FORE Magazine

Top Menu

  • About Me
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Home

Main Menu

  • Current Issue
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
  • scga.org
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login

logo

FORE Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
  • scga.org
First CutSpring 2022
Home›First Cut›Nine is Fine (and here’s why): Get Creative when you Play and Find your New BFF

Nine is Fine (and here’s why): Get Creative when you Play and Find your New BFF

By Tina Mickelson
April 20, 2022
2370
0
Share:

A round of golf can take up a large part of your day, so why don’t more golfers entertain the thought of playing just nine holes?

Look, I get it. A round of golf is 18 holes, and playing anything less is, well, less. Many players would immediately think, “no bueno” and ditch the opportunity altogether.

But what players are missing here is that nine holes can be an opportunity to practice under real course conditions, because you’re literally, you know, on the course.

Having trouble with a particular club in your bag? Grab that bad boy, stuff a handful of tees and plenty of golf balls in a Sunday bag, and go out one late afternoon with just that one club.

Yes, that means using it for every single shot you take. Drive with it, putt with it, hit it out of the sand. You are not concerned about score here. The goal is to get comfortable with that club. Period. And using it under so many different conditions and for such a variety of shots will give you a feel for the club that you’ve probably never had before.

Example: I was about to break up with my 3-wood a few years back, but I decided to make a last-ditch effort to save the relationship. There was a time when we had had a great connection, and I wasn’t willing to give up without a fight. I took that baby out on a late summer afternoon with no expectations other than having a great time.

I quickly noticed that walking the course was relaxing when I wasn’t carrying anything but that one club. And carrying that one club between shots and all around that course turned it into something pretty cool. It was more about experiencing the club and the different shots it could produce, instead of expecting it to perform a certain way and then being let down when it didn’t do exactly what I wanted it to.

Were we BFFs by the end of the round? No. But we weren’t enemies, either. I had a better understanding and feel for the club, and I was definitely more comfortable with it. Not having time for 18 holes that day was a blessing, because a nine-hole practice session was exactly what I needed most.

I have since had issues with other clubs in my bag, and I have spent nine holes of quality time with them, too. It always ends well, mostly because there’s no pressure to score. The only focus is enjoying the golf course getting to know that particular club better, and feeling as comfortable with it as possible. And feeling comfortable with it does not always equate to hitting good shots. It simply means feeling better with that club. From there, good shots will come.

Another argument for playing nine? A quick round in the late afternoon before heading in for some wine and appetizers is one of the best ways to spend your day when you don’t have enough time (or sunlight) for 18. It’s also a great way to introduce beginners or intimidated players to the game in a reduced-pressure environment.

I mean, you have a golf cart loaded with snacks, a portable speaker and a lit playlist, and maybe a little wine in a Yeti as you hack away until the sun disappears. Who would say no to that? Spoiler: Not me.

By broadening your requirements on how and how long you deem it worth your while to hit the golf course, you are also expanding your approach to how you effectively practice the game and who you play it with.

Get yourself out of the rut and shake it up a bit. You’ll eventually find that you’re more creative with your clubs, you get to play more often (even if fewer holes are involved) and, as a result of being more comfortable with each club, your scores have improved. It’s a win-win-win.

Previous Article

Tee Time Tribulations: Searching for the Elusive ...

Next Article

Wednesday Special: San Diego’s Hookers And Slicers ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Tina Mickelson

Related articles More from author

  • ProfilesSpring 2022

    Bob Does Hollywood: The Hardest Working Man on Instagram Finds Gold in Golf

    April 21, 2022
    By Adam Hawk
  • Public AffairsSpring 2022

    Golf’s Wakeup Call: Facts Matter… Perceptions Matter More

    April 20, 2022
    By Craig Kessler
  • Classic CourseSpring 2022

    Western Home of Golf: Legends, Legacy and Looking Forward at PGA WEST

    April 20, 2022
    By Judd Spicer
  • Golf GroupsSpring 2022

    Wednesday Special: San Diego’s Hookers And Slicers Celebrate 50 Years

    April 20, 2022
    By Jack Margaros
  • Spring 2022State of the Game

    Tee Time Tribulations: Searching for the Elusive L.A. County Tee Times

    April 20, 2022
    By David Weiss
  • Spring 2022The Podium

    Fan-Demonium: Up Close & Personal at WMPO’s 16th

    April 21, 2022
    By Tom Mackin

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Recent Posts

  • Fall 2022FeaturedPublic Affairs

    From Crisis to Confidence: The Southern California Golf & Water Summit

  • Fall 2022FeaturedHandicap Hints

    Handicap Allowances

  • Fall 2022FeaturedGolf Groups

    Club Spotlight: SCGC Players Club

  • Fall 2022FeaturedTrends

    It’s a Dog’s Life: At Some SoCal Courses, the Term “Dogleg” Takes on a Whole New Meaning

  • Fall 2022FeaturedKnow the Rules

    Cut! Rulings Hollywood Got Wrong

Fall 2022FeaturedHandicap Hints

Handicap Allowances

There is often anticipation in the air as the date for the next handicap competition at a club approaches. Participants want to know what handicap value will be used in ...
  • The Single Life: The Simple Pleasures of Being “That Guy”

    By John DeGomez
    October 25, 2022
  • Cut! Rulings Hollywood Got Wrong

    By Jeff Ninnemann
    October 25, 2022
  • From Crisis to Confidence: The Southern California Golf & Water Summit

    By Craig Kessler
    October 25, 2022
  • Direct to Golf Consumer: How Social Media is Changing the Way We Buy Equipment

    By Scott Kramer
    October 25, 2022
© 2016 FORE Magazine About Us | Contact Us | Advertise