Golfing Alone (with Gary Belsky)

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Russ Roberts interviews Gary Belsky about Solo Golf, a book arguing that playing golf alone is a distinct, restorative practice—less social, less performative, and more meditative than normal rounds. They explore golf’s social rules, self-consciousness, flow states, analog-vs-digital leisure, and how solo golf can reduce stress, sharpen focus, and even improve one’s broader approach to life.

Main Topics: What solo golf is (Priority: 5/5): Belsky defines solo golf as playing a full course alone, not merely as a single in a group. He contrasts it with the golf industry’s preference for foursomes and explains why solitary play feels rare and special. Golf as a social and performative activity (Priority: 5/5): The conversation emphasizes that golf is hard partly because other people are watching. Social pressure, pace-of-play concerns, and self-consciousness change performance even though the physical task is the same. Meditation, yoga, and mental health (Priority: 5/5): Solo golf is compared to yoga and other contemplative practices because it encourages acceptance, breathing, focus, and flow, while reducing criticism and ego-driven reaction. Golf’s accessibility across skill levels (Priority: 4/5): Roberts and Belsky note that golf uniquely allows players of vastly different ability to share the same activity, unlike tennis or football. This makes it a rare social equalizer. Physical vs. digital leisure (Priority: 4/5): They discuss the rise of simulated golf and the broader attraction of analog experiences such as fountain pens and pocket watches. Golf’s physicality may become more valuable as digital life expands. Golf culture, etiquette, and tradition (Priority: 3/5): Belsky reflects on course etiquette, course design, and how modern golf both honors and departs from its historical roots. He also notes the value of playing on less manicured courses for solo rounds. Journalism, ESPN, and golf coverage (Priority: 3/5): Belsky recounts his ESPN years, including stories about an editor playing in an LPGA event and a writer caddying in a professional tournament, illustrating golf’s narrative richness.

Key Arguments: Solo golf is not just being alone; it is a different psychological and emotional experience that can feel more contemplative and restorative than golf with others. The biggest difference between solo golf and regular golf is not only the absence of conversation but the absence of being watched, which reduces anxiety and self-consciousness. Golf uniquely mixes physical execution with psychological pressure; the same swing can be performed in private with far less stress than in public. The game offers rare cross-class and cross-status sociability: strangers and people of very different skill levels can still share the same course and conversation. Golf can function like yoga by training acceptance, breathing, and nonjudgment, especially when things go badly. Analog activities may gain appeal in a digital age, and golf’s embodied, tactile nature could become more attractive as simulation options expand. Shorter rounds or partial rounds can make solo golf more practical and accessible, suggesting room for innovation in golf offerings. Course difficulty and less polished settings can help solo golfers imagine they are playing closer to the game’s historical roots.

Data Points: EconTalk appearance count for Gary Belsky: 3rd appearance - Russ Roberts notes this is Belsky’s third time on the program. Last EconTalk appearance: April 2016 - Referenced when introducing Belsky’s prior episode on the origin of sports. Solo golf experience count: Dozens - Belsky says he has solo golfed dozens of times. Typical golf score target: 72 - Roberts explains that par is typically 72 for 18 holes. Golf score example: 135 - Roberts jokes this is the score he could probably shoot after a decade away from golf. ESPN audience threshold for coverage: 10% - Belsky says ESPN’s rule of thumb was to cover a story if at least 10% of the audience would find it compelling. Solo golf impact on scorekeeping: Does not count for handicap - Belsky notes solo rounds lack witnesses and therefore do not qualify for handicap purposes. Highest score benchmark discussed: 73 - Belsky describes 73 as the kind of average that would make a player the most popular at a local course. College-free threshold: 72 - He says averaging one stroke better than 73 could earn a free college golf opportunity. Professional-living threshold: 71 - Belsky says averaging 71 could mean making a living at golf. Multi-millionaire threshold: 69 - He says averaging 69 could make a golfer a multimillionaire. Tiger Woods peak benchmark: 68 - Belsky says averaging 68 would make one the most famous person in the world, like Tiger Woods at his peak. Time practicing yoga: 21-22 years - Belsky says he has practiced yoga for roughly 21 to 22 years. Short solo rounds: 5-6 holes - Belsky describes playing abbreviated solo rounds to fit time constraints. Heaviest personal score gap: 10 strokes better - He mentions his greatest score ever was 10 shots better than his second-best round. Golf club usage example: Rented clubs - He describes his best round as occurring while using rented clubs at the University of New Mexico course.

Pivotal Quotes: "“Solo golf is the act of playing golf by yourself on a course or at least on a whole without anyone there.”" — Gary Belsky: Belsky defines the book’s central concept at the outset of the interview. "“When I'm over a shot, all I am thinking about is that shot period. ... When you're over the ball, all you are thinking about is every shot you took before in this game and ... who's watching.”" — Gary Belsky: He explains why amateurs feel more stress than professionals and why solo golf is calming. "“There’s no lonelier place in the world or emptier place in the world than a golf course with nobody on it.”" — Gary Belsky: Belsky describes the atmosphere that makes solo golf feel emotionally distinct.

Implications: Solo golf points to a broader appetite for low-pressure, restorative, embodied activities. For golf, shorter formats and more flexible play could expand participation, while the sport’s analog appeal may strengthen in an increasingly digital world.