9 hole rounds

[revkev]

I may be nearing retirement age, 66, but I am not slowing down.  My occupation, Pastor, is pretty much an on call 24/7 one.  My observation is that people have become more and more needy, not a complaint just an observation, and far less respectful of other's time, that is a complaint but also an observation.  I get texts, phone calls and facebook messages every day of the week, many well outside of regular business hours.  I'm constantly forced to triage whether these need an immediate response and they are extremely disruptive.

 

What this means is that I have had far less time to play golf than in years past.  While I always knew that I could be called out in the middle of the night or a round for a death those occurances were few and far between.  One occurred on thanksgiving evening, just as my company was leaving, thankfully.  Ultimately it cost me a round that I had scheduled with MGSPer Larry D on Friday morning.  I did finish what I needed to do around 1 and so called another friend and headed to the club around 2.  They worked us in at 3.  Since it was probably too late to play 18 - the course was still pretty crowed and its dark around 5:50 we decided to walk 9.  It was a great decision.  Bayou is a big course, I got 10K plus steps in for that 9 hole when most places walking 18 is 15-17K for me.  We were done before 5 which meant under 2 hours for the nine.  Had we ridden we would have been waiting on every shot.  Instead we only needed to wait a few times (on the par 5's because one of the guys ahead of us could clearly reach them in 2 - no big deal.  

 

What I'm getting at is that it was a great time.  I enjoyed playing an interrupted round, enjoyed the company, enjoyed the walk.  Didn't play great but it was very hard to focus after losing a parishioner whom I've served for 16 years.  I shall miss her.  Additionally we have another one who is touch and go.  

 

I'm thinking that I am about to become a 9 hole walking golfer twice a week for the foreseable future - any one else fall into that category?

[MacTourney]

28 minutes ago, revkev said:

- the course was still pretty crowed and its dark around 5:50 we decided to walk 9.  It was a great decision. 

I'm thinking that I am about to become a 9 hole walking golfer twice a week for the foreseable future - any one else fall into that category?

Excellent.  Can't go wrong walking whether it be a downtown stroll, scouring the links, or when serving others.   I love the feel of game turf under my feet.

[TR1PTIK]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss Rev. Prayers to you and all those who knew her. 

-

While I certainly don't prefer 9-hole rounds over 18-hole rounds, I do enjoy them quite a lot. The smaller time commitment and easier walk make for a pleasant experience - it just always leaves me wanting more. 

[revkev]

1 hour ago, TR1PTIK said:

I'm sorry to hear about your loss Rev. Prayers to you and all those who knew her. 

-

While I certainly don't prefer 9-hole rounds over 18-hole rounds, I do enjoy them quite a lot. The smaller time commitment and easier walk make for a pleasant experience - it just always leaves me wanting more. 

Thanks - it’s part of my job but not my favorite part. The lady was 90 but just a great gal.

I would suspect that walking 18 at my club would be 21k steps - the front nine is always around 10k and the back over 11k - it’s a long way from the clubhouse to the 10th tee.  Over 1,000 steps from the range to 10. Then there’s the walk from 12 to 13, out to the Bayou and from 16 to 17, back from the Bayou. 

[JerryB]

I wound up playing a lot of nine hole rounds this year.  My course is pretty easy-going so I could easily rotate between front nine and back nine.  Most of my weekday rounds were nine because I had to get to work in the afternoon.

When I played with my son Owen we would ride, but if I played by myself I tended to walk.  I really started to enjoy walking the course.  I could always use more exercise and this is a great way to get some in.

[cksurfdude]

I enjoy walking the course - which became a bit easier after my wife gifted me with a really nice electric trolley; and I also enjoy 9 hole rounds ... although not because I'm always on call like @revkev...

One of the main culprits is this stoopit osteoarthritis .. lower back, hips, right knee .. and it's creeping into the fingers so sometimes 9 holes ends up being plenty of swinging and hitting...

Yeah I exercise and stretch; do some yoga to maintain, even improve, flexibility and mobility; etc but just not ready (yet) to start depending on the pain killers to keep going...

So I go play when everything feels ok; and end up practicing more often vs playing since you can just stop at any time.

