I do not play much golf these days. When I do, it is usually for a charity event. I might arrive with a partner but then we are paired with another twosome. It usually works out and we all have a good time, as after all, we are all there to support a local charity. Over the years however, I have arrived at a golf course without any partners whatsoever and relied on the starter to place me with other golfers. Sometimes that works out well but often it does not. I have my quirks. I never ride a cart. I like to play the ball “down” meaning I do not move the ball in the fairway to make it easier to hit. I count every shot. Additionally, I play fast, do not drink alcohol on the course, and hate to gamble.
So, for many golfers, I am not a dream partner. I can still remember the crestfallen face of a fellow golfer when we were paired together for the second time. Finally, however, there may be a solution for me. As reported in The Wall Street Journal, you can now download an application that helps select the correct golfing partner for you. Similar to online dating sites, golfers enrolled in such programs input key golfing characteristics such as style of golf (e.g., serious or casual), handicap, gender, whether you like to gamble, and where you like to play. The application makes it easy to meet up with likeminded golfers. You can even book a tee time through the application.
Many think of it as platonic on-line dating. Golfers can join forums to post selfies, other photos, and movies. Currently, almost three quarters of golfing match application users are men, and not surprisingly, most are younger men between the ages of 18 and 34. So, while I do not have any experience using an online dating application, a golf matching application makes a lot of sense to me. I do not have to post a picture of myself or reveal whether or not I like romantic dinners and moonlight strolls on the beach. I can just say that I like to walk, play “bogey” golf, and like to tee it up later rather than earlier in the day. It seems odd, given that dating apps have existed for a number of years now that it has taken so long to develop such an application for a game that is so social.
