Who else mostly walks off after 9 holes ?

[mangohead]

I play single.  Easy to get an AM time.

I always walk w/ pull cart.   Nice little 3 mile exercise walk to start the day.

I rarely play 18.  It's not even the time, but that it drains me from further productivity for the rest of the day.

Too bad there isn't a 9 hole price, but whatever.    I pay my $35, walk 9, and am done by 11am.   

Sometimes, I would be in a mood to play a few more, but not 18.   More like 12 or 13 would be fine.

 

 

[lefthack]

I usu only play 9, sometimes only 6. But I'm solo in a cart. I typically only hit 1 drive unless it's very bad or a par 3. I hit 3 on par 3's and generally 3 balls on approach. Because my club is short, I will often play my drive, but drop 2 from 150+ out.

 

It's way more practice than a round, but it's fun and it beats the range because I know true yardage of all my shots. It's an hour to 90 minutes to start my day about 4 days a week now.

 

I played a legit 9 yesterday at a new to me course by the office in an hour with a cart. I did 18 at Wildwood last week in just over 2 hours with a cart solo. But I can only go solo if I'm first out there.

 

<edit> the club is $15 for 9 holes for non members but the cart is $6. Wildwood is $18 for 9 I think, $32 for 18, I think it was also $6 for the cart for 9.

Edited July 21, 2021 by lefthack

[Abh159]

I never play before work, but I do occasionally go play after in the afternoons. I'll typically just walk 9 on those occasions. Fortunately, I belong to a private club so I don't have to worry about rates

 

However, most of the golf I play is on the weekends and it's always at least 18 holes. 

[smashdn]

I walked nine holes yesterday.  Wanted to walk off after six I was playing so badly.

[BrianMcG]

My local muni has a 9 hole rate. 
 

It never hurts to ask. 

[caeye0710]

I tend to avoid 9 hole rounds just for one simple reason particularly for myself: I find it hard to be excited / engaged if I'm only playing 9. It goes by too quickly for me and I can really never get myself in a groove knowing it's not a full round. 

 

I wish I could. I'd be on the golf course at least two times more per week. If I only have a couple hours to spend, I'll usually just go to the range and practice for a while to keep the game as sharp as I can. 

[Fairway14]

More 9 hole golf courses would be great for the growth of the game.

[Nard_S]

After 13 you're at the parking lot at my course, works pretty good if time or fatigue is an issue.

[golfandfishing]

6 minutes ago, Fairway14 said:

More 9 hole golf courses would be great for the growth of the game.

Economically - 9 holers are usually very difficult to make work. The “growing the game” clientele is very price adverse, and once the 9 hole course has done it’s job of introducing people to the game and advancing their ability to play those players move on to full length 18 courses and don’t return. So the customer base is a revolving door of low paying customers but all of the expense of labor, mortgage, carts, equipment, maintenance, etc remains. 
 

I know someone is going to say “the 9 holer by me rakes it in so this isn’t true at all” but it takes exceptional circumstances for a 9 hole course to be in demand enough to be a viable business. 

[pseudoswede]

If early enough in the morning, I'm surprised the golf course doesn't offer a few back 9 only tee times for a 9-hole rate. A few courses in my area do that.

Edited July 21, 2021 by pseudoswede

[Fairway14]

2 minutes ago, golfandfishing said:

Economically - 9 holers are usually very difficult to make work. The “growing the game” clientele is very price adverse, and once the 9 hole course has done it’s job of introducing people to the game and advancing their ability to play those players move on to full length 18 courses and don’t return. So the customer base is a revolving door of low paying customers but all of the expense of labor, mortgage, carts, equipment, maintenance, etc remains. 
 

 

 

 My comment reads "More 9 hole golf courses would be great for the growth of the game" , and it's absolutely true.

So, the golf industry organizations and corporations  which talk about "growing the game" , such as the USGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour, Titleist,Callaway, Ping, TM etc... should take the initiative to own, manage, maintain , rehabilitate, subsidize etc... 9-hole courses, par 3 courses, driving ranges etc...