Plan on doing some more golf-specific exercises over the winter, in addition to continuing lessons and practice to help improve my posture in the full swing .. to try to increase my golfing time.

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

My view on 9 holed definitely has shifted.

I use to think if I was golfing it was 18 or don't bother. However with a growing family and time not being ad abundant as it once was I certainly see the appeal. Add in that the course I play has a great championship 9 which they are working on I am coming around on it. 

I still feel slightly incompletes after only 9, but it allows me to get a good Golf fix in which in the end is what I'd important.

[edingc]

A few years back, one of our local courses offered a lunchtime special of a sandwich and drink, plus three holes of golf. I don't know if they still do it or not, but it was a unique idea for those of us who need to be back in the office in 90 minutes or less.

Point being, golf is still fun for me whether it's nine or 18 holes. While I prefer 18 holes as well, my schedule only allows that for a limited set of time each year. It's much easier for me to squeeze in nine holes before work without needing additional vacation time, or on Saturday mornings when I know I have a lot of chores to do that day. 

I also find I'm more willing to try new things or play a true practice round when I'm only playing nine. It's fun to play from the forward tees or use a limited set of clubs, etc.

[PMookie]

With the addition of the Stewart Q Follow in my life, and a rate of just $10 walking 9, I definitely see myself playing 9 more often next year. I found it quite enjoyable during testing and $10 is hard to beat!

[russtopherb]

I love 9 hole rounds. There's a 9 hole course 10 mins from my office that I will play either right before or right after work, even if it's just a practice round. I get my golf fix in without impacting other things in my schedule. I'll play 9 with my son a lot too; with all his commitments with school, band, part-time work, etc. it's a great way for some dad/son time out there that doesn't eat up the better part of an entire day.

[Terry Chance]

A couple of years ago I started occasionally playing 9 holes due to time constraints.  I started doing this more and more and was shooting pretty decent scores, until I went to play 18 again.  My back 9 score was terrible, while the front 9 was the same as what I had been seeing.  This happened a couple more times and I realized it was fatigue showing up because I wasn't conditioned for that many holes.  I now try to mix it up a lot more, and have noticed my back 9 scores are in line with my front 9 again.  Just something to keep in mind.

[Duffertrent]

After a 20 year hiatus, I restarted golfing about 6 months ago, and love it. But I’m really stoved up from arthritis, and deteriorating discs.

At 75, I’ve become somewhat immobile since about 4 years; with mostly back and neck pain. I’ve been to PT, and am doing numerous stretches. Even tried acupuncture. I’m also using (mostly wall mounted) elastic resistance tubes for weight training. My endurance too, is not what it was at 70; I can no longer make it walking 18 holes, and barely 9. Although, I walk 18 holes at a par 3 course, since there aren’t carts to drive; which is only hard for me to walk-if it’s much over 80 degrees. 

That said, I’m comfortably good for 9 holes, so that is what I do. 

Edited November 28, 2022 by Duffertrent

[GolfSpy_KFT]

I mostly play 9 hole rounds as well due to time constraints and a young family. My 5 year old really got interested in golf this last summer through the local First Tee program, so 9 holes is typically just the right amount of golf for him (although he started to beg to play 18 at the end of the summer ). I’ll play 18 hole rounds with my buddies and on a yearly golf weekend trip, but other than that it’s mostly 9s, and mostly because I can take my 5 year old on late summer evenings and the course is darn near empty so he doesn’t have to feel rushed 

[Willie T]

I like playing 9 when I am walking by myself. Most of the time I do ride 18 as my typical playing partners, my son and his 6 yr old son, like to go that route.  My grandson is getting his own cart for Christmas, so we will be doing more 9 hole walks in the coming year. The pace and peace of walking cannot be beat for sure as you hardly ever have to wait on anyone. 

[Caddie1966]

On 11/26/2022 at 10:39 AM, revkev said:

I may be nearing retirement age, 66, but I am not slowing down.  My occupation, Pastor, is pretty much an on call 24/7 one.  My observation is that people have become more and more needy, not a complaint just an observation, and far less respectful of other's time, that is a complaint but also an observation.  I get texts, phone calls and facebook messages every day of the week, many well outside of regular business hours.  I'm constantly forced to triage whether these need an immediate response and they are extremely disruptive.

