Nine-hole golf does not have more affect on your handicap than 18-hole golf

By Paul Gueorgieff

I run twilight golf at my golf club.

It’s a nine-hole competition every Friday evening during New Zealand’s daylight saving period from late September to early April.

Recently one club member said he would not play twilight golf because nine-hole golf ruins your handicap.

He said it was more likely to have nine very good holes than it was to have 18 very good holes and therefore have greater affect on your handicap.

I agreed with the theory that it is more likely to have nine very good holes than 18 very good holes.

It happens all the time in 18-hole golf. All of us have had nine very good holes and then lament the other poor nine holes. The poor nine holes cancel out the good nine holes and our overall score ends up just average and therefore little affect on your handicap.

So does a good score over nine holes damage your handicap more than a good score over 18 holes.

The answer is no, according to Golf New Zealand handicapping and golf services’ manager Phil Aickin.

``That comment is not correct and we have enough data to back that up,’’ Aickin said.

I also put it to Phil if you score 20 stableford points for nine holes are you handicapped as if you had scored 40 stableford points for 18 holes.

Once again the answer is no.

``Nine-hole scores are scaled up to an 18 hole score. The nine hole course rating is doubled and you receive the equivalent of 17 stableford points for the unplayed nine.

That’s the common practice world-wide.’’

So don’t be afraid of nine-hole golf.

Twilight golf is a popular event at my club. We have a shotgun start as opposed to rolling starts.

Rolling starts could, for example, be teeing off anywhere between 3 and 5pm but that usually results in the same groups of four playing together all the time. Boring.

I prefer the shotgun start and a random draw. That means members get to play with other members who they otherwise would never meet. It’s also great for club spirit.

I also insist on men and women playing together. Once again it’s members playing with other members who they would normally never do so and, once again, great for club spirit.

But our twilight golf is not just about golf. Every week we have a raffle for meat packs which I describe as the highlight of the night because most of us are not good enough to win a golf prize.

I usually get six to eight meat packs, valued at nearly $30 each, and the biggest smiles of the night belong to those who win a meat pack.