Going on a golf trip alone

Golfers who travel alone are no longer a niche in tourism. Search Facebook for “golf singles” once and you find groups and communities devoted to exactly this. Tour operators have their own offers for solo travellers. Here is what you need to know for a good week on your own.

Playing alone usually means playing with others

On popular holiday courses a tee time is meant for four players. If you book alone, the course usually puts you together with other guests. A round just for you is often only available for an extra charge or not at all there, because a half-empty group earns the course less.

See that as an advantage. On the course you meet other golfers, and in the evening you have someone for a glass of wine and the stories about birdies and bogeys. For me that is one of the best parts of a golf holiday.

Booking a tee time as a single player

Some online booking systems require at least two players. Do not let that put you off. Write the course an e-mail or call and ask how they fit in single players. The golf office can then add you to a group that is not yet full.

From my time in a golf office I know that solo travellers often sort out their green fees and tee times day by day. That gives you freedom. In the main season, though, it is safer to book the tee times together with the trip.

Trips with a programme

If you do not want to plan everything yourself, there are two good ways. The first is trips specifically for solo travellers. Tour operators combine the rounds with tournaments, shared dinners and other programmes after golf.

The second is a training trip with a golf pro. Some golf teachers organise such trips in the off season, mostly between October and Easter. A typical trip lasts a week and combines three to five rounds with practice on the driving range. The groups usually have 8 to 16 participants. You arrive alone and are still never alone on the course.

The room

Ask the hotel for the price of a single room and the price of a double room for single use. Compare both with the price in the golf package. On trips with a programme it is worth asking whether the operator can arrange a room to share with another participant.

When you play most peacefully

On your own you are flexible. Use that. The time around sunrise and the late afternoon are quieter than the morning on many courses. An early start rewards you with peace and the best light of the day.

Template for your request as a single player