When is an unpopular opinion not really unpopular? When plenty of golfers quietly agree with it. I’m talking about 12-hole golf and the growing number of people who say it’s the ideal round for our modern, time-poor world.
I played at Mad Swans, a kind of mini Centre Parcs for golfers, with padel, pickleball, a lively clubhouse, and a 12-hole course. My partner came along (a loyal 18-holer who’s hard to convince even for nine), and we both enjoyed it. We dawdled, took our time, and still finished comfortably in under three hours. For anyone with limited time, it was perfect.
But it raised a question: if 9 holes already have a short and sweet reputation, what makes 12 so special? Would I travel specifically to play a 12-hole course and nothing more?
When I first learned to play, my home course Finchley Golf Club had natural off-ramps to the clubhouse, you could easily finish after 5, 9, 12, or 18 holes. It made golf flexible. Some days I’d squeeze in 5 just to practise; other days, 12 felt just right. That variety was ideal, but I could still play the full 18 if I wanted. So I’m torn: I like the concept of 12 holes, but would I seek out a course that only offers that?
(Image credit: Mad Swans)
Golf hasn’t always been 18 holes. Originally, there were 22 at St Andrews. In 1764, four shorter holes were combined into two, reducing the round to 18. The rest of the golfing world followed suit and by the late 19th century, 18 holes became the gold standard, then it was formalised by the R&A and the USGA. Like most golf traditions, that standard stuck. But ‘that’s how it’s always been’ isn’t the same as ‘that’s how it must stay.’
For me, golf’s future should be about choice. A 12-hole layout is flexible: you can repeat a loop to make 18, or play 6 for a shorter round. For beginners, 12 holes feels achievable, especially if you take up golf in the winter like I did!
At the same time, I still love a full 18. I have the time to play, and there’s a rhythm to an 18-hole round that feels satisfying. Nine can sometimes feel too short, you’re just settling into your swing, and it’s…
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