Play a round of regulation 18-hole golf on most courses and you’ll walk anywhere between 3 and 6 miles, depending on the length of the course, how much walking you do before and after your game,...
With 18 holes lasting roughly 15 minutes each, that puts a group of 4 taking about 4 hours and 15 minutes to play a group of 18 holes. If you’re playing alone or with a group less than four, this will reduce the total time it takes to play 18 holes.
No. 2 is a hard golf course but an easy walk. Most of the tees are situated fairly close to the previous green, and there’s really only one spot where players must double back to a tee box – leaving No. 9 green, players must about-face and walk up a hill to start the back nine.
It all depends on the factors we discussed earlier (number of players, traffic, day of the week, etc.). A single golfer or a skilled twosome can finish the course in about 75 minutes if the course is not crowded.
Walking golf is a great exercise for children and adults who love playing this invigorating sport. People who forgo the golf carts and hoof it on foot can find themselves burning off between 1,000 to 1,500 calories when playing all 18-holes. You can burn off more calories by carrying your clubs.
As you add players to your group, you can expect the time to complete a round to grow by roughly thirty minutes for each additional player. Two players could play in three hours, three players could play in three hours and thirty minutes, and foursomes, on average, could take four hours to play 18 holes of golf.
Play a round of regulation 18-hole golf on most courses and you'll walk anywhere between 3 and 6 miles, depending on the length of the course, how much walking you do before and after your game, and how often you have to wander off course in search of lost balls.
According to the USGA, the average score for recreational players is 91 on a par 72 golf course. These numbers take into account everyone who actively records their scores and reports them online, and since a lot of golfers don't do this, the average golf score for all golfers is much closer to 100.
Slow play on the golf course is usually a habit that a golfer acquires over time, as he or she acquires bad habits. Or it's the result of the golfer never having been taught proper golf etiquette. This means a slow golfer can usually be "cured" of his malady.
For an 18-hole round of golf, which can run from 4-5.5 hours, a walking golfer can burn anywhere from 1,200-3,000 calories. A golfer won't burn quite as many calories if they're walking the course but using a push cart, but the energy expended to push or pull a walking cart will come close to making up the difference.
You Could Improve Your Score The motion of walking helps loosen muscles and keeps you limber throughout the round, which can only help your play. They say walking makes the game more social, as walking golfers have time to converse while they walk the fairways.
Golf can be good for your health and your heart. Walking an average course for a round of golf can be between five to seven kilometres. If you walk 18 holes three to five times a week, you'll get an optimal amount of endurance exercise for your heart.
Assuming you’re playing in a group of four, it will take approximately 15 minutes per hole. With 18 holes lasting roughly 15 minutes each, that puts a group of 4 taking about 4 hours and 15 minutes to play a group of 18 holes.
There are many variables that will affect how long it takes you (or your group) to play through 18 holes. We’ll walk through these now. Also take a look at our guide on how long it takes to play 9 holes of golf if you’re planning a half round.
There are a few ways to reduce the amount of time you or your group will spend playing 18 holes of golf. Let’s take a look below.
There are several factors at play when it comes to how quickly you’ll be able to complete 18 holes of golf. The major factors at play are the following:
The number of players you are playing with is a major factor in how long it will take to complete a full 18 holes of golf. While playing with four players, which is considered the average, it will probably take you about four hours, give or take some time because of player skill.
The type of course has a rather large impact on how long your 18 holes are going to take. A full par 72 (4 par per hole) course will probably take an average of around 4 hours. However, a par 3 course will take you significantly less time. These probably take around 2 or 3 hours to complete for a group of moderately skilled amateurs.
Another factor in how long your game will take is the skill of the players. Obviously, the better you and your group are at golfing, the less time the course will take. If you’re shooting at or around par, you can expect to finish a par 4 course in around 3 or 4 hours.
