"If golf were invented today, it would be a nine-hole game."

I play 9 more often than not. The main reason being I can get in and out quick at offpeak times. Mostly before and after work. Even on the weekend when I have time to kill I'm usually there at the same times just to avoid the crowds. I can spend a 1/2 hour on the range, play 9 and finish in less time than it would take to play 9 on a busy day. It's just a more productive use of my time.

I'm a 9 hole man myself, I need time to get a nap in after work before I hit the links

I think this is a fine thing to promote.  But I'm not sure it is going to bring people to the game if that is the goal.  9-hole golf has always been there.  Just because a course has 18 holes doesn't mean you have to play them all.  Basically anyone that even knows a little about golf knows this.  If it is accompanied by some kind of discount from participating courses or something like that - it would seem more promotable (is that a word?).  But it seems a like they are introducing something that already exists.

Maybe there was something already inherent with 9-hole golf that didn't work.  Maybe the price for 9 doesn't equate to half of 18 - so you don't feel you are getting your money's worth.  Or maybe it seems high for 2 hours of entertainment?  They mention an after 4pm special in the article, but most courses offer a discount for all you can play after a certain time anyway.  Or maybe folks don't want to go through all the prep and prep time of golfing and then play what seems like 'half' - i.e. diving over there, getting dressed, buying/hitting warm-up balls.

I'd also question that less than 30 years ago nearly half of the courses were 9ers.  I don't have stats on it, and I wasn't even a golfer then, but I don't remember it that way.  And if what golfers really want is a 2 hour round, why did the 9ers disapear?

I realize this sounds a little negative - and I don't want it to sound that way.  I think 9-hole golf is great. I'll probably play 9 today after work.  I'm just not sure that reminding everyone they don't have to play all 18 actually answers a problem.

I did like the tee it forward thing they did though.  Still baffled to watch people shoot 105 from the blues all the time.

Nah, if it was invented today, my nerdy. mathematical, anal, self has to believe they'd use something a little more logical ... most likely 10.

But, yes, I think that if, along the lines of all of the speed up play initiatives coming out, they also started a big movement to get all courses working in 9 hole rounds somehow, that would be nothing but good for the game.

I'm certainly not giving up the game anytime soon, but I'd be able to play more often if I could do it in 2 hours sometimes.  (And not just at 6am or 4pm, which are the only times most courses currently offer 9 hole options.)

Good point on the 10 holes.  Nice round number.

And I didn't realize that so many courses don't offer 9.  Maybe the initiative is for course managers more than the actual golfers?  Certainly hard to promote playing 9 if it isn't available.

I actually don't like playing just 9 holes and will only do so when time constraints absolutely mandate it. Stopping after 9 holes just feels incomplete to me. I understand some people are in more of a rush but I don't mind playing 18 or more holes even if the course is slow.

When I worked at a golf course many years ago, myself and another kid I worked with would play 9 all the time. The difficult part was choosing which 9. We both played solid golf and could finish 9 with a cart in less than 90 minutes. Great for after-work-golf if you have other things to do. A lot of times, if the course was dead, we'd close the pro shop and cart barn up in the evening, and go play the front 9 before it got too dark to see. Also worth mentioning that the handicap system accepts 9 hole scores as well.

In high school, all of our league matches were 9-holes.  And tournaments were 18-holes.  I enjoyed playing 9-holes and wouldn't be opposed to playing more 9 hole rounds today. But most of the courses here in Orange County, do not offer 9-hole rounds.  It's either 18-holes or nothing.  And the few courses that offer 9-holes, they only offer it early AM.

Is that because the courses are so busy?

I play probably about 90% nine hole rounds, mainly because I get up early play nine and get to work.

I usually don't start playing my best golf until about the 27th hole most of the time so if I only played 9 I would never know what it was like to play my best. (Just joking...Sort of).

We had a nine hole match every Tuesday afternoon last year and I did play well in that, so maybe I can get in gear a little earlier if I don't have a choice.

Worth pointing out, here we have quite a few 27 hole courses. One facility actually has 4 courses, an 18, 9 and two par 3's.

Some of those 9 hole deals are pretty awesome though (if you can stand getting up that early!). Me and a buddy played the early 9 deal at Strawberry farms (9 holes, cart AND breakfast )

given my drothers, I'd much rather prefer playing 18, but I'll still go out and play 9 if/wehn the oppurtunity presents itself....heck, was even able to play 9 on lunch at my last job

LOL. Not 15 minutes after my previous post in this thread, a co-worker asks me when we are going to go play 9 holes before work one day.  There is a nice little practice course (no rating, almost pitch and putt, par 29) near my house that we could probably finish in 75-80 minutes without even trying.

We are setting it up for this Friday and hopefully can turn it into a weekly thing!

Yeah, there is also San Juan Hills that does that, and I think I've read that so does Tijeras Creek.  I really should look into these more!

You should....nothing like freezing your butt off first thing in the morning....

Part of the problem around here is the *perceived* value of playing 9. A lot of guy with their own carts will pull in after work and play 3,4,9 holes.

The average cheapskate (around here) does not want to pay more than half the 18 hole price.

At our club the cart fee is $21 for 18 and $12.50 for 9. The only time any of us plays 9 is with the wife and it is because it was her idea to go out and play 9 - we'll always take 9 over not playing.