 

[Moonlightgrm]

Every golf course in my neck of the woods has a 9-hole rate. 

[Dannyboy44]

its $5 to walk 9 at my local course. 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

I don't think I've ever been to a course in NY that didn't have a 9 hole rate. 

[phizzy30]

Recently joined a cc.  I rarely play 9 and I always ride in a cart.  Lately, I've been finding myself doing 9 holes more often.  I own my own personal training business so I try and get out to play whenever I can.  I find myself having a little time for myself late afternoon so I'll sneak out and do 9 holes around 4 to 5pm.  Sometimes I will play with some of the members who like to go out late as well on the weekdays.  I almost always play on Sundays now so I will def do the entire 18 then. 

[trilerian]

7 minutes ago, Dannyboy44 said:

its $5 to walk 9 at my local course. 

 

Can't really beat that.  There is one about 45 minutes from where I live that costs $7 or $8.  It is a short 9 hole course that is in ok condition, but the greens are horrendously slow and furry.  About the time I finally get used to the green speed the round is over, lol.  

 

Anyway, I personally prefer to play a full 18, although when playing after work I can usually only get in 9 plus some range time.  I have a season walking pass to my city's 3 courses with one being a 9 hole executive course.  I haven't played there at all this season.  

[tatertot]

1 hour ago, Moonlightgrm said:

Every golf course in my neck of the woods has a 9-hole rate. 

I honestly thought this was the accepted norm.

[LeoLeo99]

I play 9 often.  The short course near me allows me to get in a quick 9 if I'm missing golf but don't have a lot of time.  Getting 9 in on my "lunch break" is great.  But if I payed for 18, I'm playing 18.  

[Abh159]

2 hours ago, pseudoswede said:

If early enough in the morning, I'm surprised the golf course doesn't offer a few back 9 only tee times for a 9-hole rate. A few courses in my area do that.

 

I've seen courses do this also, but it can be tough for most to offer it. You have to remember that the maintenance crews are usually out there early AM and most will start on #1 and work their way to #18. 

 

If you let groups tee off on the back 9 there is a good chance they catch up to those crews around hole #12 or #13.

 

Although if a course doesn't cut their fairways and/or greens daily then this isn't an issue. 

[jordan2240]

All the courses in my area have a 9-hole rate, as far as I know, but it is always at least 2/3rds the price of the 18 hole rate.  Regardless, I never thought I'd enjoy playing 9, but hooked up with a group of older guys that do so every Monday morning, and I've found it's a great time to experiment with some stuff, especially since we play better ball.  But overall, I prefer to play 18.

[Dannyboy44]

30 minutes ago, trilerian said:

 

Can't really beat that.  There is one about 45 minutes from where I live that costs $7 or $8.  It is a short 9 hole course that is in ok condition, but the greens are horrendously slow and furry.  About the time I finally get used to the green speed the round is over, lol.  

 

Anyway, I personally prefer to play a full 18, although when playing after work I can usually only get in 9 plus some range time.  I have a season walking pass to my city's 3 courses with one being a 9 hole executive course.  I haven't played there at all this season.  

 

Its a 18 hole flat course along the Ohio river. Decent shape but yes the greens are extremely slow. Its only 5 minutes from where I work so its a good place to build confidence. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

3 hours ago, golfandfishing said:

Economically - 9 holers are usually very difficult to make work. The “growing the game” clientele is very price adverse, and once the 9 hole course has done it’s job of introducing people to the game and advancing their ability to play those players move on to full length 18 courses and don’t return. So the customer base is a revolving door of low paying customers but all of the expense of labor, mortgage, carts, equipment, maintenance, etc remains. 
 

I know someone is going to say “the 9 holer by me rakes it in so this isn’t true at all” but it takes exceptional circumstances for a 9 hole course to be in demand enough to be a viable business. 

