used GolfNow to book tee times for years whether I'm playing as a single or with a group. I recently purchased a GolfPass subscription and that gives me a $10 credit per month which I use to defray cost of one tee time per month. Pays for itself with credited fees and that $10 monthly credit. Good luck!

[Josh Parker]

On 8/1/2024 at 9:59 AM, CM12 said:

Just recently the municipal courses in my area have removed the ability to make online tee times for only one person  You need to have at least a twosome to reserve a spot on the tee sheet.  When I call some of the courses to make a solo tee time over the phone they still won't allow it.  This is so frustrating - it feels like I'm not even allowed to play the courses I paid to become a member of.

I've never had a problem with people joining my tee time as I know there's a good possibility for that.  Sometimes it works out really well because I meet a new golfing buddy that I otherwise wouldn't have known.  Also, I understand prioritizing foursomes over smaller groups, but it's tough to see a basically empty tee sheet and not be able to reserve anything.

Maybe I'm naive, and this is fairly common, but I don't ever remember having an issue with this in the past.  What do you all think?  Is this common in your experience?  Do you think solo tee times should be allowed?

I don't know that I have ever had an issue playing as a single. Most courses will throw you with people but that's to be expected. 

[russtopherb]

I’ll look at the tee sheet online and if I see some openings but can’t book as a single, I’ll just show up and say I’m looking to get out and happy to pair up. I’ve never been told no. I’ve had to wait 20-30 mins sometimes but I’m fine with that. 

[Watty149]

1 hour ago, TAGolf13 said:

I've used GolfNow to book tee times for years whether I'm playing as a single or with a group. I recently purchased a GolfPass subscription and that gives me a $10 credit per month which I use to defray cost of one tee time per month. Pays for itself with credited fees and that $10 monthly credit. Good luck!

I used GolfNow and paid for a single tee time walking a quick 9. I paid through GolfNow then got to the course and they made me pay a small charge. I am now leery of using GolfNow. 

[AP Major]

20 minutes ago, Watty149 said:

I used GolfNow and paid for a single tee time walking a quick 9. I paid through GolfNow then got to the course and they made me pay a small charge. I am now leery of using GolfNow. 

I had the same experience a couple years ago and haven’t used GolfNow since. They called it a “processing fee.” It wasn’t the “hot deal” it was made out to be when all was said and done.

[Coulter]

I ran into this last week and just called the pro shop. Still kind of annoying. 

[sman3115]

Same thing happening at the courses around me. I don't know what it hurts.  It's not as bad as booking a foursome and then saying some of the group bailed.  That happens all the time

[TAGolf13]

43 minutes ago, Watty149 said:

I used GolfNow and paid for a single tee time walking a quick 9. I paid through GolfNow then got to the course and they made me pay a small charge. I am now leery of using GolfNow. 

That's odd. Haven't had such an incident in the years I've used it. I had an incident some years back where I booked a tee time and when I got there they wouldn't honor it because they had an event going. I called GolfNow and they refunded and gave me credit towards another tee time. 

[uli2000]

My local muni's also do this, unless there is already a booking for that time.  Since I work nights and a lot of weekends, I usually play mid morning or so during the weekdays, so usually I just head down to the course I want to play and they can usually get me in right away without any wait.

I've also used GolfNow quite a bit and have never had an issue.  If I was asked to pay anything above and beyond what GolfNow charged me, and it wasn't in the listing for the tee time (I've seen courses around here state there will be an extra charge if you request a single for a golf cart), I'd call GolfNow and get it resolved and/or get my money back and play somewhere else.  

[Watty149]

8 minutes ago, uli2000 said:

My local muni's also do this, unless there is already a booking for that time.  Since I work nights and a lot of weekends, I usually play mid morning or so during the weekdays, so usually I just head down to the course I want to play and they can usually get me in right away without any wait.

I've also used GolfNow quite a bit and have never had an issue.  If I was asked to pay anything above and beyond what GolfNow charged me, and it wasn't in the listing for the tee time (I've seen courses around here state there will be an extra charge if you request a single for a golf cart), I'd call GolfNow and get it resolved and/or get my money back and play somewhere else.  

I probably should have called GolfNow and atleast asked. 

[buckpillar]

1 hour ago, AP Major said:

I had the same experience a couple years ago and haven’t used GolfNow since. They called it a “processing fee.” It wasn’t the “hot deal” it was made out to be when all was said and done.

I been using GolfNow for bookings of pay at the course recently, I been getting better prices from the proshop when I arrive.. better savings.

Ex -- Rocky Gap Resort, Flinstone Md listed for 72.00 course offered it for 50.00 upon check in

[ZackS]

I play as a single the majority of the time and the courses also won’t let me book a time. I usually just look online and find where there are a good amount open and just show up around that time and usually get out not problem. Granted I play in the heat of the day in Texas a good amount to do this. As someone who get a good amount of my golf in as twilight rounds after work in the summer and leagues are making that harder. 

[buckpillar]

15 minutes ago, ZackS said:

I play as a single the majority of the time and the courses also won’t let me book a time. I usually just look online and find where there are a good amount open and just show up around that time and usually get out not problem. Granted I play in the heat of the day in Texas a good amount to do this. As someone who get a good amount of my golf in as twilight rounds after work in the summer and leagues are making that harder. 

you can try www.lastminutegolfer.com

 

[RyldupGolf]

It seems like that's the state of golf right now as a single. I took look online and see if there are even any tee times available for 1 or more, then roll out to the local course since it's 15 minutes away. Otherwise I have to call and book since most of my local courses online booking won't take a single reservation unless they need to fill a foursome. Ahhh, back to the days when you could walk on and play 2.5 hour round. Most of the local courses I'm lucky to play 9 in that time. 

[Golf2Much]

At my home course, no singles are allowed.  In fact, there's has to be a minimum of three players in order to book and/or tee off.  As a member, if I show up, want to play and there's no one on the course, they say I need to wait an hour or two until the next available spot with other golfers.  If I book for three and only I show up, I'll automatically be charged for the other two golfers.  

 

Edited September 2 by Golf2Much