 

What this means is that I have had far less time to play golf than in years past.  While I always knew that I could be called out in the middle of the night or a round for a death those occurances were few and far between.  One occurred on thanksgiving evening, just as my company was leaving, thankfully.  Ultimately it cost me a round that I had scheduled with MGSPer Larry D on Friday morning.  I did finish what I needed to do around 1 and so called another friend and headed to the club around 2.  They worked us in at 3.  Since it was probably too late to play 18 - the course was still pretty crowed and its dark around 5:50 we decided to walk 9.  It was a great decision.  Bayou is a big course, I got 10K plus steps in for that 9 hole when most places walking 18 is 15-17K for me.  We were done before 5 which meant under 2 hours for the nine.  Had we ridden we would have been waiting on every shot.  Instead we only needed to wait a few times (on the par 5's because one of the guys ahead of us could clearly reach them in 2 - no big deal.  

 

What I'm getting at is that it was a great time.  I enjoyed playing an interrupted round, enjoyed the company, enjoyed the walk.  Didn't play great but it was very hard to focus after losing a parishioner whom I've served for 16 years.  I shall miss her.  Additionally we have another one who is touch and go.  

 

I'm thinking that I am about to become a 9 hole walking golfer twice a week for the foreseable future - any one else fall into that category?

I’ve been walking the golf course all my life except when forced to ride at a resort or in a tournament.  Started looping at 12 did that every summer till I was 19 and got hooked on golf.  I will be 70 in about 6 months and still walk 18 3-4 x week.  I did go to a pull cart about 8 years ago.  Walking is the best.  Keeps you fit, gives you time to forget the bad ones, savor the good ones and to enjoy the sunshine and all the best of the course you are walking. If anyone is walking with you, there’s plenty of time to talk.    I get 13-15k steps in each round depending on how much time is spent looking for balls.  I say go for it. 

[sirchunksalot]

I enjoy 9 hole rounds, especially after testing the Stewart Q Follow. It's a great way to get in my golf fix and I really don't feel like I have to rush like I would playing 18.

It's fun playing 18, don't get me wrong, but since I play a lot of solo rounds it's easier to get them in later on in the day. If I'm playing with friends I'll play a full round just to enjoy the great company they provide.

[EasyPutter]

Anyone who has been reading my posts since the end of April knows my forte is the 9 hole round.  I don't mind playing 18 but I always make sure to be well fed beforehand as I tend to graze on nutritious snacks along the way and more is better.  When I have not had a good intake of calories before setting out I am watchful of symptoms I get that warn of impending low sugar, nothing diagnosed mind you but I know when I need to refuel from a lifetime that began as a Cross Country runner and then Soldier for life.

Something new this year was playing 9 on one course in the morning and then meeting others for another 9 somewhere else in the afternoon.  A few hours recovery and food in between and the afternoon round was just as if I had not played the morning round.  Something I am going to try again in 2023.

[cksurfdude]

On 11/28/2022 at 9:06 PM, EasyPutter said:

Something new this year was playing 9 on one course in the morning and then meeting others for another 9 somewhere else in the afternoon. 

Very cool!

There are a few really fun Par 3 courses not too far from me .. two are 9 hole Par 3s, and 1 is an 18 hole Par 3; there's also a 9 hole short course in the area. I've not tried "double dipping" yet but that could be a thing to do!

[GolfSpy_APH]

We have a really cool portion at several of the Migro Golf Parks which have 6 hole par 3 courses for learning and training. It is normally $25 for the day and you can spend as much time as you want on it. We did 4 laps a while back and was just great fun and a good way for new golfers to really get into it without being intimidated with long long holes. 

[Shifty]

I live in a small town about 20 minutes outside a city.  My town has a very nice 9 hole course.  The membership is $660, and that includes the range pass, lol.  

So I get a membership there every year, and play 9 after work most days.  In the middle of summer here its light until 9:30 so can squeak in 18 some nights.

Weekends are for elsewhere.  There are so many awesome 18 hole courses within a hour of me, as I'm really close to 4 resort lakes, as well as the city.

But what I've found is there are a lot of hidden gem 9 hole courses in that same area.  I may start exploring some more of them in the next few summers.

