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Morse, a gregarious 58-year-old real estate agent, interior designer and former registered nurse, eventually managed to make more than enough friends to feed her golfing passion. But when she read a newspaper article about a relatively new organization known as the American Singles Golf Association, she was intrigued by the idea of starting a local chapter.

After a month of distributing fliers to solicit members from area country clubs, municipal courses and driving ranges late last summer, her new group had its first social function and golf outing this past October.

More than 50 single golfers attended, and when the club holds its first Valentine’s Day social next month, she expects that number to triple, with more potential members constantly calling to get more information on the group.

This is not about Looking for Mr. Goodpar, Morse and other new Naples area members insist. There’s no denying that the nonprofit organization started by North Carolina businessman Tom Alsop, now with 3,500 members nationwide, definitely has had its share of singles morphing into engaged or married twosomes. But that was never really the primary objective of the ASGA, which ballyhoos the slogan of "fun, fellowship and fairways."

"This is not a meat market," Morse says. "It’s for single golfers to play with single golfers. It’s a way to meet friends for life. It’s not trying to find the perfect person. Sometimes it does happen, but I can tell you that on the golf course, glamour goes out the window, and how you deal with a bad shot usually will show people how you deal with other life stresses. Sometimes, it’s not pretty."

It costs only $70 annually to join the group, and members not only can enlarge their social circles, they get a significant break on greens fees at any club event, as well as discounts in the pro shop. Morse said many clubs have offered to donate bags, clubs and golf balls or golf apparel to be used as door prizes or other giveaways at club functions, "and we’ve really been welcomed with open arms everywhere we’ve gone."

Alsop, a printing broker from Charlotte, N.C., started the first group back in the early 1990s. Recently divorced and mostly fed up with trying to meet women in bars or even the church singles social scene, he and a friend, David Dalton, organized the first single golfers chapter, and within two years, they had 175 members.

Dalton eventually got married, an automatic, no-exception disqualification from any of the 65 clubs now scattered around the country.

Alsop has now made the ASGA his life’s work, producing a monthly newsletter, maintaining a Web site, and organizing trips and weekend or holiday events to major golf destinations that often attract 400 and 500 members.

"This is the greatest thing for getting to know other people," Alsop says. "It’s fun, it’s healthy and it’s safe. The four hours it takes to play a round of golf also allows plenty of time for observing others at their best, and sometimes their not-so-best."

Kathy Sloan, who plays at Pelican Sound and tries to get out on the course at least three times a week, was among the first to join the Naples chapter. She describes herself as a "60-ish retired navy nurse" who says she told Morse when she joined that "I’m not looking for a permanent relationship. I’m looking for companionship and social fun.

"A lot of people want to get out of their own communities and play at different places," Sloan says. "The first story I read about this group said something about ‘meeting your significant other on the golf course.’ Oh my gosh, that’s not what I’m looking for. I just want to meet people, play some golf and have a good time."

Mark jackson, another charter member who lives in Lehigh Acres, says he’s already got plenty of female companionship and simply was interested in expanding his social and golfing universe. He’s 62, divorced and works at a Bonita car dealership. He doesn’t belong to a golf club, preferring to use a charity discount book to schedule his tee times, plays wherever he can and read about the new group in a local newspaper.

"It’s all about having fun," Jackson says. "I’m in it for the camaraderie. Maybe you meet someone special, maybe you don’t. I’ve got all the girlfriends I need right now. But who knows? It’s just like golf. Whatever happens, happens, and then you take your next shot."