
How long does it take to play golf on average?
How long a game of golf takes depends on quite a few things. But the short answer is about 4 hours. Single players with an open course can take as little as 2 hours and on a difficult course with a full field, up to 6 hours. Read below for more in-depth discussion.
How long does a round of golf last?
Apr 25, 2003 · Updated on 03/26/18 A round of golf, on average, is expected to take about four hours to play for a group of four golfers. That is the estimate most golfers will give for an appropriate length of time to play 18 holes (18 holes is the length of a "standard" round of golf). But the actual time it takes to play varies for many reasons.
What is the average lifespan of golf clubs?
The estimated average time for a round of golf at a professional tournament is 4 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes per round. More top articles related to this topic What is Considered a Long Golf Course?
How long is a round of golf at the Masters?
The average round of golf in America takes 4 hours, 17 minutes, according to Lucius Riccio, Ph.D., who analyzed 40,460 rounds. The average time of new sweepers, or the first group out, is 3:46. The length and Slope Rating of a golf course has almost no correlation with pace.

How long does a round of golf take for 2 players?
How Long Does a Round of Golf Take – for 1, 2, 3 & 4 Players?No. of players18 holesPar 4s12 hrs 30 mins8 mins23 hrs10 mins33 hrs 30 mins12 mins44 hrs13 mins1 more row
How long does it take one person to play 18 holes of golf?
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 can be walking or riding, depending on the age of the players. On a busy golf course with average to poor players, an 18-hole round can take in upwards of 6 hours to play.Jan 30, 2020
How long does 18 holes of golf take 2 people?
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 four players, on average, could take four hours to play 18 holes of golf.Apr 29, 2021
How long does 18 holes of golf take walking?
In golf, 18 holes take 4 hours on average. It takes this time for a standard foursome to get around the course while walking. For 4 players, that gives an average of 13 minutes for each hole.Nov 1, 2021
What does the average golfer shoot?
Depending on a golfer's skill level, a more advanced player can shoot an average of around 40 strokes for nine holes with a less skilled player shooting 55-65. An average golfer would likely shoot between 45-55.Jul 7, 2020
What is considered slow play in golf?
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.
How long is a golf shot?
How long do I have to hit my shot? A. It is recommended that you make a stroke in no more than 40 seconds.
How long does it take to walk 9 holes?
An average golfer, playing without a cart and walking the full nine-hole course would take around 2 hours to complete their round. Fast players or single-player rounds will take less time, reducing this time by as much as 45 minutes.
What percentage of golfers walk?
But in a foundation survey last summer, 33 percent of golfers who played regularly said they were walking more frequently. Similar figures for this year have yet to be compiled. Traditional golf carts, which became widespread in the 1960s, are facing more modern competition.Aug 16, 2021
How much golf is too much?
For most people, hitting 50-60 balls at the range should be the max. Any more than this and you probably won't see much benefit. That's why most golf coaches recommend hitting less than 60 balls on the range (can hit more on the practice green).
How long is a golf round?
about four hoursA round of golf, on average, is expected to take about four hours to play for a group of four golfers. That is the estimate most golfers will give for an appropriate length of time to play 18 holes (18 holes is the length of a "standard" round of golf). But the actual time it takes to play varies for many reasons.Mar 26, 2018
How long does it take to get good at golf?
It can take up to six months for a beginner to even master hitting the ball the right way. Yes, you read correctly, six months. The reason is that hand-eye coordination required for golf is severely underrated. The second biggest factor determining how long it will take you to 'get good' is how you define good.Feb 17, 2022
How long does it take to play golf?
A round of golf, on average, is expected to take about four hours to play for a group of four golfers. That is the estimate most golfers will give for an appropriate length of time to play 18 holes (18 holes is the length of a "standard" round of golf). But the actual time it takes to play varies for many reasons.
How long does it take to finish a golf course?
A single golfer on an empty golf course should be able to finish in two-and-a-half hours or less. A group of four on a very busy course, on the other hand, might need five hours or more.
How to reduce the time you spend playing golf?
There is one very easy way to reduce the amount of time it takes to play a round of golf: Play fewer holes. Everyone thinks of a "round" as 18 holes. But you aren't required to play a full 18. Short on time or just in a hurry? Play nine holes instead. Many golf courses offer reduced green fees for golfers who only want to play nine. Playing nine is also a great option for late afternoons when there isn't enough sunlight left to finish 18 anyway.
How many holes can you play in a golf course?
Some golf courses are now designed with six-hole loops so that golfers can choose to play six holes, nine, 12 or 18.
What is the key factor in golf?
Key Factor: Speed of Individual Golfers in Group. One of the biggest factors in golf's time requirement is how fast or slow each golfer is. How quickly, how briskly—or how slowly—golfers move on the course is called "pace of play.". Some golfers play very quickly—they are always ready to hit when it is their turn;
How long does it take to play 9 holes of golf?
How long does it take to play nine holes of golf? 9 holes of golf is expected to take no longer than 1 hour 15 minutes for 1 player, 1 hour 30 minutes for a group of 2 players, 1 hour 45 minutes for a group of 3 players and 2 hours for a group of 4 players. How long does a round of golf take at the Masters?
When will golf be changed?
As a result, together with a large number of other changes, effective from 1st January 2019, ...
What are the obstacles in golf?
Obstacles on the course – Most golf courses will have a mix of some or all of the following – rough, bunkers, water hazards, trees, bushes and other obstacles. The more of these there are, and the harder it is to recover from these obstacles, the slower play is likely to be. Weather – Golf is a difficult sport to play.
When did the rules of golf change?
The Rules of Golf changed a lot on 1st January 2019 with many of the new rules intended to improve the pace of play at all levels of the game. But why were golf’s rule makers looking at this?
