A nine-hole golf course, to some people, is like a burger without fries or Abbott without Costello. But with busy schedules today, nine holes may well be the solution to the lack of golf in your life.

The time commitment required to play 18 holes may be too much in between work and dropping kids off at soccer practice. With proper time management and a good nine-hole course nearby, you can fit in some golf after or even during the work day.

Not to mention gas prices approaching $5 a gallon and budgets getting tighter.

Everyone’ working harder to make ends meet. So why not hit the links for a reduced price too? The nine-hole rates quoted below are the standard rates for non-residents.

With resident discounts and special rates, you may be able to play for even less.

Playing nine makes it easier and less stressful for families to get out and enjoy golf time together. You can make it as serious as you like, and for the purist, look at it as a way to practice your scoring shots.

Here’s a sampling of five nine-hole golf courses to beat the 9-to-5.

Downers Grove Park District Golf Course
LOCATION 2420 Haddow Ave., Downers Grove
GREENS FEES Weekday $17.75; weekend $18.75
QUICK TOUR History is a big part of this golf course. It is the oldest golf course in the United States west of the Allegheny Mountains. Designed by Charles Blair MacDonald more than 100 years ago, the course is a challenging 3,233-yard par-36 that features water on seven of the nine holes. The facility also features a small pro shop and a driving range
TOUGHEST HOLE The first hole is 398-yard par-4 with water coming into play.
10TH HOLE The clubhouse has a snack shop and a beer and wine bar
INSTRUCTION Golf instruction is available by appointment from PGA professional Mike Camastro.
MORE INFO (630) 963-1306; www.dgparks.org

Flagg Creek Golf Course
LOCATION 6939 S. Wolf Road, Countryside
GREENS FEES Weekdays $18; weekends $20
QUICK TOUR Flagg Creek is a challenging layout in Countryside measuring 2,493 yards with a par of 33. The course features water hazards on three holes and has a good combination of dog legs and elevation changes to test your game. The facility also features a lighted driving range, chipping and pitching green with bunker, and a well-stocked pro shop.
TOUGHEST HOLE The par-4 ninth has a water hazard strategically positioned to catch that errant drive.
10TH HOLE Clubhouse features a full restaurant and bar with brand new patio seating
INSTRUCTION Golf instruction is available by appointment from Billy Rosinia, a PGA member and the current Illinois Senior Open Champion.
MORE INFO (708) 246-3336; www.flaggcreekgolfcourse.org

Pottawatomie Golf Course
LOCATION 845 N. 2nd Ave., St. Charles
GREENS FEES Weekdays $16.50; weekend $18
QUICK TOUR Pottawatomie golf course is a Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed layout approaching its 70th birthday. The course measures 3,007 yards with a par of 35 and water comes into play on four holes as the Fox River runs through the golf course.
TOUGHEST HOLE The 420-yard par-4 ninth is a tricky tree-lined dogleg to an elevated, well-bunkered green. But the hole on the course that everyone talks about is the island green par-3 third that has been around a lot longer than No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass.
10TH HOLE The clubhouse has a full snack shop.
INSTRUCTION Golf instruction is available by appointment from PGA professional Jim Wheeler.
MORE INFO (630) 584-8356; www.st-charlesparks.org/links/pottawatomiegolfcourse.htm

Sugar Creek Golf Course
LOCATION 500 E. Van Buren, Villa Park
GREENS FEES Weekday $17; weekend $18
QUICK TOUR Sugar Creek is a 2,300-yard par-32 layout with water hazards on four holes. The course is kept in very good condition with the greens being smooth, undulating and difficult.
TOUGHEST HOLE The seventh hole, a 400-plus-yard par-4 will test players of all abilities. There is a new lighted driving range, fully stocked pro shop
10TH HOLE The clubhouse has a full restaurant and bar, capable of hosting banquets.
INSTRUCTION Golf instruction is available by appointment from Jeff Siegmund, the PGA Head Professional who also runs an active and large junior golf program.
MORE INFO (630) 834-3325; www.golfsugarcreek.com

Zigfield Troy Golf
LOCATION 1535 75th St., Woodridge
GREENS FEES Weekday $10; weekend $12
QUICK TOUR One of my favorite nine-hole courses owned by the Troy family, this layout measures 1,089 yards with a par of 27 and will really test your short-iron game. Another great feature is the large natural-grass driving range.
TOUGHEST HOLE The eighth, a 140-yard hole with a nasty grass bunker blocking the green. Do not be fooled by the lack of length. Precision is the name of the game at Zigfield Troy.
10TH HOLE The clubhouse has vending machines; the course is located across the street from numerous restaurants.
INSTRUCTION Golf Instruction is all available by appointment from one of the five PGA professionals on staff.
MORE INFO (630) 985-9860; www.zigfieldtroygolf.com

Ian Grant is a PGA teaching professional and a member of the teaching faculty of the PGA of America. He can be contacted at Oak Brook Golf Club (630) 990-3032 in the summer and White Pines Golf Dome in Bensenville in the winter. You can contact Ian directly at (708) 917-8951, or at iansgolf@aol.com.