That surely could be true but I think that is exactly the case for the Dunes Club in New Buffalo Michigan. Don't get me wrong. I love everything about it but the novelty of being a walking only nine-holer adds to its allure and distinctiveness. The informal setting, tiny clubhouse and non pro staff cinches the deal. I don't mean to demean it in any way but I think it's a little paradoxical to compare it to or rank it against 18 hole courses.
It's hard to make such comparisons. When you build a nine hole course you only have to build the best nine holes ... the chances of having to include a stinker are greatly reduced.
But that doesn't mean that nine-holers should be banished from the rankings. Prairie Dunes was a great nine, added a second nine of lesser quality, and is still high in the rankings, based mostly on the quality of the original nine. So why shouldn't it have been in the rankings when it was only those holes?