Cgkdisc
.:Hall of Fame Member:.
Eighteen holes seem to be and are traditionally the de facto number to complete an official "round". Playing any number of holes more or less than 18 seems "slightly off" from an official round and more like a disc golf experience round. Playing 9 holes then seems like half an official round. Play it twice from the same tees to the same baskets and you played two half-rounds, not the equivalent of an official 18-hole round.
Play a traditional niner once from the long tee and once from the short tee on a layout where the short tee is primarily in front of and on the same line as the back tee and it likely feels like a weak and repetitive 18-hole round. Play a 9-hole course where the alternate tee on each hole has been designed to be significantly different from the other tee/fairway, the course should feel like it produces a bona fide 18-hole round but perhaps somewhat less fulfilling than 18 separate holes. Play a 9-hole layout that has two tees and two baskets on every hole, and it seems like it should be rated like an actual 18-hole course.
With regard to 27-hole layouts, I agree they can attract more players who must drive some distance to play there. However, especially for pay-to-play owners with 27s, I recommend they turn a 9-hole section into the equivalent of 18 holes by adding 9 unique route alternate tees and/or baskets so they can honestly advertise two 18-hole courses.
Just because DGCR and UDisc do not recognize 9s with dual unique tees and/or baskets as 18s doesn't mean players don't enjoy them that way. We have several active shotgun and flex start leagues that play full 18s or 20s on our 9 and 10-hole courses like this. DGCR and UDisc reviewers tend to evaluate courses based on their high-level tournament potential resulting in the number of holes from the longest or only tee being more heavily weighted without adding much for alternate tees and/or baskets.
For example, I'm not sure we have any Red or White level courses rated 4.5-5 that challenge that level of player just as well as a 4.5-5 rated Blue or Gold level course. For those who have played Highbridge, the Woodland Greens, white level course is the most played and as popular as Blueberry Hill (blue level). However, I don't recall reviewers rating Woodland equal to or higher than any of the other four higher skill level courses even though they serve a much smaller and narrower skill player group.
Play a traditional niner once from the long tee and once from the short tee on a layout where the short tee is primarily in front of and on the same line as the back tee and it likely feels like a weak and repetitive 18-hole round. Play a 9-hole course where the alternate tee on each hole has been designed to be significantly different from the other tee/fairway, the course should feel like it produces a bona fide 18-hole round but perhaps somewhat less fulfilling than 18 separate holes. Play a 9-hole layout that has two tees and two baskets on every hole, and it seems like it should be rated like an actual 18-hole course.
With regard to 27-hole layouts, I agree they can attract more players who must drive some distance to play there. However, especially for pay-to-play owners with 27s, I recommend they turn a 9-hole section into the equivalent of 18 holes by adding 9 unique route alternate tees and/or baskets so they can honestly advertise two 18-hole courses.
Just because DGCR and UDisc do not recognize 9s with dual unique tees and/or baskets as 18s doesn't mean players don't enjoy them that way. We have several active shotgun and flex start leagues that play full 18s or 20s on our 9 and 10-hole courses like this. DGCR and UDisc reviewers tend to evaluate courses based on their high-level tournament potential resulting in the number of holes from the longest or only tee being more heavily weighted without adding much for alternate tees and/or baskets.
For example, I'm not sure we have any Red or White level courses rated 4.5-5 that challenge that level of player just as well as a 4.5-5 rated Blue or Gold level course. For those who have played Highbridge, the Woodland Greens, white level course is the most played and as popular as Blueberry Hill (blue level). However, I don't recall reviewers rating Woodland equal to or higher than any of the other four higher skill level courses even though they serve a much smaller and narrower skill player group.
