R&A Data Shows Impressive Gains In 9-Hole Rounds

In announcing the 9-hole challenge set for the Friday before the 150th Open at St Andrews, the R&A also shared 9-hole round data worth noting.

It could be entirely pandemic related, with more employed golfers working from home and getting in an early or late nine. But there are plenty of reasons to believe the increase can also be tied to various worldwide campaigns designed to legitimize 9-hole rounds and encourage golfers to turn in non-18-hole scores for handicapping purposes.

The numbers of note from the R&A’s story to launch the 9-hole challenge:

• In Australia, nine-hole round data has experienced 20% growth with more than 517,000 rounds played in 2020-21.

• In England, nine-hole rounds played for handicap purposes increased from 175,000 in 2019 to 407,000 in 2021.

• In Ireland, nine-hole rounds played for handicap purposes increased from 70,697 in 2018 to 130,751 in 2021.

• In Scotland, nine-hole rounds played increased from 44,834 in 2018 to 113,592 in 2021.

• In Wales, 8% of rounds submitted (to the Wales Golf Clubhouse) were for nine-hole play in 2021.

• In New Zealand, nine-hole rounds played increased from 252,412 in 2018-19 to 341, 534 in 2020-21 as part of the Make Time Play 9 initiative.

This should also (theoretically) bode well for breaking golf free of 18-holes as the only legitimate “round” or option in developing future courses (or in re-imaging an existing facility under threat).