Golf Despite what Mick Jagger sang on the Stones’ classic 1964 ballad, these days, time – as we can all attest – is not often on your side. Between going to watch your grandkids’ soccer or baseball games or dance recital to barbecuing with friends at the cottage, or just filling in a lazy afternoon escaping with a book, fitting in a round of golf in the summer is often more challenging than the rest of the year. One of the biggest reasons people mention when it comes to why they don’t play more golf is time. No matter what the stats say, it’s the one which I believe makes the most sense. Whether you are a teenager or a retiree, who has time these days to spend five-plus hours on a golf course more than once a week? Cut the number of holes in half and you cut the time spent strolling the fairways in half too. Sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it? You gain time in other areas of your life; yet, you still get to enjoy a round of golf. So here’s my proposal for you this season: take time to play nine. In Canada, there are 868 nine-hole courses. These tracks account for almost 37% of the country’s total supply – outnumbering 18-hole supply in two provinces. Canada also boasts three six-hole courses and nine 12-hole tracks. Personally, I’ve always felt that 12 holes is the ideal number. I’mnot the only one. A number of years ago, I was at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla. andThe Golden Bear was one of the keynote speakers to launch this annual meeting of the minds of the golf industry. Here’s what Nicklaus said, offering one way to try to boost participation in the sport: “We should consider the possibility of making 12 holes the standard round…eventually, it would be accepted because it makes sense in people’s lives.” Originally, the Old Course at St. Andrews (always referred to as the home of golf) had only 12 holes. Closer to home, one golf course decided to try out this model to great success: Derrydale Golf Club in Mississauga. Owner Jim Holmes heeded Nicklaus’s words and decided Make Time for Nine “Time is on my side, yes it is. Time is on my side, yes it is.” –The Rolling Stones 42 | www.snowbirds.org
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