Best Public 9 Hole Course - State by State

[Steve_Roths]

Trying to travel a bit more this year and wanted to see some unique places.


So far I have Hooper in New Hampshire and Overton Park in Memphis.


Can anyone throw out other either 9 holers worth a visit or Par 3 courses?

[Brad Tufts]

New England has lots of candidates...


MA...Olde Salem Greens (Stiles), Greenock (Ross)...Whitinsville is private but used to have a public tee time available from time to time, probably less so now with more people playing....Treehouse Brewing operates a 9-holer in Tewksbury now...haven't played the course but the beer is world-class.  Highland Links on the outer Cape is appointment viewing.


VT...JP Larkin is a treat, theres another in Bellows Falls that I haven't played that looks neat.


NH...Hooper you mentioned, Carter CC is not bad and a Ross, near 89 in Lebanon.


ME...North Haven!!!, Grindstone Neck, Lucerne, Castine, Wawenock, Wilson Lake, Mingo Springs is 18 but a combination of two old nine holers.  I finally played Houlton Community a few years ago and it was fun, with one all-Maine hole.  There are a few others that are private that might be playable in shoulder season.


RI...Weekapaug (public off-season), Midville


CT...Fenwick


There are also many old nines with pedigree where a modern nine was added later, sometimes to the detriment of course quality as a whole.  Biddeford-Saco, Cape Neddick, and Brunswick GC are three in Maine that fit this bill, all public.  I believe CC of Barre and Brattleboro in VT fall into this category too.

[Blake Conant]

Nebraska - Augusta Wind in Stapleton would likely be my vote. Pelican Beach in Hyannis and Mullen North in Mullen would also be contenders. Sounds like there’s some cool work planned/being done at Old Dane near Landman, but it’s gonna take a lot of work to undo the bad that was there. Nothing great in Omaha or Lincoln, which is a shame.


Kansas - McPherson CC that’s 30 minutes north of Prairie Dunes.



Oklahoma - Tishamingo 30 minutes east from Ardmore. Have no idea if it’s the best, but the stuff near the river is quite good.


Montana - Norwegian Wood GC just east of Helena. No clue about best, but i find it hard to believe anyone will beat that experience. Very quirky.

[Tim Martin]

Connecticut-Hotchkiss School GC, Fenwick GC, Lyman Apple 9 GC, Stonybrook GC

Massachusetts-Marion GC, Dudley Hill GC, Greenock CC, Highland Links, Nehoiden GC(owned by Wellesley College and although private not that tough to access)

[Richard Hetzel]

I enjoyed both Hotchkiss and Fenwick in CT.
Sweetens Cove near Chattanooga, TN was pretty darn good as well.

[Dan_Callahan]

Also in TN, the course at Sewanee College is very fun.

[Brad Tufts]

Kicking myself for not including Hotchkiss and Marion in my post above!


Hot take incoming…Sewanee might be better than Sweetens!? 

[Tim Martin]

Advertised as “Sweetens Back Nine” Innes GC by King-Collins is worth a trip in Accord, NY. I haven’t played Sweetens Cove and as such can’t comment on the comparison.

[mark chalfant]

Nebraska:  Frederick Peak excellent design and fun to play Lehman design for $38 !!!

Thedford GC.      The Horse Course at the Prairie Club in Valentine.


PA. Immergrun:  Vintage Emmet in Loreto with rugged terrain


Langford in Indiana:  Culver CC.  the original course at Harrison Hills in Attica (7 holes remain)


New York:  Inness in Accord King- Collins.  Mohonk Mountain near New Paltz.Spy Ring on Long Island Great variety and superb putting surfaces over rolling terrain. Spy Ring is Tyler Rae's first solo course.

[Ronald Montesano]

To begin, this place looks fun: https://www.9holegolfcourses.com/

Next, in New York, I'd recommend the following:

NOT LONG ISLAND

Attica-Five Stars-https://www.atticas10thhole.com/  I'd meet you here!

