How Long Does it Take to Play Golf?
- Average Time. Conventional wisdom holds that the average time to play a round of 18 holes of golf is approximately four hours.
- Course Variety. All golf courses are not created equal. ...
- Skill and Number in Party. Scratch players are going to move through a course faster than players with 20 handicaps. ...
- Other Considerations. ...
How long does it take to play a round of golf?
Walking: single player: 2 hours 15 minutes two-ball: 2 hours 45 minutes three-ball: 3 hours 30 minutes four-ball: 4 hours
How many rounds of golf does the average golfer play?
6 rows · There is no official data for the length of time a round takes at the Masters, one of the four ...
How many golf balls allowed in a round?
Jul 25, 2020 · Thus, we carried out some research to pin down how long does a round of golf take. Some golfing players experience a typical round of 18 holes. As usual, 18 holes’ round is measured to spend about two hours and 30 minutes per single player. Besides, as each golfing player has played, those “predicted” times are not true.
How long does it take to get good at golf?
Aug 07, 2021 · How Long Does It Take To Play Each Golf Hole Par 3: about 10 minutes Par 4: 12-15 minutes Par 5: 15-27 minutes
How long is average round of golf?
According to a study commissioned by the United States Golf Association (USGA), golf rounds average four hours on weekdays and average four hours and thirty minutes on weekends. The length of a round of golf (in terms of time) can also be impacted by the time of day.Apr 29, 2021
How long does a round of golf take for 2 players?
three to four hoursA twosome or threesome could expect to play in three to four hours, depending on the pace of the groups ahead of them. A single player can play as fast as the players in front allow. It's not unheard of for a single player to finish a round of golf in two hours or less.
How long does it take to walk 18 holes of golf?
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.Aug 12, 2019
How Long is a professional round of golf?
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.
How long does 18 holes take 4 players?
How Long Does 18 Holes Take? On average, it takes 4-5 hours for a foursome to play a round of 18 holes of golf. When there's no wait ahead of you, it's realistic to finish in roughly 4 hours. On a busy weekend with waits on each hole, expect the round to take 5 hours.Nov 1, 2021
How long does it take to walk 9 holes of golf?
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.
How long does a round of golf take for 1 person?
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 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.
What is an average golfer?
In 2019, according to the National Golf Foundation, golfers played an average of 18.2 rounds. This number varies greatly by age however. Golfers over the age of 65 played an average of 36 rounds a year while those ages 18-34 only play an average of 12 rounds.Jul 22, 2020
How did golf become 18 holes?
In 1764, the golfers at St Andrews decided to combine the first four short holes into two, to produce a round of 18 holes, though it was still 10 holes of which 8 were played twice. Thus was born the 18-hole round, though it would be hundred years before there were eighteen holes and other courses followed suit.
How long does 9 holes take for 2 players?
On an empty golf course, a single player or a skilled twosome can play a 9-hole round in as little as 75 minutes. That can be walking or riding, depending on the age of the players.Jan 30, 2020
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 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.
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 to 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: Recording your score on the next tee and not the green you’ve just putted out on. Allowing groups behind you to play through when appropriate.
What happens when you play golf in all four seasons?
If you play most of your golf in an area of the world that experiences all four seasons, then at some point throughout the year you will be contending with the wind, the rain and everything that comes with it, such as plugged/lost ball s, and less distance.
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.
When you drop a golf ball, can it be dropped from knee height?
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 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?
How long should you take your shot before you can play golf?
Pace of play recommendations – In addition to formally recommending many of the aspects of ‘ready golf’ noted above, the new 2019 rules also recommend that a player takes their shot no longer than 40 seconds after the time when they should have been ‘ready to play’.
What are the obstacles on a golf course?
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.
Why should golf bags be positioned?
Position of bags or carts – When players approach the green, golf bags or carts should be positioned to allow for quick and efficient movement off the green towards the next tee. Play a ‘provisional’ ball – Ball searches and lost balls cannot usually be avoided but they cause a delay.
When will golf be changed?
As a result, together with a large number of other changes, effective from 1st January 2019, ...
How long does it take to play the Masters?
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.
Which type of golf game is the slowest?
Types of play – The type of game chosen on any given day has a direct impact on the pace of play. Strokeplay, where golfers need to complete every hole to have a valid score, is often the slowest. Foursomes golf by comparison, where partners play alternate shots, is the fastest.
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 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 to shorten the time it takes to play golf?
Easiest Way to Shorten Time It Take to Play Golf: Play Fewer Holes. 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.
Do slow golfers slow down?
