You may have heard of people playing golf for the full day and then those who spend less than 4 hours to do a round. With all the varying times you heard, you may wonder how long does a round of golf take these days?
If we assume you are playing in a group of 4 recreational golfers, the typical time to play a full round of 18 holes is 4 to 5 hours. However, this varies depending on many factors, such as the course length & difficulty, how full the course is, etc.
In this article, we will explore the how long is a round of golf, from 9 holes to 18 holes, to recreational golfers to professional PGA golfers.
How Long Does It Take to Play 18 Holes of Golf?
In an estimate by Golf.com, they calculate that a round of golf with 4 players, considering all the conditions of playing, should take around 3 hours and 47 minutes.
However, the general consensus is that in a group of 4, on average, it takes 4 to 5 hours to complete a full round of 18 holes of golf.
How Long Does It Take to Play 9 Holes of Golf?
If you are playing 9 holes, it should take you half the time you take to play 18 holes. Using our average above, it should take you around 2 to 2.5 hours to complete 9 holes in golf. Again, the duration depends on the many factors involved during the day.
How Long Does it Take to Play One Hole in Golf?
For a single hole, the time it takes to play depends primarily on what kind of hole it is. We’ve broken down the most common estimates below based on a group of 4 golfers:
- Par 3 – typically takes between 10 to 15 minutes. The shortest holes requiring the least strokes to finish.
- Par 4 – between 15 to 20 minutes. These are typically moderately challenging for players.
- Par 5 – ranges from 20 to 30 minutes. One of the longest holes, requiring more expertise to navigate challenging course conditions and hazards.
Why Do Beginners Take Longer to Finish a Round of Golf?
It’s no secret that beginner golfers usually take longer to play a round of golf compared to more experienced ones. Some of the main reasons for this is due to:
- Slower swing speed – beginners usually have slower swing speeds and cannot use their whole body to drive the ball further with a stroke. This means beginners need more strokes to reach the green.
- Unfamiliarity with equipment – new golfers may not understand how to grip the club the right way, which affects their overall golf swings
- Limited knowledge of the game – beginners may not understand the full rules of golf, guidelines, and strategies, which slow down their overall pace of play.
- Need for practice – inexperienced golfers need to repeat each new skill they learn from golf in order to master it. This means they tend to practice more on the course, increasing their overall round duration.
- Unaccurate shots – beginners are likely to hit erratic shots and mis hits. These lead to a longer round duration.
- Lack of course management – new golfers typically lack the experience to understand how to manage the golf course properly, such as dealing with water hazards or bunkers.
What Factors Effect How it Takes to Complete a Round of Golf?
Number of Total Course Players
If you play during a crowded day such as busy weekends, it’s not uncommon to be waiting to tee off the first hole. You can also be held up at different holes, especially if the group in front is a larger group.
As a result, it’s recommended you plan the tee time during off-peak hours so you can enjoy a game of golf with fewer delays and interruptions.
Number of Group Players
The bigger the number of players is, the longer it will take to complete a hole since each player takes time to hit at each hole. For every 1 player you add to your group, you can expect to add approximately 30 minutes to the total course completion time.
Skill Level of Golfers
Beginners take longer to complete a round of golf as they are more prone to mis-hits & hitting shorter shots. This all makes them take longer to reach the putting green, and hence a longer time to complete each hole.
Design & Length of the Golf Course
A shorter course, such as all Par 3 golf courses, will take much faster to complete compared to a full golf course. This is because a full Par 3 golf course has a Par 54, compared to a normal golf course, which is Par 72. To more hits expected for a golf course, the longer it will take.
Golf Cart vs Walking
If you are using golf carts, it will take you take you faster to complete each hole vs if you were going to walk the course. This is especially true if a golf course is hilly.
Weather Conditions
Adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain or extreme heat, can cause delays as players need a longer time to prepare or rest between holes.
For this reason, it’s important to check the weather forecast before you play and be prepared for all types of conditions.
Tips to Improve Your Golf Playing Pace
If you feel like your pace of play in golf is too slow, there are things you can do to improve the pace. These are our top tips to help you.
- Be prepared: come prepared to the course for all weather conditions, and when it’s your turn to hit, be ready.
- Limit practice swings: take a maximum of 2 practice swings before your shot.
- Use a golf cart: share a golf cart during your round, as this will help you get to each shot faster.
- Play ready golf: in casual golf, if safe to do so, allow for whoever is closest to their ball to take the next shot regardless of whether they are not furthest away from the hole or not.
- Avoid distractions: limit distractions, such as putting your phone away during the round until you have a break.
- Play in a smaller group:
- Watch the ball: keep an eye on the ball so that you know where it lands and can get to it faster.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. We’ve learned that in a group of 4 players, the typical time to play a full round of 18 holes is 4 to 5 hours. However, this varies depending on many factors, such as the course length & difficulty, how full the course is, etc.
