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Will alternate hole rates catch on?

By Jim Sullivan
Published on

WATERLOO, Iowa -- A golfer playing most courses has two choices: 18 holes or nine.

Today, some of the sport's wise men believe other numbers ought to come into play. Like 12 holes, or six. But don't look for that to happen at the local courses this season -- or in the immediate future.

As J.B. Bolger, the golf manager for Waterloo Leisure Services put it, "So far I haven't had any requests at all for six holes or any other."

The idea of alternate hole rates has been around for a while. In 2007, no less than golf icon Jack Nicklaus suggested that 12 holes "ought to be the standard round." Nicklaus felt it would bring people into the game who are frustrated with the length of time it takes to play 18 holes.

A couple of courses owned by Nicklaus, Muirfield, to name one, had 12-hole scorecards. "My seniors are loving it," said the Golden Bear.

Two years ago, the Wall Street Journal featured Island Hills Golf Club in Michigan. One of the options offered was "Quik Courses." Interested golfers could play a five-hole round, or nine, or 12.

At the beginning of 2015, Golf Digest listed seven emerging trends for the upcoming year. One of them was "more courses will offer alternate hole rates."

The author, Stephen Szurlej, wrote, "As the golf industry continues to find new ways to reinvent itself one notion people have coalesced around is the idea of offering 6-, 9- and 12-hole rates. It's an appealing prospect to the many golfers who don't want to spend time or money on a more than four-hour expedition."

Mike Schuchmann, the owner of Waterloo Golf Headquarters, has seen courses in Florida and California use different rates.

"It speeds up the pace of play," said Schuchmann.

Said Nate Lubs, the pro at Gates Park, "I've heard of it. It's based on time. People seem to have less time, less free time. I think it works in some markets."

But it's not here yet.

"It's not something I'm looking into because of the lack of demand," said Bolger. "If it becomes a trend here in this area, we would look into it and check with the Leisure Services committee to see if they're interested in pursuing it."

As far as Schuchmann is concerned, it's just part of living in the Midwest, where fads and trends arrive a little late.

"There's an old saying that we're the last to know," said Schuchmann, chuckling. "We are Midwest, blue collar, hard working. Everything seems to move a little bit slower.

"It's not that it's good or bad. I'm a traditionalist. I grew up with nine or 18 holes. That's the way it is. Playing six or 12? I don't know."

This article was written by Jim Sullivan from Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.