"Why not meet someone on the golf course?" says Tom Alsop, who heads up a national organization of single golfers. “The golf course is a great place to get to know someone. You don’t have the kinds of distractions such as loud music and smoke-filled rooms. But you do get to see people at their best . . . and worst!”

Alsop, 53, single and “in love with the game of golf,” started a singles golf group in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1992, along with a friend. “We had six people at our first meeting. Now, our local chapter, the Charlotte Singles Golf Association, has 240 members. We have monthly meetings and outings, cookouts and socials. You name it, we do it.”

The next step in the process was to set up a national organization to create chapters in other cities. The organization now has over 70 chapters around the US with many others in formation.

Any single golfer 21 or over is invited to participate. And if you think you’ve got to be a great golfer to join? “Not so,” says Alsop, “our average handicap is 20. We have some who shoot 70’s occasionally, but most shoot in the 80’s and 90’s. But we don’t want to discourage the 100+ golfers either. If they’re committed to the game and are willing to try to improve their game, we’re happy to have them.”

Any person who is single (or legally separated, divorced or widowed), and over 21 is eligible to join. Dues are $70 per year.

To see if there's a chapter near you, visit www.singlegolf.com or call toll free 888-GOLFMATE.