9 holes or 18 holes? Pick the right round for you

Are you unsure as to which round of golf is best for you? Are you thinking about whether to mix up your 18 holes with a more leisurely nine? Read our guide and work out which the right round for you — nine holes or 18?

18 holes

Pro: It’s traditional
Ask anyone how long a game of golf is, they’ll tell you it’s 18 holes — there’s even a 19^th hole to celebrate the fact. The famous St. Andrews links has had 18 holes since 1764, and it’s been the standard for courses across the world since the early 1900s.

There’s a lot of history in favour of 18 holes, but that’s not the full story. The original St Andrews course had 22 holes before it was reduced in 1764. And back in 1567, Mary, Queen of Scots is reported to have played a seven-hole round at Musselburgh. So traditions can change.

Pro: It’s more fun
This one is simple enough: more holes equals more golf equals more fun. If you’re like us, then there’s no better feeling than teeing off on the opening hole safe in the knowledge you’ve got another 17 more to come. We play golf because we love it, so it should come as no surprise that one of the main pros of 18-hole courses is that they mean we get to play more golf.

Con: It’s takes a while
There’s no getting round the fact that a full 18-hole round takes quite a long time. The average round takes between four and four-and-a-half hours, which is a sizeable chunk of your day no matter how much love the game. It also means that unless you’re Donald Trump or you’re lucky enough to spend your working day networking with clients on the golf course, there are only two days a week when you can actually play golf. And that’s just a shame.
  

9 holes

Pro: It’s quicker
One of the main arguments for nine-hole courses is that they are much quicker to navigate your way around. A nine-hole round should take around an hour-and-a-half to 2 hours, meaning it’s much easier to fit into your day. In the summer months, a nine-hole round can be scheduled in either before or after your working day which can be a great way to juggle golf with your commitments at the office.

It’s the same story if you’ve got kids. Your partner is probably not going to be too keen on the idea of you disappearing for over four hours and leaving them holding the baby. A nine-hole round can be the perfect compromise for everyone. 

Pro: It’s easier to manage
If you or any of your golfing buddies struggle with walking for any length of time then 18 holes might be a little too much, even with a buggy. A gentler nine-hole round can be a lot more manageable for those golfers who need a physically easier round and can be a great exercise for those working themselves back to full fitness, too.

Con: It won’t affect your handicap
Playing nine holes isn’t automatically going to feed into your handicap, which is based on the more traditional 18-hole courses. However, that doesn’t mean that your nine-hole rounds don’t count at all – it just takes a little more work.

If you find yourself playing nine-hole rounds more often, then you might want to calculate your nine-hole handicap index. Or, if it’s just a one off, then you can figure out your nine-hole handicap differential which involves a simple adjustment to the standard 18-hole handicap differential formula.

Conclusion
When it comes to picking the right course, it depends solely on personal choice. For some, the lure of the traditional 18 holes will be too hard to ignore: the leisurely pace, the chance to grow into the game, the 19^th hole cocktails. For others, nine holes will work better for their lifestyles because they are quicker and less involved.

But there’s no right or wrong answer because whichever course you choose, whether it’s nine holes or 18, it’s still golf.