9 Hole Challenge
The 2020 R&A 9 Hole Challenge Final has been cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This event will not be played in 2020.
The 2021 R&A 9 Hole Challenge Final will take place at Royal St George’s on the morning of Saturday 10 July.
A recent R&A survey revealed that 60% of golfers would enjoy golf more if it took less time.
This led The R&A to run a 9 hole pilot event at Royal Troon in 2016 and has resulted in our annual 9 Hole Challenge.
The 2021 event will culminate in a 9 hole final played over holes 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17 & 18 at Royal St George's.
9 Hole Challenge Overview
2019 Champions
Siobhan McHugh & Robert Kennedy
Siobhan McHugh and Robert Kennedy of Royal Portrush Golf Club proved that a little local knowledge can go a long way after the pair won the Stableford competition with a nett aggregate score of 35 points to be crowned 2019 champions.
2021 Final Venue
Format
READY GOLF
Royal St George's
The 9 Hole Challenge Final will be staged at Royal St George's on Saturday 10 July 2021. Royal St George's first staged The Open in 1894 and golf’s most international major will visit for the 15th time in 2021.
Royal St George’s is situated in the south east of England in Sandwich, Kent and has a rich history of hosting R&A championships and international matches.
Contact details:
Royal St George's
Sandwich
Kent
England
CT13 9PB
Tel: +44 (0) 1304 613090
2021 Final Venue
Format
READY GOLF
Format
QUALIFYING
Qualifying is open to amateur golfers who are members of a golf club within GB&I, Australia or New Zealand and hold a recognised handicap.
Qualifying competitions will be run by golf clubs in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia and New Zealand and conducted over 9 holes by Stableford.
For further details on qualifying competitions, please go to your national website;
THE 2021 FINAL
The 2021 Final will involve 42 amateur golfers and will be played on the morning of Saturday 10 July. Click here for further details.
2021 Final Venue
Format
READY GOLF
Ready Golf will be encouraged during play of the 2020 Final and during all qualifying events.
Ready Golf features in The R&A’s Pace of Play manual as a recommended solution for tackling slow play and it enables golfers to play when they are ready to do so rather than strictly adhere to ‘the farthest from the hole plays first’ requirement.
The practice can be used in stroke play and includes a number of actions that can help to improve the flow of golfers around the course.
Examples of Ready Golf in action are:
- Hitting a shot when safe to do so if a player farther away faces a challenging shot and is taking time to assess their options
- Shorter hitters playing first from the tee or fairway if longer hitters have to wait
- Hitting a tee shot if the person with the honour is delayed in being ready to play
- Hitting a shot before helping someone to look for a lost ball
- Putting out even if it means standing close to someone else’s line
- Hitting a shot if a person who has just played from a greenside bunker is still farthest from the hole but is delayed due to raking the bunker
- When a player’s ball has gone over the back of a green, any player closer to the hole should play while the other player is having to walk to their ball and assess their shot
Why 9 holes?
Golf played over 9 holes;
- takes less time
- can be social and/or competitive
- can count for handicapping purposes
- is still real golf
- is fast, fun and flexible