Don't be one of the slow golfers! Slow golfers aren't just slowing themselves down, but the golfers they are playing with and everyone else on the golf course, too. Whether your group includes fast or slow golfers, combined with how busy the golf course is overall, play the biggest roles in how long it takes to play golf.
Do golfers play fast?
Others are quite slow, always discovering ways to waste time. Don't be one of the slow golfers!
How Many Holes are you Playing?
Everyone who has ever stepped foot in a pro shop knows that most courses give you the option to play either 9 or 18 holes. Eighteen is considered a full round, but it also is going to take more time. The average eighteen-hole round can take between 3 ½- 4 ½ hours to complete, depending on skill level and course traffic.
How Many People are you Playing With?
It almost goes without saying that playing by yourself is faster than playing with two or three more people. How much faster depends on a wide array of variables, but you can usually count on a solo round falling within the lower range of the time frame, whereas playing with a foursome will generally fall within the higher range.
Riding or Walking?
Technically speaking, riding in a cart will get you from the first tee to the last tee quicker than your feet will. Personally, I have always found that I play better when I walk, and when I play better, the round goes faster.
How Long is the Course?
The average course comes in at between 6800-7200 yards, depending on what tee boxes you play from. That isn’t exactly what I mean when I talk about course length. Most full-length courses will take roughly the same amount of time to complete, even if they do have an extra par 5 or two in there.
The Twelve Hole Course
The twelve-hole course is more of a prototype idea than it is a thing you should actually be looking for at this time. The Golden Bear himself, Jack Niklaus, is a huge proponent of making golf a little more beginner friendly and believes that one way to do this is to shorten the rounds.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, thanks to a slew of variables, the length of a golf round can vary tremendously. Your best bet for a quick round is going to be the Par 3 course. If that is all you have time for, great. It can be nice to get a round in without it dominating the entire day.
How long does it take to walk 18 holes?
When we walk 18 holes, we play in just under 3 hours. This is without rushing, but just being mindful of the time that we take up. If we are riding a cart we can finish in 2.5 hours. The cart definitely helps us play faster, but sometimes we enjoy the exercise from walking and getting in a good workout.
How to ride in a cart with another golfer?
If you are sharing a cart with another golfer, drop one person off at their ball and that golfer should grab 2-3 potential clubs. The other golfer should then get ready to hit and be ready as soon as their playing partner has hit their shot.
How to be a good golf cart partner?
Whoever is in the cart should consider what club, such as a putter, than your cart partner might need. Communicate throughout the hole and be a good cart partner.
How long is a foursome?
The expected round of golf for a foursome is 4 to 4.5 hours. If you are playing in less time than four hours for a foursome, you are playing faster than most. Once a group starts to hit the 5 hour mark, they are playing really slow and possibly slowing down the rest of the course and ruining the golfing experience for most.
Is golf a good game?
Everyone out there has paid quality money and it is up to each individual golfer to do his or her best to play at a pace that is good for most. Golf is a wonderful game when played at a quality pace.
Can you walk to your cart when hitting a golf shot?
As the person with the cart is hitting their shot, their partner can start walking to their cart. This routine of dropping a golfer off at their ball should be part of the routine for every shot on every hole. You should never just sit there and watch the other person hit and then drive to the next person’s ball.
How do golf courses vary in length?
Golf courses naturally vary in length based on the terrain that they are laid out in. There’s always some boundaries to the available land. It follows that the longer the course is, the longer it’s going to take you to get round.
What does it mean to be ready to play golf?
This simply means that a golfer should be ready to play as soon as is practically possible. In other words, be at their ball ready to play in turn. Etiquette and safety mean that the first to play is the golfer furthest from the hole, but that’s often debateable. Doing that, debating who’s furthest away, just eats up time and slows play.
What happens when you play a busy course?
If the slowest group just happens to be the first group out, everyone is going to be in for a long day . Some busy courses employ marshals to check on the pace of play and to discuss that with slow groups when they find them.
Is there a rule book for golf?
There’s a rule book for golf which must be adhered to and the authorities who set the rules are conscious that some of them make play slower. So from January 2019 there are specific rule changes designed to make play quicker.
Is golf easier in the sun or in the sun?
Golf is easiest (quicker) when it’s warm but not too warm, slightly overcast so hitting into the sun isn’t a problem, and with a gentle breeze to cool you down.
Do handicappers hit the ball too far?
Skilled, lower handicappers tend not to hit the ball too far offline, so they spend less time looking for it. The odd one thinks they are Jordan Spieth though and take for ever over every shot.
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…