When I first started playing golf around the age of 9 or 10 in the late 1960s and early '70s in Salem, Ore., and then in Salt Lake City, playing nine holes on a Sunday was no big deal.

Of course at that age, playing nine holes probably seemed like 18. I remember playing one 600-yard par-5 in Salem in 15 strokes - and that was only because my dad stuck out his leg near the pin on my 14th stroke, a chip from behind the green that would have went screaming off the front of the green is he hadn't.

Anyway, as I got older, my dad and my brother and I played 18-hole rounds almost exclusively. It almost got to the point that if you showed up at the pro shop with a tee team and said you only wanted to play nine, chances are you would get a sneer from the other side of the counter.

NOT ANY more.

"We do nine holes any time during the day," said Darrell Hull, course manager at Prairie Falls Golf Club in Post Falls.

Players don't have to declare 9 or 18 when they make their tee times; they can decide in the pro shop; then, after nine, if someone has a career round going, they can stop by the pro shop and pay for the back nine.

"Our assistant superintendent, Andrew Garver, just got back from a national golf symposium for superintendents and golf professionals," Hull said, "and one of the things the national golf foundation encourages our golf courses to do is find ways to get bodies on the property. We need to get people back playing golf. Even if it's three holes, six holes, nine holes, whatever we can get them to play, at least they're playing golf again. Some is better than none."

Indeed.

"Playing nine holes is definitely better than none at all," said Tony Cuchessi, head professional at Circling Raven Golf Club in Worley. "Many people are very busy and nine holes fit into their schedule better. All golf courses have nine-hole rates but have restrictions when you can just pay for nine holes. We have a rule after 2 p.m. you can pay just for nine holes.

"It becomes a financial decision for most golf courses that have restrictions for nine holes. Each tee time is very valuable and if they can sell a prime time tee time at the 18-hole rate then it's a good business decision to have restrictions."

COMPARED TO other areas, green fees at local courses are relatively inexpensive. So the bigger issue with 9 vs. 18 holes is time.

"The average guy doesn't have six hours," Hull said.

Rounds have continued to drop over the last few years around the country, at least at public courses. So these days, nine is better than nothing.

"I feel that I want people through the door," said David Hobson, general manager at the Coeur d'Alene Golf Club. "Once I get them there, it's our responsibility to make them feel at home, even if its only nine holes."

Golf promotions these days focus on making the game easier, and playing it in less time. But with social media, work and leisure activities, there are more time constraints these days for golfers.

"At The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course, we're going into our third summer of our 9 and Dine program," head professional Andy Mackimmie said. "It's an evening round of nine holes of golf, with an all-inclusive dinner following golf. It's a fun three-hour, summer activity for couples, families or groups of friends to enjoy the game without the half-day time commitment."

Whatever it takes to get golfers back out on the course - for however many holes, Hull figures.

In early July, Prairie Falls offered a "Freedom Week," where any military personnel, retired or active, any firefighter, retired or active, peace officer or EMS, could play for free.

"And we had just a great week," Hull said. "A lot of great stories from the veterans ... and it was our way of giving back for the freedoms that we have."

Whatever it takes.

"Encourage people to come out and at least play nine holes," Hull said. "Because if they come out and play nine, they'll get the bug again. We just see a real decline in golfers ... now, if you get stuck behind a group that you don't want to be behind, you're just miserable for three hours, and you don't need it."

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.