I used to get all out of sorts when I was paired with the "wrong" guy.  It threw me off my game, especially in tournaments.  It took a long time for me to just focus on my game and not worry about other people's antics.   

I feel your pain, but luckily I have been paired with far more nice guys than jerks over my years of playing golf.

I'm 28 years old, in good shape, and I look like a golfer when I go out and play golf.  I have snazzy headcovers, my belt matches my shoes, and I have a Titleiest bag with shiny AP2s and rusty Vokeys.  I stretch a little bit before I go out, oil up my Scotty, put my scorecard holder in my back pocket, and mark my ball before I play.  The guys I get out with on weekends do the same thing.  We usually play from the back, and if we get paired up, we do the best to welcome him or her to the group.  If they duff one, or two off the first tee we always offer up a breakfast ball.  We may be playing for a little cash, but the single with a snap-on polo, an old pull cart, cargo shorts, and tennis shoes is probably playing to get out of the house.  99% of time we all have a great time and end up having a libation with our new friend at the 19th.

I also play as a single a lot.  I can tell when I get paired up with beginners that they're nervous to play with me just because of my appearance.  There's always the flood of excuses- "I haven't played in so long", "my driver is wood", "I hope we don't hold you up" etc.  The truth is I don't care.  If you're not talking in my back swing and you're trying to have fun, I'm just happy to be sneaking out of work for a couple of hours to get in a quick 9.  If you wanna kick your ball out of the rough or get totally bombed off the beers and shooters you smuggled in, go ahead.

There's lots of different kinds of golf.  There's days where you take it seriously and be competitive.  There's also days where the walk is just as important as the round.  If I'm keeping score, I always want to shoot low, but that's my game.  Go into it with an open mind Cody.  There's times you're going to get paired up with people that don't play the same way you do, but you never know what you're going to get until you get out there.  Just because I'm paired up with someone doesn't mean we're playing the same game.  The best rounds I play are the ones I'm having fun playing.

One of the best rounds I ever had was with an older (mid 60's) woman who I got paired up with.  She had an old bag on a new push cart and a short and choppy swing.  Had I judged her by her looks on the practice green I would have guessed she would be Mrs. Havercamp.  I was way off.  She broke out a dark n stormy mix on the second hole (which was delicious) and shot a 77.  She's played tons of iconic course all over the world.  The round was awesome, we laughed the whole time and both played well.  Turns out she had a son my age whom I now play with regularly.

Getting paired up is always a gamble, but don't worry about sizing up someone before hand.  You'll learn exactly what to expect after the fist hole.  Keep in mind that If you meet someone on the golf course, you already have something in common.

I used to play a lot as a single and would be paired up with a twosome or a threesome. 99% of the time I always had a good time. The one time that I did not I was paired with a bitter old guy who continually griped about how he hated living here and could not wait to move back to Chicago (I play in central Arkansas). While playing with this guy I was on a fairway that was cart path only and I duffed a shot about 75 yards. I asked this guy who who was near my cart on the path if he would not mind driving it up 75 yards or so to keep the pace of play going and he flat told me he did mind and for me to drive my own cart. I guarantee that stopped all conversation the rest of the round. I play in a monthly tournament (MGA) and the teams are selected by computer with A,B,C and D players on each team. I have met a lot of people who have become friends and fellow partners for me this way and no matter how our team scores I all ways have a good time. When paired with players who are having a bad day scoring I only encourage them and as we all know, our day of bad play could be the next round or the next hole. I learned a long time ago not to be judgmental on how a player looks or even how he swings a club. I got paired one time with a guy in bib overalls with rented clubs who sprouted a tornado beard and looked like he walked off the set of "Deliverance". That guy could flat out play. Turned out he was the son of a well known major league baseball pitcher who had some really interesting stories of growing up in places like New York, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, etc. meeting other famous ball players who were friends of his dad. The old saying, "Do not judge a book by it's cover" is true when you get paired up with strangers. Just play your own game and enjoy your company. You may learn something you never even dreamed.

