Something that can be very confusing when you’re planning your first outing for golf is just how long the entire round will take you. Many people misjudge this and stay out much longer than they thought they would, while some somehow finish several hours earlier. There are two types of courses that you can play on that will greatly affect the length of your game, normal 18-hole courses and smaller 9-hole courses.
On average, a 9-hole course can last anything from 1 and a half hours to 3 hours for a group of 3, while 18- hole games can last from 2 and a half hours to well over 6 hours for a group of 3. The way you are playing the game, how you are reaching the ball after hitting it, and how many players are with you will greatly affect the length of any game.
Many other things can affect the length of a game, with many tournaments being vastly different than a simple game you would play with friends. Understanding what you can do to make a game shorter is vital to having a bit more practice to play golf. If every game you play takes up most of a weekend, then you may be less likely to practice enough.
Golf Speed Factors
There are many things that will affect the overall length of the game you are playing; many people make the mistake of thinking that the time needed to play through a course only changes by a few minutes when adding new factors. However, each part of the game that is changed will increase the time it takes to complete a course, with most players experiencing a significant increase in time taken to complete a game when even just adding one more player.
While not each part of your game will affect the total time needed, most of the things within your control can affect the total time it takes to complete a course. There is one thing that can change that will make almost all of your games last an impossibly long time, and that is changing your golf clubs. Playing with unfamiliar clubs can make you play an entire day without completing a full game.
- Size of Group: The average group of players for a game of golf is 3 to 5, and this is how a game’s length is measured. However, if you are fewer players, it can be over significantly faster, while more players in a group can make a game last much longer. Anything more than 5 players will cause one game of golf to easily last, most if not all of a day.
- Riding vs. Walking: This is more than just convenience, especially for 18-hole courses that are massive. Driving from one course to the next can save you up to 5 minutes per course. This means that you are saving one and a half hours walking for a full game of golf, while in a 9-hole game, you can be saving 45 minutes. Never underestimate how much time you can save by driving instead of walking to each new course.
- Skill Level: The first time you play golf, you may spend most of the time just learning how to hit the ball, never mind shaving off strokes to make the game last a little less. As your skill increase and you start to lean on your handicap and to improve it, you can shave off more and more time. A professional golf player may do a course in half the time it takes a beginner.
- Types of Courses: There are many types of golf courses around the world, from mountainous, sand heavy, flat, curved, lakeside, or mixed. Of course, each type will greatly affect your total playtime and can even make one course last well over an hour while the very next is only a few minutes. Being proficient in gold means that you can play any course without stressing.
- Obstacles: This is the most likely cause of any course taking longer. Sand traps, lakes, curves, or trees they can all make your game of golf last a lot longer than it has any right to. Many people make the mistake of believing that lakes and sand traps are the worst. However, when your ball inevitably gets lost in the woods, the leaves and twigs can make it feel like an impossible mountain to climb.
- Weather conditions: A nice clear day is the best way to play golf. However, this is not always what you will get, and while you can avoid most rainy days, it becomes a problem when the wind starts to pick up. This is when you will see most players suddenly having to take double their time to play through a course.
- Other Golfers (Course Traffic): You wake up to the sun shining, the wind not blowing, and you grab your bag and go to the course. The only problem is everyone else that is part of the club had the same thought, and they’re all now playing a game as well. Traffic at a golf course is a very real thing and can make you have to wait 20 to 30 minutes extra before playing through.
How Long Does It Take to Play 9 Holes of Golf?
For one person, a 9-hole game with no interference or traffic can be over in as little as an hour, while games with 2 to 3 players usually take just over 3 hours. Once a group of 4 players is playing, the game can easily last over 4 hours with anything more than causing even a small 9-hole golf course to take a significantly longer amount of time.
If you are playing with inexperienced players, it can easily cause a game to last a lot longer, while experienced players can run through a course in a fraction of that time. It is vital to remember that the fewer shots that each player needs to take to sink a ball, the faster the game will be.
Even with five people all playing together it 9-hole golf courses are much faster than full 18-hole courses, allowing you to easily and comfortably enjoy a game in the morning before doing things in the afternoon. 9-hole courses are usually found in more urban areas where the space might not be available for full courses, which means significantly less travel time for you.
How Long Does It Take to Play 18 Holes of Golf?
For one person, an 18-hole game of golf can last up to 2 hours, depending on the handicap of the player, while 2 to 3 players usually take up to 5 hours. Anything more than this and the game will start lasting well over 6 hours, and breaks will need to be taken while playing through the courses.
When playing with more than five people, it is recommended that you split the group in two, having one play through a course or two before moving on ahead. This would save a lot of time as the two groups can play through much faster than they could if everyone had to wait for the whole group to play.
With 18-hole courses, it is vital to remember that the courses will be much larger, making walking to each course with a golf bag much more challenging. Driving to each new course will save you several hours, nights of back pain, and many other headaches.
Walking Vs. Golf Cart
Walking on smaller courses can be manageable; however, it is highly recommended that you have a golf car to drive around for any large course. This will save you hours walking around the golf course, as many times the next hole is not just over a turn or mountain, with most courses that are large having obstacles and a bit of distance between each hole.
It is vital that you remember the golf cars do more than just take you from point a to be but can also be used to navigate the current hole you are on, as the ball may travel several hundred meters when hit properly. Many golf courses that have membership provide golf cars as a part of the fees, while other courses work on day fees to rent the golf cars.
Smaller courses may not have any golf cars at all, having golf course workers that you can hire to help carry your bags around. This allows you to enjoy the game while working on your swing to get the perfect curve straight onto the green.
Final Thoughts
While there are expected time frames that it will take to play through most golf courses around the world, with most having boards up to give you the average measurements, overall, the time it takes will depend on your skill. It is vital that you learn how to improve your game and play with those of equal skill, allowing none of you to make the others wait or have one that plays significantly better than the rest.
Whatever you do, just be sure that you know the course rules before you start. Many golfers have been surprised by wildlife while playing on unfamiliar courses!