One of the major factors for how long you’re going to take to complete 18 holes is actually beyond your control. How many other people are on the course at the time you play can seriously slow down how long you’re able to play.
The speed at which you complete each hole is one of the most important factors to how fast you are able to complete the entire course. How fast you can tee up, take your shots, score your game, make your puts, and move on to the next hole will be the main factor of how long you take to get 18 holes done.
The last major factor of how long your 18 hole game will take is whether you’re walking from hole to hole or riding a golf cart. Riding a golf cart can considerably reduce the amount of time it takes to complete the course.
On an empty golf course, a single player or a skilled twosome can play an 18-hole round in as little as 2 hours.
That will save up to 30 minutes per round.
The idea, then, is that each hole should take an average of 13 minutes to get to that 4-hour mark. The par 3s should take about 10 minutes, while the par 4s take about 13 and the par 5s take about 15 minutes. Of course, that's with a full foursome on an average golf course with an average number of people playing.
Unless you’re in a tournament, do not play the honor system (sorry Golf Gods, I said it).
One of the main culprits behind slow golf is playing tee boxes that are too advanced for your game.
In general, using a golf cart is a faster way to get around the golf course. You can drive straight to your ball, go through your pre-shot routine, hit, and repeat until you’re on the green. No walking or having to use a pull cart.
Another reason for slow golf is players searching for distances to the green and other hazards.
Finally, to speed up the pace of play, develop your own pre-shot routine that is efficient. A longer pre-shot routine does not necessarily make it a better one.
As golf continues to grow in popularity since 2020, pace of play is a big issue.
So, how long does it usually take to play an entire golf round, all 18 holes? The United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A) conducted a study to determine the average time a golf round needs to be completed.
Slow play is when a golfer takes too long to finish their round. This can lead to frustration for both the players and their playing partners.
Earlier, we mentioned that the time a round of golf takes to complete would vary depending on many variables. These include the number of players, weather conditions, players' skill level, etc. Let's now tackle each factor individually in more detail.
There are several benefits of playing a fast-paced round of golf. One of these benefits is that you'll enjoy your round more. You'll feel happier and more relaxed after completing a faster-paced round.
Now that we have established that a faster pace of play can make a golf round more enjoyable, you might be asking yourself how to speed up your pace. There are certain tips you can try to achieve that; let's cover some of them in more detail.
Golf is a very technical game. It takes a lot of practice and strategy to play. Everything needs to be calculated to enjoy the game without any surprises.
Are you playing a full-length, par 72 golf course or a par 3 course? The amount of time it takes to play a par 3 course is much shorter than a standard course. The average of 4 hours and 17 minutes is based on a standard golf course. You can play 18 holes on a par 3 course in 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
If you are trying to figure out how long it’ll take to play a round of golf, you need to understand how many other players will be on the course. A large portion of the delay in your round will be waiting on other players to finish in front of you.
If you want to play fast, we would recommend you try to get one of the first times in the morning or play in the late afternoon. Golf courses will be busiest from mid-morning through early afternoon.
In general, you can play a round of golf more quickly if you’re riding in a golf cart - common sense, right? The only thing you want to pay attention to is the recent weather and the golf course rules. If the course is wet and the rules say “Cart Path Only,” you may actually play quicker if you’re walking directly to your ball vs.
Are you playing by yourself or did you bring three friends? You’ll finish much quicker if you’re playing by yourself versus in a foursome. One thing to keep in mind is that many golf courses will pair you up with other players. Don’t assume that because you made a tee time for yourself that you’ll get to play in a onesome.
Tricky or difficult courses take longer to play. Anytime your ball goes in the woods, high grass, or near the lake, you’ll spend time looking for it. Time searching for golf balls will increase the length of your round. Not to mention, most players will shoot higher scores on harder golf courses. More shots means more time!
Always check the forecast before you leave the house. First, you want to be prepared with the appropriate golf gear to handle the elements and second, the weather can have a direct impact on how long it takes you to play a round of golf.