You run into all sorts.   You have the "parking lot pro" with a nice shiny set of sticks and matching clothes who barely breaks 110. Then there is the person who has a set of clubs that is at least 40 years old (with laminated woods), really ratty bag, wears some really beat up clothes and plays par golf.

One of the more enjoyable rounds my friend and I played was with a lady that joined us.  She was 85 years old and she had a killer short game.

One of the more worse pairings was over 30 years ago at Navy-Marine in Hawaii (which is crowded just about all the time).  My shipmates and I wanted to play our usual crazy game of golf but got some anal retentive that stated "I'm going to call you on that shot." 

Since I am kind of a loner, I am often paired with groups of people who all know each other and likely have been friends for years. Most of the time this is just fine, and we have a good game, but every now and then I get a group that acts as if I wasn't there. I walk every round, and the courses that I play usually everyone rides. The bad groups will hop in their carts and ride ahead, not taking shot order into consideration. Since these courses are pretty busy, I feel like I have to rush (often jog) to keep up with the carts. It is annoying and tiring.

I do like to play with other people, but I would like to be included in the group, not be some fifth wheel.

Been there and done that. When you are the only one walking and playing with a twosome or a threesome riding in a cart you are going to be let out of a lot of conversation whether they are friends or total strangers, Since you have stated the course is pretty busy, most golfer play "ready golf" to keep the pace of play up. You have two choices, either play as a fifth wheel but don't feel like you have to rush or play as a single or find someone who also likes to walk.  Personally I would rather play by myself then to feel like I have to rush to keep up with carts. Golf is a game and is suppose to be fun. Having to rush your shots to keep up is not fun.

To all who have posted, thanks. I dont let any of that get me off of my game but many had brought up some good points about being a single with a group who have carts and you are constantly playing catch up. That is tough and I will agree with that. The stereotypes were all pretty spot on from somebody from an earlier post. You never really know what you are dealing with until the first shot but I really like to get into a rhythm. Having to wait and wait and wait on certain players just irks me and it makes the round uncomfortable. I just know we have all dealt with this and to have consecutive rounds with bad to below average players just got to me. Since then I have played as a single with a few groups that have been great to play with and havent had issues. I just hit a bad stretch thats all.

Josh, great attitude!  Too bad more don't have a similar outlook. 

I try not to size people up before hand and am pretty tolerant of all types.  The only thing I can't take are the guys that are the heavy drinkers or those that are lacking in manners toward other players or  the game.  Fortunately, I can't recall the last time I have been paired with anyone that I consider a problem.  It's fun to meet and play with different people. As such, I have to be tolerant of different personalities and quirky games. 

If I had a consistent string of bad luck, I would strongly consider finding a new course.  Sounds like the one you frequent is just attracting people that don't mesh with your likes.  Sometimes that happens.

Hello Cody D,

It's been my experience that I tend to have bad pairings at certain golf courses more than others. I have no earthly idea why. As a result, I only play those courses if I have a playing partner that I know. It's easier to endure when you're not flying solo and have somebody else to "share the pain".

I dont' really care how people look as long as they can reliably advance the ball towards the hole (at least 150 yards). The thing that makes me go bonkers is when people are not ready to play when it's their turn (looking for lost balls in the rough, checking out the cute girl in the beverage cart, etc.). Then when you tell them they're up, they ask "what's the yardage"? (./screaming!)

I think the game is hard enough without worrying about whether or not my playing partners have a clue.  Of course it is much much better to play with others that respect the code and decorum (sp?) of the game, but letting it get to you all but guarantees you a rough day on the links.  If the guy is out of hand drunk and you haven't teed off yet, try to have him removed or paired with someone else.  That's a tough one.  Moral of the story.....find a foursome that you can rely on and stick together.  That way, you may play behind or in front of the lush, but you won't have to smell his breath.