Ausable-https://www.ausableclub.org/

Cazenovia Park-The favorite of the Buffalo munis-https://www.bfloparks.org/cazenovia-park-golf-course/ I'd meet you here!

Sullivan County-Tom Coyne's new place!-https://www.sullivancountygolf.com/

Inness-AKA The Back Nine to Sweeten's Cove-https://inness.co/golf


LONG ISLAND

Spy Ring-It's Tyler Rae-https://www.heritagespyring.com/

Noyac-https://www.noyacgolfclub.com/

Sag Harbor-https://parks.ny.gov/golf/17/details.aspx

Quogue Field Club-https://www.quoguefieldclub.com/

[Mike Hendren]

Bruce Hepner recently renovated Percy Warner in Nashville.  Opens this spring I believe.

[Ben Hollerbach]

For Georgia I’d imagine the public would either say Bobby Jones or Great Dunes.


But that brings up the question around Bobby Jones being reversible, because if your speaking of the best you’d have to distinguish which of the 2 directions is the best, which would then lead to the question is it 2 9 hole courses or one course with 2 9 hole routings?

[Phil Carlucci]

To begin, this place looks fun: https://www.9holegolfcourses.com/

Next, in New York, I'd recommend the following:

NOT LONG ISLAND

Attica-Five Stars-https://www.atticas10thhole.com/  I'd meet you here!

Ausable-https://www.ausableclub.org/

Cazenovia Park-The favorite of the Buffalo munis-https://www.bfloparks.org/cazenovia-park-golf-course/ I'd meet you here!

Sullivan County-Tom Coyne's new place!-https://www.sullivancountygolf.com/

Inness-AKA The Back Nine to Sweeten's Cove-https://inness.co/golf


LONG ISLAND

Spy Ring-It's Tyler Rae-https://www.heritagespyring.com/

Noyac-https://www.noyacgolfclub.com/

Sag Harbor-https://parks.ny.gov/golf/17/details.aspx

Quogue Field Club-https://www.quoguefieldclub.com/

Ronald:
FYI...Noyac and Quogue are not public courses, and Noyac is a full 18.

[Matt Schoolfield]

I think most folks here will enjoy the new update to the Golden Gate Park par 3 course in San Francisco. If I were recommending Bay Area 9 holers, I'd also add Corica's North Course, and obviously Northwood if you've up for a drive.

[Stewart Abramson]

In New York, Saratoga Spa State Park has a 9 hole par 3 course.










edited to delete ref to an 18 hole course

[Tim Martin]

To begin, this place looks fun: https://www.9holegolfcourses.com/

Next, in New York, I'd recommend the following:

NOT LONG ISLAND

Attica-Five Stars-https://www.atticas10thhole.com/  I'd meet you here!

Ausable-https://www.ausableclub.org/

Cazenovia Park-The favorite of the Buffalo munis-https://www.bfloparks.org/cazenovia-park-golf-course/ I'd meet you here!

Sullivan County-Tom Coyne's new place!-https://www.sullivancountygolf.com/

Inness-AKA The Back Nine to Sweeten's Cove-https://inness.co/golf


LONG ISLAND

Spy Ring-It's Tyler Rae-https://www.heritagespyring.com/

Noyac-https://www.noyacgolfclub.com/

Sag Harbor-https://parks.ny.gov/golf/17/details.aspx

Quogue Field Club-https://www.quoguefieldclub.com/

Ronald:
FYI...Noyac and Quogue are not public courses, and Noyac is a full 18.

Quogue is a fun set set of holes with a great location. It would get a ton of play if it wasn’t private.

[mike_malone]

Clayton Park in Delco Pa. may be the best in the world!!!!

[Tim Martin]

To begin, this place looks fun: https://www.9holegolfcourses.com/

Next, in New York, I'd recommend the following:

NOT LONG ISLAND

Attica-Five Stars-https://www.atticas10thhole.com/  I'd meet you here!

