No Golf Friends? How to Find People to Play With in the UK & Ireland (Without Joining a Club)
If you have no golf friends, you are not behind. You are normal.
Loads of golfers love the game but get stuck in the same place: they want to play more, but they do not have a regular group. Mates do not play. Schedules do not line up. Joining a club feels like a big step. Turning up alone feels awkward.
This post is the friendly, practical answer to that exact problem.
You will learn the quickest ways to meet golfers near you in the UK and Ireland, how to do it without feeling weird, and how to turn one round into a regular golf circle.
Quick answer
If you have no golf friends, the fastest way to fix it is to get into places where golfers already organise rounds: roll-ups, scrambles, society days, simulator leagues, and local golf communities. You can start solo, keep it low pressure, and build familiarity quickly.
TL;DR: Do these 5 things this week
If you want results fast, do this in order:
Join a local golf community and post your area and when you play
Try a beginner-friendly roll-up or social scramble
Ask a driving range or simulator venue about leagues and socials
Book a tee time as a single at a busy course and get paired up
Follow up after the round and get a second game booked
If you want a simple first step, start with our guide Find Golf Partners in the UK & Ireland and then use the steps below to meet people locally.
Why having no golf friends is so common
Golf is brilliant, but it is not like five-a-side where you can always drop in.
A round is a time commitment. It is often outside town. People worry about slowing others down. Beginners worry they are not good enough. Returning golfers worry they will be rusty.
So people play less than they want, not because they do not like golf, but because they do not have the social access point.
The good news is you do not need a big network. You need one or two reliable routes to meet golfers and a way to follow up.
Pick your path: the best option depends on you
Different approaches work for different people. Choose the path that feels easiest.
If you are a beginner or high handicap
Best route: scrambles, relaxed roll-ups, society days with team formats
Why: team formats remove pressure and you meet people naturally
If you are returning after a long break
Best route: driving range groups, simulator leagues, midweek nine holes
Why: you build confidence quickly before a full competitive round
If you feel anxious about turning up alone
Best route: join a community first, then attend a roll-up with one person
Why: the first arrival becomes a shared thing, not a solo leap
If you only have evenings
Best route: twilight nine holes, simulator venues, range leagues
Why: consistent schedules create repeat faces and easier friendships
If you want more competitive golf
Best route: stableford roll-ups, society competitions, opens
Why: you will find golfers who enjoy scoring and structure
The 9 most reliable ways to make golf friends in the UK & Ireland
1) Join a local golf community first
If you are starting from zero, this is the easiest way to remove awkwardness.
Look for communities that are:
organised by area or hubs
welcoming to beginners and returners
active enough that people post tee times regularly
What to do:
join
post your area and when you play
ask for one game, not a lifelong friendship
If you want a ready-made place to start, the My Friendly Golf Club WhatsApp community is built for exactly this. Join, post your area, your level, and when you play, then you are in motion.
2) Play a scramble, it is the lowest pressure way to meet people
Scrambles are the cheat code for golfers with no golf friends.
Why they work:
you are never “on your own” because it is a team score
conversation happens naturally
your bad shots matter less
people are there for a laugh
Search locally for:
scramble open
Texas scramble
charity scramble
society scramble day
If you only do one thing this month, do a scramble.
3) Try a roll-up, even if you are nervous
Roll-ups exist to help people play more golf. Many are exactly the friendly bridge between casual golf and club competition.
Your first roll-up gets easier if you:
arrive 15 to 25 minutes early
ask who runs it
say you are new and want to join in
focus on pace, not perfection
If you need a full step-by-step, your roll-ups article is the perfect internal link here.
4) Ask the pro shop who is welcoming
This sounds simple, but it works.
Call or walk in and ask:
“Do you have any social groups, roll-ups, or societies that welcome new golfers?”
Pro shops know:
which groups are friendly
which days are relaxed
who will happily add a new person to a list
You do not need to guess.
5) Use simulator venues and driving ranges as a social shortcut
Indoor golf and ranges are full of people who want more golf, especially in winter.