[Golf Dawg]

A walking nine hole round has become necessary these days. With time, cost and exercise constraints - it makes sense - especially in the summer.

With age and prosthetic joints, it’s hard for me to walk 18 holes anymore, particularly in Central PA. Nine holes is a great workout, and I play better because I have time to think out my next shot, instead of running up and hitting again - which I call “microwave golf.”

If you have a day job, it’s easy to get out in the late afternoon - play nine - and still have evening time at home.

[tdc1]

Since retiring a few years ago I find myself playing 9 holes more and more often.  I get out 5-6 days a week (1-2 @18 holes; 3-4 @9 holes) which satisfies my golfing needs and leaves enough time for the honey-do list.  At 71-years old I am often the youngest one in the group of regular playing partners.  I walk as often as possible -- full-set with pushcart during official season (April 1-October3), half-set with Sunday carry bag before/after season.

At first, I had a similar experience to some others in this thread:  my GHIN dropped significantly on the strength of a string of really good 9-hole rounds.  I know the USGA is looking at the impact of 9-hole rounds on handicap.  I'm hoping that they either bifurcate handicaps (one number based solely on 9-hole rounds and one based solely on 18-hole rounds) or find a way to account for those low 9-hole scores more equitably.

Anyway, I'm a fan of playing 9-holes, especially if the choice is nine or none.

[Bob Pegram]

On 11/26/2022 at 8:39 AM, revkev said:

I may be nearing retirement age, 66, but I am not slowing down.  My occupation, Pastor, is pretty much an on call 24/7 one.  My observation is that people have become more and more needy, not a complaint just an observation, and far less respectful of other's time, that is a complaint but also an observation.  I get texts, phone calls and facebook messages every day of the week, many well outside of regular business hours.  I'm constantly forced to triage whether these need an immediate response and they are extremely disruptive.

 

What this means is that I have had far less time to play golf than in years past.  While I always knew that I could be called out in the middle of the night or a round for a death those occurances were few and far between.  One occurred on thanksgiving evening, just as my company was leaving, thankfully.  Ultimately it cost me a round that I had scheduled with MGSPer Larry D on Friday morning.  I did finish what I needed to do around 1 and so called another friend and headed to the club around 2.  They worked us in at 3.  Since it was probably too late to play 18 - the course was still pretty crowed and its dark around 5:50 we decided to walk 9.  It was a great decision.  Bayou is a big course, I got 10K plus steps in for that 9 hole when most places walking 18 is 15-17K for me.  We were done before 5 which meant under 2 hours for the nine.  Had we ridden we would have been waiting on every shot.  Instead we only needed to wait a few times (on the par 5's because one of the guys ahead of us could clearly reach them in 2 - no big deal.  

 

What I'm getting at is that it was a great time.  I enjoyed playing an interrupted round, enjoyed the company, enjoyed the walk.  Didn't play great but it was very hard to focus after losing a parishioner whom I've served for 16 years.  I shall miss her.  Additionally we have another one who is touch and go.  

 

I'm thinking that I am about to become a 9 hole walking golfer twice a week for the foreseable future - any one else fall into that category?

When I lived in Redondo Beach, CA I would regularly play Harbor Park Golf Course, a full size 9 hole L.A. municipal course near San Pedro. It was very narrow in spots, not a typical muni. I now live in Silicon Valley and there aren't any full size 9 hole courses. San Jose Muni used to have a deal where, if you joined the club for $85 per year and got a handicap, you could tee off an hour after twight rates started on Thursdays and Fridays for nothing (no reservations allowed - 1st come, 1st serve). That went away with the arrival of Covid and has never come back. It was a great deal and was much better practice than going to the driving range even if I couldn't finish all 9 holes. Playing the front 9 of an 18 hole course works without eating up a lot of the day.

[revkev]

I'm really heartened by the number of responses.  Time is a factor for many of us it would seem.  Even without work I don't like to take the 5 1/2 hours away from my family that 18 holes brings.  I'd much prefer to do two 2 1/2 hour segments throughout the course of the week.  

[cksurfdude]

6 hours ago, revkev said:

I'd much prefer to do two 2 1/2 hour segments throughout the course of the week.  

Great plan - it'll feel like twice as much golf