USGA in Partnership with American Express Invites Golfers to Participate in PLAY9 Day on Wednesday, July 29

News provided by

United States Golf Association

Jul 27, 2015, 15:35 ET

Far Hills, N.J. (PRWEB) July 27, 2015 -- The United States Golf Association (USGA), in partnership with American Express, invites golfers to participate in its second PLAY9 Day on Wednesday, July 29.

PLAY9 Day is an effort to rally golf industry stakeholders, facilities and golfers around the nine-hole round as a fun, quick and convenient way to enjoy the game.

Participants are encouraged to share photos, success stories and support of the program by using #Play9Golf via social media throughout the day. Fan posts will be featured on the USGA’s official platforms.

The USGA recorded a 13 percent year-over-year increase in nine-hole rounds posted to its Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN®) in the months following the program’s launch in 2014.

Nine-hole facilities comprise nearly 30 percent of courses in the U.S., and 90 percent of courses offer a nine-hole rate. According to the National Golf Foundation, the average nine-hole green fee in the United States is $22.

Among the many benefits of the nine-hole round:

  • It involves less of a time commitment than playing 18 holes, and is comparable with the time it takes to watch a movie, go out to dinner or attend a sporting event;
  • It can be less intimidating to newcomers as they learn the Rules, etiquette and fundamentals of the game;
  • It is family- and budget-friendly;
  • Nine-hole scores are eligible for Handicap purposes.

A USGA consumer study conducted by Sports & Leisure Research Group found that 60 percent of golfers see nine-hole rounds as an engaging way to introduce people to the game. Whether for new or experienced players, PLAY9 Day is designed to encourage everyone to find the time to play more of the game we all love.
Golf course operators can download a PLAY9 toolkit at http://www.usga.org/play9 that includes a user guide, posters, tent card and customizable cart plate.

About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches, attracting players and fans from more than 160 countries. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, equipment standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s reach is global with a working jurisdiction in the United States, its territories and Mexico, serving more than 25 million golfers and actively engaging 150 golf associations.

The USGA is one of the world’s foremost authorities on research, development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and invests in the development of the game through the delivery of its services and its ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.

For more information about the USGA, visit http://www.usga.org.

Jeff Altstadter, United States Golf Association, http://www.usga.org, +1 (908) 326-1880, [email protected]