What defines a round of golf?
For generations, the answer has been simple: 18 holes. It’s the standard golfers have measured themselves against for more than 250 years.
But should it always be?
In Episode 5 of Splitting Fairways, Hawk and Lord Tox tackle one of the biggest debates to emerge from the THP community this year after a social media post about a proposed 12-hole golf course sparked nearly half a million views and hundreds of passionate comments.
The discussion quickly became about much more than hole count.
Does golf need to evolve to fit modern lifestyles? Is time now the biggest barrier keeping people from playing? Or is the traditional 18-hole round still the only format that truly delivers the complete golf experience?
Along the way, they dive into the surprising history of why 18 holes became the standard in the first place, read some of the best community comments from the original discussion, and explore whether this debate is really about golf courses or simply about making more time for the game we all love.
Whether you’re firmly in the “18 holes or nothing” camp or think golf could benefit from more flexibility, this episode is guaranteed to make you think.
Watch Episode 5 of Splitting Fairways and let us know where you stand in the debate.
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