History & Ethos behind the National nines Golf Tournament

Past winners of the Mens National Nines tournament

Year Winning Club

1999 Listowel. Co. Kerry ROI
2000 Greenisland. Co. Antrim N. Ire.
2001 Les Ormes Jersey, CI
2002 Reigate Heath Surrey, England
2003 Churchill & Blakedown Worcs, England
2004 Les Ormes Jersey, CI
2005 Moss Valley North Wales
2006 Wheatlands Jersey CI
2007 Maldon Essex, England

2008 Green Island, N. Ire
2009 Horne Park Kent, England

Past winners of the Ladies National Nines tournament

Year Winning Club

2009 Boars Head, England
2005 Crow Nest Park, England
2001 Crow Nest Park, England


Previous clubs who have hosted regional finals:-

Horne Park, Surrey
Dorking, Surrey
Reigate Heath, Surrey
Foxbridge, West Sussex
Selsey, West Sussex
Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Holtye, East Sussex
Chesham & Ley Hill, Buckinghamshire
Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire
March, Cambridgeshire
Hartford, Cheshire
St. Kew, Cornwall
Clowance, Cornwall
Hele Park, Devon
Padbrook Park, Devon
Exminster, Devon
Maldon, Essex
Towerlands, Essex
Canons Court, Gloucestershire
Alton, Hampshire
Andover, Hampshire
Bishopswood, Hampshire
Gosport & Stokes Bay, Hampshire
Briggens House Hotel, Hertfordshire
Chadwell Springs, Hertfordshire
Fawkham Valley, Kent
Hawkhurst, Kent
Sidcup, Kent
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Breightmet, Lancashire
Bentham, Lancashire
Ghyll, Lancashire
Kirton, Lincolnshire
Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire
Feltwell, Norfolk
Links Country Park, Norfolk
Cannington, Somerset
Dartmouth, West Midlands
Birch Grove, Essex
Hever Castle, Kent
Evesham, Worcestershire
Churchill & Blakedown, Worcestershire
Crow Nest Park, Yorkshire
Elland, West Yorkshire
Hanging Heaton, West Yorkshire
Cliftonville, County Antrim
Bushfoot, County Antrim
Greenisland, County Antrim
Larne, County Antrim
Helen’s Bay, County Down
Gifford, East Lothian
Niddrie Castle, West Lothian
Ravelston, Edinburgh
Milanthort, Perth & Kinross
Muthill, Perth & Kinross
St. Fillans, Perth & Kinross
Bridge of Allan, Stirling
Ridgeway, Glamorgan
Storws Wen, Anglesey
Rhyl, Denbighshire
St. Melyd, Denbighshire
Betws-y-Coed, Conwy
Penmaenmawr, Conwy
Bala, Gwynedd
Moss Valley, Wrexham
Plassey, Wrexham
St. Giles, Powys
Rhosgoch, Powys

The concept of the National Nines Golf Series, now widely known as the 'National Nines' is the work of its originator, Colin Henderson. A golfer since the age of 6 he spent may years in his native Scotland playing holiday golf over the numerous 9 hole courses in Fife and Perthshire and was always struck by the camaraderie of their membership and the quirkiness of some of those very old courses. Through time he developed a passionate interest in the history of the game, become involved as a club secretary, co-designer of an 18-hole course and as a 9-hole golf course owner. Following an idea which had lain dormant for some 10 years he launched a pilot event in North Wales in 1998 which was a resounding success and then had the temerity (his words) to announce to the golfing press that he was going 'national' in 1999.And so the National Nines came into being. It quickly became popular and in no time over 3000 golfers from 9-hole clubs were participating annually with the Grand Finals being played in Jersey, where it has remained. Each year there was a growing entry from 9-hole clubs in the UK and Ireland and they were joined in 2003 with representatives from Holland and France. In 2004, Neil Burke and Matthew Allen, the owners of Horne Park GC agreed to host the Surrey qualifier and had their first taste of this truly inspirational event.

They thought that the idea of running this competition would be fun and a great life challenge. They indicated to Colin that they would be interested in taking over, if and when, he decided to retire! They kept in touch over the ensuing 3 years and in 2007 Horne Park again hosted a regional qualifier together with Foxbridge, West Sussex which is also owned by Neil and Matthew. At that time discussions between Colin, Neil and Matthew became more serious with Colin indicating that he felt that now was the time to step down and leave the way clear for new blood to produce new ideas to keep the competition series fresh and moving forward.

2008 sees efforts to develop the event with Elaine Purton who will provide the centre point for all National Nines activity. Elaine has been involved in running 9 hole courses for over 10 years and organising golf events for all standards of golfer from tournament professionals to beginners. The commitment is to develop the sense of community within the 9-hole courses of the UK and create an opportunity for regions to get together in a competitive environment once a year and produce a winning club from the many fantastic 9-hole courses across the country.

As time allows the intention is to develop this relationship to the benefit of all interested 9-hole clubs with the idea of perhaps;
 -Publishing a 9 hole newsletter
 -Creating ‘9-hole’ partners- with advantageous deals for participating clubs
 -Developing other 9 hole course events e.g. a scratch individual champion, an individual event
 -Creating a communication network for 9-hole specific issues. Amongst many other ideas……..as I am sure you can   imagine.

The existing national nines tournament forms the perfect centrepiece for these ideas.

Please feel free to contribute your ideas for developing this site and the other ways of improving the life and development of 9-hole courses and their membership