Golf, more than any other sport, takes patience and concentration. The game requires split-second swings yet takes hours to play. When golfing, your playing time will depend greatly on a number of different factors. These factors include your skill level, your group size, the size and nature of the course, whether you are driving the course or walking and the par of the course.
Hole-by-Hole
Each hole in golf takes an average golfer, whether professional or amateur, around 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Most golf courses require a rate of play at around 15 minutes and set tee times eight to 12 minutes apart, as this is the time they suggest to play each hole. From the tee box to the green, your 10- to 15-minute playing times includes the tee shot, the number of approach shots to the green and your time on the green. Calculating hole-by-hole, your nine-hole round should take anywhere from 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours.
Course Size
The size of the course also plays a large part in the time of your nine-hole round. A round on a par-3 course should take only one hour to 1.5 hours. A regular par-34-to-37 nine-hole course will take you the 1.5 to 2.5 hours suggested by the last section. Typical 5,500- to 6,500-yard courses will take an average of about two hours, while longer courses around 7,000 yards can take as long as nearly 2.5 hours.
Skill Level
Whether playing nine holes or 18, the skill level of the golfer will determine greatly how long it will take to complete the round. A better golfer hits the ball longer and straighter, lands more balls on the fairway and the green, and loses fewer balls. This all equals less time searching for balls and fewer total shots. A good golfer with little traffic can play nine holes between 1.25 hours and 1.5 hours. A slower golfer with a higher handicap will average around 2 to 2.15 hours.
Driving vs. Walking
Nearly all golf courses, other than par-3 courses, offer rarts to ride the course during your round. A player riding a cart can find her ball much quicker and can move faster. A walking player may take as much as 2.75 hours, while a player who is using a cart should almost always finish a round in less than 2.25 hours.
Course Traffic
When playing nine holes, the time perhaps depends the most on the pace of the course during your round. If there is heavy traffic on the course and it is moving slowly, it may take three hours. You can wait as long as five to 10 minutes on a tee box waiting for the golfers ahead of you to finish, and this can add as much as 45 minutes to your round.
About The Author
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 University.
