The 9-Hole Question: NGF Finds Cost, Time Still Huge Issues

Lots of interesting stuff in a National Golf Foundation survey probing deeper on the question of nine is fine, a big push by Golf Digest with some support from the litany of for-profit non-profits who gather regularly and sign off on pretty ad campaigns.

Besides the number of people who seem to think there is a stigma attached to 9-holes, the haunting number for golf has to be the majority that cites time and cost as the ultimate issue.

We found that just over half of golfers (54%) report that time constraints negatively impact their frequency of play.  Coincidentally, 54% of golfers also reported that money constraints negatively impact frequency of play.  When measured together, 72% of golfers play less frequently due to time constraints, money constraints, or both.Only 28% of golfers tell us their frequency of play is not affected very much by either.

We asked the 27% of golfers who don’t play 9-hole rounds why they do not.  Most mentioned that they just prefer playing 18-hole rounds. Many simply see golf as an 18-hole game, and that 9holes just isn’t enough.