DnD Course
A DnD course is a golf course concept with nine fairways but eighteen greens, in which each hole is played differently over two rounds.
The idea comes from a shortage of land: a classic 18-hole course needs around 70 hectares of land, while a DnD course gets by on about 30 to 40 hectares. This is achieved by using each fairway twice. Each hole has two greens, often two tees as well, and so nine playing holes become eighteen different hole experiences. The concept is especially attractive for 9-hole facilities, because it breaks up the otherwise usual repetition of the second round. Instead of playing the same thing twice, you experience practically new holes on the second nine.
This is how a round works in practice: on the front nine you play each hole to the first green, say the left one. On the back nine you aim on the same hole at the second green, which lies to the right and is often shaped differently. This changes the flag position, the length and sometimes the whole strategy of the hole. An example: hole 5 plays on the front as a short par 4 with the green lying left, and on the back it becomes a longer hole with the green behind a bunker. Your scorecard lists both versions as separate holes with their own par and their own stroke index.
Important in everyday play: stick to the announcement of which green is currently in play — balls on the "wrong" green of the double hole are usually covered by relief, but you may not putt there. And do not confuse the DnD course with a short course: these are full-value holes of normal length; only the land is used twice. For beginners and clubs with little space it is a clever solution that delivers a genuine 18-hole feel in a compact area.
FAQ
How do I tell on the hole which green is currently in play?
The announcement is on the scorecard, at the tee or issued by the club office — often the front nine plays to one green and the back nine to the other. Also watch the flag: some facilities use different flag colours per green. If in doubt, ask your playing partners before the shot instead of playing to the wrong target.
What happens if my ball lands on the wrong green of the double hole?
You may not putt there. The green not in play on the double hole is normally treated as a wrong green: you mark the ball, lift it and drop without penalty at the nearest point off the green. The details are in the local rules, but the principle applies everywhere — the resting green is protected and off limits.
Is a DnD course a stripped-down short course?
No, that is a widespread misconception. The holes are full value with normal lengths; only the land is used twice: nine fairways become eighteen different hole experiences thanks to two greens each. A short course, by contrast, consists of consistently shortened holes. For you that means: on a DnD course you play genuine 18-hole golf on a compact area.