With the nine-hole round becoming an increasingly popular option for golfers who don’t have time to get in 18 holes, clubs and associations around the country are finding innovative ways to encourage golfers to take advantage of the more time-friendly option.

In addition to the time-saving benefits of a nine-hole round, it is also a great way to stay active. Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz., capitalized on that during the month of May, which has been dubbed “Arizona Golf Month” by the Arizona Golf Association (AGA), Arizona Women’s Golf Association and Junior Golf Association of Arizona. Arizona Golf Month is an initiative devised to encourage golfers to keep playing as the weather traditionally gets warmer throughout the state and play tends to taper off. Throughout the month, Longbow offered special nine-hole rates, including free golf for anyone that walked nine holes on Wednesdays.

“If you play nine holes and walk, you’re walking two miles [at Longbow Golf Club],” said Bob McNichols, the general manager at Longbow. “We’re trying to encourage people, for their health, and for their enjoyment of the game, to get back to walking the course, and we think that Walk-Free Wednesdays is a good way to initiate it.”

Golfers were excited about Walk-Free Wednesdays, and the AGA produced a video (below) sharing some of their testimonials.