Ausable-https://www.ausableclub.org/

Cazenovia Park-The favorite of the Buffalo munis-https://www.bfloparks.org/cazenovia-park-golf-course/ I'd meet you here!

Sullivan County-Tom Coyne's new place!-https://www.sullivancountygolf.com/

Inness-AKA The Back Nine to Sweeten's Cove-https://inness.co/golf


LONG ISLAND

Spy Ring-It's Tyler Rae-https://www.heritagespyring.com/

Noyac-https://www.noyacgolfclub.com/

Sag Harbor-https://parks.ny.gov/golf/17/details.aspx

Quogue Field Club-https://www.quoguefieldclub.com/

Ron-What about Spy Ring and Sullivan County stand out?

[Cory Lewis]

GA
Bobby Jones
Charlie Yates
Jekyll Island(Great Dunes)
MT
Trestle Creek
NC
Bear Lake Reserve
Cradle
Franklin
Pennrose Park
Tryon
SC
Dogwood Hills
Gaffney
VA
Front Royal
Schoolhouse 9

[astavrides]

The best 9 holers in NM are probably Cloudcroft (which also fits the 'unique' criterion) and Marty Sanchez Great 28.


But, OP, I'd say you'd have a better time just going for 18 hole courses and quitting after 9 if you only want to play 9.

[Richard Hetzel]

Hot take incoming…Sewanee might be better than Sweetens!? 

I agree, I forgot that one!

[Tim Leahy]

In NoCal Black Oak in Auburn northeast of Sacramento is a terrific 9 hole par 34 winding through 100 yr old oaks, very challenging.
In Sacramento Land Park 9 hole par 34 was built in 1924 and runs between fully grown oaks and pines and is a good test.
In SoCal Scholl Canyon near Glendale par 3 with great views on top of a mountain is fun.
Also Eaton Canyon in the Pasadena hills is a par 35 hidden gem.
 

[Phil Carlucci]

To begin, this place looks fun: https://www.9holegolfcourses.com/

Next, in New York, I'd recommend the following:

NOT LONG ISLAND

Attica-Five Stars-https://www.atticas10thhole.com/  I'd meet you here!

Ausable-https://www.ausableclub.org/

Cazenovia Park-The favorite of the Buffalo munis-https://www.bfloparks.org/cazenovia-park-golf-course/ I'd meet you here!

Sullivan County-Tom Coyne's new place!-https://www.sullivancountygolf.com/

Inness-AKA The Back Nine to Sweeten's Cove-https://inness.co/golf


LONG ISLAND

Spy Ring-It's Tyler Rae-https://www.heritagespyring.com/

Noyac-https://www.noyacgolfclub.com/

Sag Harbor-https://parks.ny.gov/golf/17/details.aspx

Quogue Field Club-https://www.quoguefieldclub.com/

Ron-What about Spy Ring and Sullivan County stand out?

Spy Ring doesn't officially open until May.  It had limited preview play this past Oct/Nov.  When it opens it will be the best public nine on LI, which isn't exactly saying much.  It will certainly be very unique compared to all other publics on the Island.  Large greens with big entrances and lots of fun internal contouring, and a sandy base designed for firm/fast play.  Also fills a pretty big void in that part of Suffolk Co.

[Sam Morrow]

Liberty Municipal northeast of Houston is good and has very good practice facilities.

[Richard Hetzel]

For Georgia I’d imagine the public would either say Bobby Jones or Great Dunes.


But that brings up the question around Bobby Jones being reversible, because if your speaking of the best you’d have to distinguish which of the 2 directions is the best, which would then lead to the question is it 2 9 hole courses or one course with 2 9 hole routings?

Just stayed on Jekyll a few days this week, but we did not play Great Dunes. Fun little course with some super SMALL greens!