by CW
I guess golfers in the metro St. Louis area are still among the favored for 9-hole play. There are dozens of public courses in our area on both sides of the river that are either 9-holes or 18-holes with 9-hole prices. And many of these are not exactly easy to play, either!

by JP Moon
Our Chelsea , Quebec nine hole course is 2,904 yards long and we are members of RCGA with a 67.7 course rating and a 119 slope. A great challenge at $19 for nine. And there at least 6 or 7 country nines worth checking out within 1 hour of Ottawa/Gatineau area. All with ratings and RCGA membership. http://www.ottawagolf.com/larrimac/
Check it out, we love guests!

by Rene Thibault
I come from small town Alberta where many of the courses are 9 holes. You make a tee time for 9. You pay for 9. Don't forget to set a tee time for your second 9 if you're really into golfing today. The city tracks kind of look down at you here also, if you mention the words only 9. Pity.

by Ken-one-putt
Bud, it's time to come to misslde America, where the nine-hole golf course is still alive and well.
And where our Muni's still post the nine-hole rate for both green fees and carts.

by ike Steele
You might want to check out The Villages in Central Florida. they do a great job of promotong nine hole courses.

by Jeremy Carlson
Guess I should feel lucky then, near me, in Farmington, CT, Tunxis Plantation Country Club has a dedicated 9 hole course: 400+ yard par 4s, a 500+ yd par 5, and tough par 3s, water on 4 holes and bunkers galore. The only problem is is that because it's cheaper and 9 holes, it attracts some of the worst players out there, it's taken my dad and I up to 3 hours to play it before. But since it's that or a 9 hole executive that's near by, we'll play Tunxis.
He and I have gotten laughed at when we said we want to play 9 before, example- Omni Tucson National, we saw they had a 9 hole rate listed, but when we called the pro laughed and said "want to play 9? pay for 18 and play half hahaha". Tucson's got a great 9 hole course though, the Hilton El Conquistador Pusch Ridge Course; it's overshadowed by the 2 18 hole courses the resort has, but it's a great little course.
-Jeremy

by Jimagoo
It's Tiger's, the USGA's, and the PGA's fault that 18 holes takes 5+ hours now.
Tiger's popularity has brought a lot of new people to the golf course. But, they don't have a clue about the game or etiquette. I've played behind a foursome of black guys who play from the pro tees and can't hit it to the ladies tees. I've played behind Asians who act like the are surveying the course as if to buy it. White guy groups are out for the beer and snuff chewing or cigar smoking; by the third hole thye're on the way to being drunk. Ladies are the only group that seems to have improved. It used to be a social gathering for them; but now they're very serious about improving their game. The course rangers are either reluctant to say anything to anyone slowing up the pace or else they don't have the authority from the course owners.
The PGA, USGA, Tiger, and anyone else in a position of responsibility needs to make a public address commercial stating that everyone is welcome to the game but that they need to read the rules, take some lessons, understand the etiquette, etc. I've played with some very nice people new to the game but just detracted from it because they just don't understand it and couldn't hit the ground they're standing on.
That's what I think.

by Whit
Jimagoo- Will you've touch on a topic that is very much real and it's kinda like what VJ said about Annika that knowbody was willing to say out loud but everyone was thinking it, foresure. In Southern Cal, Orange County specifically has become very challenging to play golf based on the full on idiots that you describe. The 5 somes of Asians is freaking unbearable & unbelievable. They're pathetic approach to game for this particular group of golfers is not working. It sad and very humbling to get that it's getting worse. It really is bad news for all of us out here in gods country.

by Stan Rucker
I concur, 9 holes is not the problem. I believe what we experience on the golf course is just a microcosm of our present society. That is to say that the majority of the population does not understand the concept of "respect for one another". The "Golden Rule" has long since been displaced in our society by the "Me Rule". We see it on the highway, in stores, at entertainment venues and so on. It's everywhere. As for golf in particular, I agree that the PGA, LPGA and the USGA need to do public service announcements to promote golf etiquette. Anything that would help those who either don't know better or don't understand how they affect the pace of play should prove useful.

by Ivory Rubin
I agree with your assessment. Building more 9 hole courses or allowing 9 hole play on eighteen hole venues are not solutions for slow play. That only relocates the problem, therefore the maladies listed in your article will equate to 2.5-3 hour nine hole rounds.
Part of the problem is that golf does not have any initial requirements other than the ability to pay the price of a green fee. One does not need a cart, clubs, golf shoes, or the proven ability to perform...the first three are provided for a price by the course. The ability to pay overshadows the need for the ability to play.
But, on the other hand, public golf courses are "open to the public", and the present process for play eliminates most discriminatory practices traditionally used against minorities, women, and even those beer-guzzling, cigar smoking, tobacco chewing white guys.

by Steve Hamilton
Great point, great column!
I find that I can hit local courses after work and get in 9 holes before the sun goes down - there's no way to get in 18 at that time of day. And, since I have a young and busy family, weekend play isn't always in the cards...
Having the option, especially when encouraged by the course, for playing 9 holes work great, and will keep me coming back to a course...

by J. J. Gowland
Several courses in Ontario, Canada are offering "9 and dine" deals.

by G. Demars
You'd be surprized at how fast they are to offer 9 hole rounds to myself when I go in without my fiance to check in. "9 today, little lady?" When I reply a full 18 they look a little dumbfounded, but they take my money! I might be a lady, but I have the stamina to play a full round and still shoot below the average male golfer.

by Earl Carswell
I agree that there are too few opportunities to play 9 holes on a regulation size course. Many years ago I played at a Golf Club in Metro Atlanta that had three 9 hole courses, 27 holes. They were named Spring, Summer, and Fall. You could play, 9, 18, or 27 holes. They were set up on a rotation that followed the seasons. If you started on Spring, you then continued play on Summer. If you started on Summer, you went to Fall. If you started on Fall, you continued play on Spring. I enjoyed the opportunity to play 9 holes after my work day.

by chuck pearce
I have had clubs turn me down for 9 hole play. Somedays you only have so much time. But to let me walk out and the have no one on the first 2 tees is really not good business. Some older people would play if they had 9 hole rate # 1 it fits their budget #2 thats all they can take for one day.
Clubs would do beter with 9 hole play