Ask staff:
“Do you run leagues or social nights where people can join solo?”
Why it works:
shorter time commitment than a full round
easy after work
relaxed vibe
you see the same people each week
This is a brilliant route if you are returning after time away.
6) Look for a golf society near you
Golf societies are perfect if you want regular rounds without full club membership.
Societies often:
play at different courses
run monthly days out
welcome guests
have social formats and meals
You have already written the ideal “golf society near me” post, so link to it here.
7) Book tee times as a single and get paired up
This is underrated and it works best at busy pay and play courses.
How to make it comfortable:
book a popular time (weekend morning, twilight summer slots)
arrive early, putt for 5 minutes, then head to the first tee
introduce yourself with one line: “Hi, I’m [name], nice to meet you”
Most golfers are perfectly happy to have a pleasant playing partner. Plenty are also quietly looking for golf buddies.
8) Enter open events and visitor days
Open events give you:
a guaranteed group
a format that structures the day
a natural reason to talk afterwards
Even one open a month can build familiarity fast, especially if you follow up.
9) Take one small follow-up step after the round
This is where most people fail, not because they are awkward, but because they assume it will happen naturally.
At the end of the round, say:
“Great to meet you. Fancy another game next week?”
Or:
“Want to swap numbers in case we book something again?”
If you do this twice, you go from “no golf friends” to “I have golf mates” quicker than you think.
What to say (simple scripts that do not feel cringe)
You do not need a big speech. Use one of these.
If you are joining a roll-up or society day
“Hi, I’m new to this. How does it work and who do I pay in with?”
If you are playing with strangers as a single
“Hi, I’m [name]. I usually play around [level]. Looking forward to it.”
If you are a beginner or returning
“I’m getting back into it, so I might be a bit inconsistent, but I’ll keep pace.”
If you want to turn it into a regular thing
“Fancy booking a nine hole round next week if you are up for it?”
Simple, normal, effective.
The beginner-friendly rules that make people want to play with you again
You do not need to be good. You need to be a good playing partner.
Keep pace. Be ready, limit practice swings, pick up if needed
Be positive. Nobody enjoys four hours of self-criticism
Do not give swing advice unless asked
Be respectful. Repair pitch marks, rake bunkers, be calm on greens
Be honest. If you are unsure about scoring, ask
That is it.
If you want the easiest route, here it is
If you have no golf friends, the quickest fix is to join a community where golfers are already organising games.
Join the My Friendly Golf Club WhatsApp community
It is free, welcoming, and built for golfers across the UK and Ireland who want to play more and meet people.
When you join, post:
your area
your level (beginner, returning, handicap range)
when you like to play
Then ask:
“Anyone up for a friendly round this week?”
If you want the full framework, start with Find Golf Partners in the UK & Ireland and use this post as your action plan.
FAQs
Is it weird to have no golf friends?
Not at all. Golf is hard to organise compared to most sports. Many golfers are in the same position and quietly looking for playing partners.
Do I need an official handicap to meet golf buddies?
No. Many social rounds, scrambles, and casual groups welcome beginners and returners. Some competitions require a handicap, but you can still meet people without one.
What is the easiest event for a beginner to join?
A scramble or a relaxed roll-up. Team formats reduce pressure and make it easy to chat.
How do I find golfers near me without joining a club?
Use pro shops, roll-ups, societies, simulator leagues, and local communities. These are built-in meeting points.
How do I avoid awkwardness when meeting new golfers?
Arrive early, keep pace, be friendly, and ask one simple question. Most awkwardness disappears after the first tee shot.
Wrap-up
Having no golf friends is not a problem with you. It is a normal stage of the game.
The way out is simple: put yourself in the flow of social golf, take one small step each week, and follow up after good rounds.
Start with one route that feels easy, then repeat it until faces become familiar. That is how golf friends are made.
If you want the most straightforward first step, join the My Friendly Golf Club WhatsApp community and post your area and when you play.
