Pebble Beach With Strangers

The famous #7 at Pebble Beach on film.

I frequently think about the trips I have taken to Japan. Many aspects of Japanese life are unique, but there’s a certain way technology and culture combine to make Japan a haven for introverts. Even in a densely populated area, the solitude one can find in Tokyo can provide solace. Some may dislike this notion, but others, like myself, might relish the opportunity to minimize interactions.

If we are really being specific, I would consider myself an extroverted introvert. I can interact with people, but it takes a lot of energy, and then it could require a 3-5 day cooling-off period during which I need to be alone. I like people and thrive off the energy of a room or an event. I also like solace and being alone. This is all fine, but golf changes the equation.

One of my favorite aspects of the game is getting paired up with new people and spending an extended amount of time with those strangers. There’s an art to playing golf with people you don’t know. It requires several skills, some inherent and others learned. Success as a single also requires a certain perspective on life. If you have ever gone out to a restaurant by yourself, then you know the feeling. Except this solo trip to dinner is at a communal table and many of your strengths and weaknesses will be on full display. That’s a big part of this—how you react to the good moments and, of course, to the shots that didn’t go as planned. Golf with strangers requires grace and an ability to make conversation with people who might only share the game as a commonality. It requires you to think of what other people are doing and maintain a higher level of etiquette than you might with your usual playing partners.

In October, I went to Pebble Beach on a solo mission to play America’s number one public golf course for the first time. The stars had never aligned for me to go with a group of buddies, but I knew there were key advantages to a last-minute single tee time. If you can get a spot within 24 hours, the two-night stay requirement is waived. Staying at the Lodge seems quite lovely, but this little loophole can potentially save you thousands in an already expensive outing.