(April 4, 2025) – How many holes to play. That is often the question when it comes time to tee it up. Should we play nine holes or 18? Well, in Connecticut the answer better than 25% of the time is let’s play nine!
In fact, Connecticut was ranked ninth nationally in 2024, with 28.6% of all posted scores coming in as nine-hole totals. Believe it or not, that ninth position left Connecticut in fifth place amongst New England states, trailing Maine (1st), New Hampshire (2nd), Massachusetts (5th), and Rhode Island (6th).
Connecticut’s 28.6% ranked well above the national average of 17.9%. But what makes nine-hole golf in Connecticut and New England as a whole so appealing? We talked with some members of the Connecticut golf community to find out!
“Playing nine holes is just relaxing,” Suffield Country Club General Manager and PGA Professional Stan McLennan said. “I love going out and playing with my son (when he is home). Or on a Saturday night or late afternoon after work, I love playing with my wife or with a couple we are friends with.”
McLennan, who has been at the nine-hole Suffield CC for 37 years, has lived his golfing life around nine-hole golf. Growing up in New York, McLennan learned to play the game at the nine-hole Alexandria Bay Municipal Golf Course. All these years later, McLennan understands why nine-hole rounds, whether played on a nine-hole course or on an 18-hole course, are part of the fabric of the game.
“Family life is hectic,” McLennan stated. “People are busy and activities can take away from your free time. And so that’s going to help people decide between nine holes or 18.”
CSGA Hall of Fame Committee chair Lisa Fern-Boros and past U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur participant added, “I am a member at Highland Golf Club which is actually a ten hole course but I often play nine holes when you have a short window of warmth and light. There are not any tee times at (Highland) and members just weave their way in.”
Some other factors have led to the rise of nine-hole rounds. Firstly, the number of new golfers establishing Handicap Indexes has increased substantially and those new golfers are playing nine-hole rounds more frequently.
In addition, in 2024, courses as short as 750 yards for nine-holes and 1,500 yards for 18 holes became eligible to receive a course rating and slope contributing to an increase in rounds posted with over half of those being nine-hole rounds. Furthermore, there has been an increase in nine-hole leagues within the state.
When you combine all the factors together, “We have seen record numbers of nine-hole scores being posted by all golfers every year since 2020,” explained CSGA Director of Member Services Bill Bigler. “In fact, each year the overall number of nine-hole rounds posted has increased and are accounting for a higher percentage of all scores year over year.”
Of course, whether it is nine holes or 18, with the 2025 golf season just underway, now is the perfect time to dust off your clubs, make that first tee time, and get your 2025 season started!
And if you want to track your scores in 2025, make sure you sign up for your GHIN handicap today.
*Editor’s Note: Statistics and information for this article have been provided by the USGA.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut State Golf Association functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
