Golf Express 9-hole campaign goes national

Golf Express – which promotes 9-hole golf to inspire busy people to play more often – is being rolled out nationally by England Golf.

The launch follows a successful eight-month trial in Staffordshire when over 4600 9-hole rounds were played. Now clubs across the country are invited to join the campaign and promote 9-hole green fees and offers to players on the GolfExpress9.org website.

Justin Rose, an England Golf ambassador, often plays 9 holes in practice and describes Golf Express as: “A great way to play all the game in half the time.”

On average, a 9-hole round can be played in just two hours, which can fit into a busy lifestyle, and it offers all the health and social benefits of the full game. In a 9-hole round a player will walk two to three miles, take over 5000 steps and burn over 450 calories.

The appeal of the 9-hole game, which is compatible with the Rules of Golf and the handicap system, has also prompted the R&A to launch a new 9-hole championship for amateurs and Scottish Golf is also promoting the shorter format.

To mark the national launch of Golf Express, England Golf has re-imagined the results of the Major championships of the past five years to find out how they would differ if played over 9 holes.

If the Majors had been played over the front 9, Tiger Woods would have won two more titles – an Open and a Masters. If they’d been played over the back 9, Lee Westwood would have won a Masters and Justin Rose would have added another Major to his 2013 US Open title.

England Golf’s Club Services and Development Director Richard Flint said: “This research shines a light on the 9-hole game and I hope it encourages more people to get into golf.”

Golf clubs are invited to upload their offers via www.englandgolf.org/clubhouse and to take advantage of packs of marketing materials.