by Steve Bottomley
That's a great article. I own an 18 hole golf course and for 5 yrs we haven't been able to make it. What are the main reasons?... Familt, time, cost, economy. We're going back to the original 9 holes at our course. We're putting in a driving range, practice green and keeping 4 practice holes on the other 9. It may be the only way for us to survive... thinking outside the box or not!

by h.north
there are plenty (100s+) such courses in New England -- they are all over the place and are cheaper/quicker/less crowded/more fun on weekdays- than are their big brothers.

by Dana Spitzer
Hooray for you for taking up the issue of 9-hole golf.
I get out at 6:30 a.m. at least twice a week (more when I can) to walk nine holes. It helps my game, and also my waistline and mental health. I could never do that if I had to play 18.
Recently, on vacation in Hawaii, I walked into a course along the highway about 2 p.m. in the afternoon and asked if I could walk nine holes. I could see only two other golfers. I was told by the young attendant that "we don't allow walkers, or nine holes."
I was incredulous! The course was almost empty!
I noticed other courses that did not seem to be doing a booming business. And I wondered whether they had similar policies.
It seems to me that promoting nine-hole golf would create a new market for many couses, while doing little to adversely affect the 18-hole cart players.
DLS
St. Louis

by Dennis Snyder
I live in North Carolina near Raleigh. Most of the courses are 18 holes. There are a couple 9 hole courses in nearby communities that are still in existance. One problem with a 9 hole course is that it is hard to make money because you just cannot physically get as many players on the course at the same time as you can on an 18 or more hole course. I believe that the 9 only hole courses have a hard time paying for the necessities to maintain the course and keep the rates within affordability. In my area is a 9 hole course that Arnold Palmer used to play when he was in college. (If you read this Arnold, you know which one it is.) The sad thing is, that even though the course is filled with players on the weekends, the rates are fair, and the layout is fairly challanging, the course just can't afford the maintenance needed to make it pristine. I wish Arnold would buy it and put a back nine on it.
Maybe one solution would be for the larger 18 and 18+ hole courses could offer special 9 hole rates in the evenings or in off peak season and the player could choose which 9 they wanted to play. It is difficult for an 18 hole course to insert a 9 hole playing group or single in peak or morning hours. Perhaps that is why the rates are higher than expected.

by Bill Cordeiro
Where I live, in the NorthEast Kingdom, the area is well endowed with a plethora of 9 hole layouts. The one I play regularly is tantalizing because each hole has a distinctive character beyond what you'd expect, but is still a fair test at at any ball striking ability. There are two additional 9 holers a short run away, and a third that unfortunately closed down to development a few years back. On my golf course there is ample tee separation between the front and back sides. For a short few years, it played as an 18, then resorted to its original 9 stature. It has one lateral water hazard hidden by trees on a left dogleg par 4 and a par 3 over a pond at the tee to an elevated and bunkered green with its surface hidden. There are 4 two tiered greens and 4 holes that are blind on the tee or the approach. The ninth affords a glimpse of the flagtip on a straightaway to a two tiered green severely higher than the tee. Hole No. 8 is a severe two tiered dance floor teed from high ground is a drivable par 4 when the wind is aiding. One day, an average golfer can par and birdie on the front, then bogie the same holes on the back, or, vice versa. Tantalizing!
There is wooded boundaries and just a scattering of trees on the main course, unreal how some rounds can find trouble with these. Located in the Town of Rehoboth, MA,- at one time touted as Golf Town USA. It has a loyal following.

by Royce Aube
Nine holes are great if you live close and pop in , but many the courses are a half hour to hour's drive so you mighth as well play it all and enjoy it. The problem is 18 holes should be played in around 4 hours with ease .It's slow play that's the problem.Guys and gals play ready golf, go to your next shot and be ready to play when it's your turn .Also those who have that 50 second pause be for you swing ,work on loosing it. (Anoying)

by Dennis Snyder
Royce is correct. But playing in under 5 hours requires that all players use golf carts and there are no mixed seniors and/or women players. Realistically; Golf is played for fun. If you have to rush around the course to keep within the 4 hour time limit it may be difficult when other players are on the course. When I play single, I can finish 18 holes on my home course in about 3.5 to 4 hours as long as other players are willing to allow me to play through. Of course I don't hunt for any balls I fire into the woods, ponds, swamps or waste areas when I do that. I guess if I was a professional, I could fly around a course in no time at all. If I had hundreds of onlookers to find my ball in the rough (tall grass) where it seems to find its way all to often I could speed things up also. Nine holes? Playing nine holes works great after work when I have a chance for practice. Playing nine holes beats going home to dogs, cats, and kids playing loud music and video games anytime. It's also nice to walk.

by Tracy
Thanks for the great article. My golf buddy and I often want to just squeeze in 9 holes on a Sunday, but most courses we play force you to play before 7 am or after 3 pm if you want to limit it to 9 holes. I never quite understood the reasoning.

by danny boy
WT -- that may be called a "coup" in Michigan, but here it's theft by deception.

by WILLIAM TWEEDLE
I have to agree with Dany Boy, it is theft by deception. No doubt. I am sure you have noticed the difference in green fees for 18-holes and 9-holes is only a few dollars, not 50% as one would think. Again, this is not to justify it, but I doubt they will change.

by danny boy
In Ireland we discovered well maintained "pitch and putt" courses. These are 9 holes, with nothing over 50 yards. Not even true par three courses, these little gems can be played in 30 minutes and good scores are around 20! It sharpens your game and provides a quick fix for someone who has a limited amount of time but wants to get some golf in. They are easily lighted for night play as you never really are taking full swings so the balls are below the lights. I bet you could get 9 holes on 4-5 acres and with today's synthetic tees and greens, have a nice little business up and going.

by William Tweedle
You certainly must be talking about private clubs, exclusive public courses or resort courses. I live in SE Michigan and every course offers nine-hole play at comparable prices. In league play, 90% of leagues are 9-hole venues. Many of my peers think it is a coup to pay for nine and play eighteen, but don't tell anyone. Thanks.

by Jim Pettinger
It seems to me the problem you are addressing has to do with both the cost of real estate (price per round) and the cost of time to play. For me, 9 holes isn't quite enough, and "executive courses" don't seem like real golf. One other solution would be to start building 12 hole golf courses with full length holes (8 par 4s, 2 par 5s and 2 par 3s). Time to play would be about 3 hours and cost should be about 75% of 18 holes. Creative designers could work with multiples of 6 holes so 18 could also be played when you have the time and money.

by C Brennan
Like many chapters around the country, the Seattle Chapter of the Executive Women's Golf Association organizes 9-hole play at accommodating courses that value our business -- on the course and in the clubhouse afterwards! We currently offer leagues at eight locations. Do the math: avg 16-20 players each week from mid-April through August. CB

by GolfGearGuru
Excellent, excellent point. I've often complained that golf is a sport that isn't growing and one reason is that an 18-hole round takes 5-6 hours to complete. Even for someone like me that is involved in the golf industry finds it very difficult to take that much time (especially during the weekday) to play. If there were 3,000 yard 9-holes, I'd think that many more people would pick up the sport and stick with it. Especially if they were close to the population centers. Unfortunately, the nice mature courses get plowed under for housing.