 

Yeah, it's a difficult business proposition because if it's a nice course, it's usually 18, but if it's a little exec course, it's quickly one that players may "outgrow".

 

I do have a little course/range near me that I like though. They make the bulk of their money off their "player's club", which for just over $40/mo gets you a free large range bucket any day you go, reduced rates on the 9 hole course, etc. They have a short game practice area with bunkers and a putting green as well as the range, and for a small added fee a grass range. 

 

The course is nothing to speak of. It's 1115 yards and par 29. But with the player's club membership it's only $7 to play, and if I want to get a quick early morning weekday 9 in, it's not a bad place to work on wedge play and short game. I'd probably never play there without the membership, but since I'm paying the membership to have access to the range balls, it's sometimes nice as a change of pace. 

 

This is one that has managed to stick around as a nicer 9 hole though:

 

https://www.theranchlb.com/golf/overview

 

Beautiful setting deep in a canyon, right by Laguna Beach so the weather's always nice. I need to book a round there again soon...

[Bonneville85308]

Most of the time these days I don't set out for a round of golf unless I am basically assured of getting 18 holes in on an 18 hole course. If I play a 9-hole course to try something new (I will play any course at least once), I only go around once for whatever reason, even if I like the course. 

 

[smashdn]

1 hour ago, tatertot said:

I honestly thought this was the accepted norm.

Same.  Some places will bake in a cart but I have most always seen a 9 and 18 rate.

[Bonneville85308]

9 minutes ago, smashdn said:

Same.  Some places will bake in a cart but I have most always seen a 9 and 18 rate.

 

Where I live currently, some courses have an "earlybird" 9 hole rate during the first ~1.5 hours of the tee sheet where they send you off the back nine. Most don't have a specific published 9-hole rate during the rest of the day, but a few will give you such a rate if you ask in the shop and others have dirt cheap twilight rates which encourage 9 hole play. They don't offer a 9-hole rate during prime time off #1 tee because frankly I think they don't need to as they can fill the tee sheet with 18 hole players at full price.

[Socrates]

5 hours ago, mangohead said:

I play single.  Easy to get an AM time.

I always walk w/ pull cart.   Nice little 3 mile exercise walk to start the day.

I rarely play 18.  It's not even the time, but that it drains me from further productivity for the rest of the day.

Too bad there isn't a 9 hole price, but whatever.    I pay my $35, walk 9, and am done by 11am.   

Sometimes, I would be in a mood to play a few more, but not 18.   More like 12 or 13 would be fine.

 

 

Early AM time???  9 holes and done by 11am?  What did you do between 6am and 9am?

[smashdn]

9 minutes ago, Bonneville85308 said:

 

Where I live currently, some courses have an "earlybird" 9 hole rate during the first ~1.5 hours of the tee sheet where they send you off the back nine. Most don't have a specific published 9-hole rate during the rest of the day, but a few will give you such a rate if you ask in the shop and others have dirt cheap twilight rates which encourage 9 hole play. They don't offer a 9-hole rate during prime time off #1 tee because frankly I think they don't need to as they can fill the tee sheet with 18 hole players at full price.

 

The price of nachos and hot dogs is on the board places I go.

[ohioglfr]

I'm a walker and usually play 9.  At 67 years, it just feels right, and I have the rest of the day to do other stuff. 

 

[Roejye]

I play almost exclusively 9 holes. My home course is more of an executive course, but you can hit driver on all non par 3 holes. Of course, it helps that I'm not a bomber.

 

I find that it's hard to take the time to play 18, with family needs and everything. I could do it more often, but I'm not really a morning person and it requires getting up earlier than I'd like to on my day off.

[jimbo123]

Aimed for 36 or 54 holes when I was younger and I couldn’t imagine the idea of 9 holes.  Now with a couple of young kids and way less energy, 9 holes is often perfect.  Mainly play matches with a friend in a similar situation, so it feels like a “complete” round in a way.