The R&A are making significant steps to improving participation by starting up nine hole championships a week before this year’s 145th Open.
Padraig Harrington told Sky Sports: “People who want to play golf are increasingly struggling to find the time to play and so positioning nine-hole golf as a legitimate alternative which makes a lot of sense. I’m really pleased to see The R&A taking the lead in this area.
“For regular amateur golfers to be able to play the Open venue in championship condition immediately before the best players in the world is a fantastic initiative and I’m sure this new competitive format will encourage more people to get out on the golf course and play nine-hole golf.”
An R&A released a statement adding: “Our extensive survey on pace of play and the subsequent ‘Time for Golf’ conference at St Andrews last November highlighted the challenges many people face in finding time to play 18 holes, with 60% of the golfers surveyed expressing the view that they would enjoy golf more if it took less time.”
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A also said: “One of the messages that came through clearly from the survey and the conference is that people would play more golf if they could do so in significantly less time. Nine-hole golf is not new but we feel it is often overlooked as a perfectly valid way to play the sport either with your family and friends or competitively.
“We are delighted to introduce a nine-hole championship and will be promoting this format as a way of playing golf in less time which can have a wider appeal among people who lead increasingly busy lives today.
“We are very much looking forward to working with the national associations to promote nine-hole golf and we hope to see more events being played throughout Great Britain and Ireland to cater for this important audience.”
