Thirty amateur players will contest a nine-hole event at Royal Troon on the eve of this year's Open Championship as "part of efforts to boost participation in the sport," according to Phil Casey of the PA. The R&A's "extensive survey" on pace of play found 60% of players said they would "enjoy golf more if it took less time," while 19% said they would "welcome the opportunity to play nine holes more often as an alternative format." R&A CEO Martin Slumbers said, "Nine-hole golf is not new, but we feel it is often overlooked as a perfectly valid way to play the sport either with our family and friends or competitively." Two players "will qualify from events held at each of the 13 regional qualifying venues for the Open," with host venues Royal Troon Golf Club and the Ladies' Golf Club, Troon, each providing two players. In '17, the event will be "expanded to cover golf clubs in Great Britain and Ireland with players being given the opportunity to qualify at nine hole events held by the R&A's affiliated national associations in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales" (PA, 4/20).