Can you put a flagstick in a hole?
Putting with flagstick in the hole is now permitted – The new rules take away the previous penalty for hitting a flagstick left in the hole while putting on a green. The frequent taking out and placing back of flagsticks could previously often cause delays in a round of golf.
What is an empty starting interval?
Empty starting intervals or starter gaps – Delays caused by any of the above factors can be reduced or even cleared by having empty ‘starting intervals’ or ‘starter gaps’. Without the empty starting interval, the likelihood is that waiting on that hole will increase as the day goes on.
Is golf a difficult sport?
Weather – Golf is a difficult sport to play . Add in some rain and / or strong winds and it becomes even more so. A poor weather day can, as a result, have a major impact on the length of time it takes to a complete a round.
How long is a golf course?
Course Length. Golf courses vary widely in length (Anywhere from 5000 – 8500 yards). The total length of the course, the distance from green to tee, and the overall terrain and layout of the course can affect the time of your round.
How long does it take to search for a ball in golf?
In January of 2019, there were some specific rule changes designed to help make play quicker for both the professionals and amateurs: The time a player can search for their ball was reduced from 5 minutes to 3 minutes.
How to play golf faster?
There are a few things that you can do to help speed up your round. The most important thing is to play with common sense: 1 Recording your score on the next tee and not the green you’ve just putted out on 2 Allowing groups behind you to play through when appropriate 3 Enforce the ‘ready to play’ rule 4 If you are playing a relaxed game with friends, ensure you give each other a ‘gimmie’ to save some time putting 5 Always play a provisional ball if you think you may have lost yours from the tee. Nothing slows down play like that lonely walk back to the tee box to take another shot. 6 Take your time with your shots, but don’t waste too much time on the walk between them
How long does it take to play 18 holes?
An 18 hole round for three players should take 3.5 hours. A full round for two players should take 3 hours. And if you are playing by yourself, it should take 2 to 2.5 hours.
Who is Nick Lomas?
Nick Lomas. Nick Lomas is the founder of GolfSpan, an avid golfer, not quite a pro but has over 15-years of experience playing and coaching golfers from all over the world.
Can you putt with a flagstick in the hole?
Golfers are now allowed to putt with the flagstick in the hole. When you drop a ball, it can now be dropped from knee-height instead of shoulder height. This should minimize the need for further drops or placements. If a ball is plugged you can now take relief from the rough as well as the fairway.
How long does it take to play golf with a foursome?
If playing with a foursome, expect the round to take up to four or five hours. If playing with only one or two golfers, there will be less waiting required and the round can be finished in as little as two hours.
How long does it take to play 18 holes?
This equates to an 18-hole round of golf taking anywhere from 3 to 4 1/2 hours.
Where is Matthew Fortuna?
Matthew Fortuna is a full-time freelance writer with a journalism degree from Wayne State University, living in the Detroit metropolitan area. He has written about a wide range of topics across varying publications, including Demand Studios, wiseGEEK.com and Suite101.com, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Wayne State ...
How long does it take to walk 18 holes?
With that adjustment, we expect you to walk about 5 miles over 18 holes. Assuming a gentle walking pace of 3 miles per hour, that’s a distance you should cover in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Along the way, you’ll be taking 90 shots.
How many yards should I drive a golf ball?
As an average golfer, you drive it an average of 208 yards (that’s according to a 2017 USGA study). Given the distance you hit the ball, you should be playing a 5,400-yard course (that’s according to PGA of America recommendations). But knowing your ego, we recognize that you’re probably not going to tee it that far forward.
How long do golf irons last?
Life Expectancy of Golf Irons. Typically, golf irons will last a very long time. In fact 10 years is the most common number thrown around by other golfers. But I wanted to see if the figure matched up with my own experience.
What is the shaft of a golf club?
Another important component of a club is the shaft. A shaft is the long skinny stick which joins the face head to the handle. A golf club shaft generally won’t wear out. In fact it’s one of the only parts of a club that stays pretty much in the same condition it arrived in.
How long do graphite shafts last?
You can expect a shaft to last 20 years, with other components failing way before any shaft will. The reason for the shafts longevity is because there is little to no force imposed directly on to the shaft. However there is evidence that a shaft made from graphite will have a longer lifespan than a steel shaft.
What is a driver head made of?
Generally speaking, a driver head will be made from primarily titanium. However being an alloy, it won’t be made from 100% titanium. Small amounts of other metals like aluminium and vanadium are mixed in to produce a better mold. In the 1990’s Titanium was a revolutionary innovation in the golf club industry.

What The Officials Say
Factors Affecting The Time of Your Round
- Let’s take look in more detail at the varying factors that will play a part in how long it takes you to complete your round:
How The Rules Are Helping Speed Things Up
- In January of 2019, there were some specific rule changes designed to help make play quicker for both the professionals and amateurs: 1. The time a player can search for their ball was reduced from 5 minutes to 3 minutes 2. Golfers are now allowed to putt with the flagstick in the hole 3. When you drop a ball, it can now be dropped from knee-height instead of shoulder height. This s…
How You Can Speed Up Your Round
- There are a few things that you can do to help speed up your round. The most important thing is to play with common sense: 1. Recording your score on the next tee and not the green you’ve just putted out on 2. Allowing groups behind you to play through when appropriate 3. Enforce the ‘ready to play’ rule 4. If you are playing a relaxed game with friends, ensure you give each other a …
Final Thoughts
- The honest answer to “How long does a round of golf take?” is: “It just depends”. Yes, the governing bodies of the sport have worked out an ‘average’ time but as any golfer will know, there are just too many factorsthat can affect the amount of time you end up spending on the golf course. What is important is that newcomers, all the way up to the professionals on tour maintai…