The average round of golf varies depending on the day of the week, and it could also be impacted by the time of day—when you tee off and how many players are on the course. 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 the amount of time) can also be impacted by the time of day. If you are one of the first groups out on the course, you are likely to be able to play a round of golf in four hours or less. However, as more and more groups get onto the course, the average time to play a round will take longer, and on a busy weekend day could at times exceed five hours.

Number of Players in Your Group

Group size will naturally impact the time it takes to play 18 holes of golf. If you are playing by yourself as a single player, you could potentially complete your 18-hole round of golf in as little as two hours and thirty minutes. 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. A twosome could play in three hours, a threesome could complete a round in three hours and thirty minutes, and foursomes, on average, could take four hours to play 18 holes of golf.

How Long Should it Take to Play Each Hole?

On a typical golf course, there are three different types of holes—par-3s, par-4s, and par-5s. But how long should it take for you to play each golf hole? In order for your group (four players) to complete your round in four hours, you should try to adhere to the following times:

• Par-3 Hole: 10 minutes (4 par-3s = 40 minutes)
• Par-4 Hole: 13 minutes (10 par-4s = 2 hours and 10 minutes)
• Par-5 Hole: 16 minutes (4 par-5s = 1 hour and 4 minutes)

Total Time on Course Goal = 4 hours

• 3 hours and 54 minutes of playing time
  • 6 minutes travel time between holes

Riding in a Golf Cart vs. Walking

While it would be reasonable to assume that riding in a golf cart would make your round play faster, that is not always the case. Imagine two players are riding in a cart: if they ride to the first player's ball and watch them hit their shot, and then repeat the process at the second player’s ball, these waiting periods will add to their time on the course over the 18 holes. When possible, after arriving at Player One’s golf ball, Player Two should grab a couple of clubs and walk to their ball to get ready for their shot once the other player is done. Player One could then pick up Player Two in the cart and proceed to the next shot. This can help reduce playing time.

When walking, each player can walk directly to their ball without having to wait on their playing partner, so walking can often result in quicker playing times.

Factors Out of Your Control

Tee Time Intervals

Tee time intervals are the times that the course establishes on the daily play schedule between tee times. Intervals can range anywhere from eight minutes to 15 minutes. Golf course operators want to be able to accommodate as many rounds as possible, especially during the more popular times, as this can lead to more revenues for the course—often at the expense of the golfer experience. Below are some examples of typical tee time intervals:

• Seven and Eight-Minute Intervals: This allows for up to eight tee times on the course in an hour. That is potentially 32 players.
• 12-Minute Intervals: This allows for up to five tee times and potentially 20 players on the course in a one-hour time span.
• 15-Minute Intervals (Rare): This allows for up to four tee times and potentially 16 players on the course in a one-hour time span.

As you can see, the tee time intervals on the daily schedule can have a big impact on your time on the course. Sending out four players every 7.5 minutes, as compared to every 15 minutes, could potentially put twice as many players on the course—often resulting in a slower pace of play.

Course Difficulty / Setup

How the course is maintained and set up can also impact your duration of time on the golf course. If the course is set up as difficult, it is harder for the average golfer and results in higher scores and more time out on the course. Courses that have numerous obstacles, water hazards, sand bunkers, tree-lined fairways, or out-of-bounds will also lengthen the time it takes to complete a round of golf. If the green speeds are fast, that could also impact how long it takes a player to complete a hole, as many amateurs find faster greens more difficult to putt.

Weather Conditions

Temperature, rain, and wind can all impact your golf game, which could ultimately impact your pace of play on the golf course.

Temperature can affect ball flight as warmer, drier conditions are optimal for maximum distance, so as the temperature drops, your ball may not fly as far as it would on a warmer day. When it is cooler, you may also need to wear additional layers of clothing, which could restrict your swing and ultimately how well you play. It’s best to practice in these conditions so that you are ready for them when the weather changes.

Rain can affect your time on the course in that a wet golf course will negatively impact how far a ball will roll once it hits the ground. In some instances, if the fairways are saturated enough, the ball may even plug where it lands. Having to deal with an umbrella, a dry towel, and a dry glove takes time and could lead to longer round times. Just as with cooler temperatures, if you’re wearing rain gear, it could also restrict your swing.

Wind can also impact playing conditions. Beyond its effect on ball flight, high winds can also dry the course out, making the fairways and greens harder to hit. A dry fairway could result in a well-placed driver running off through the fairway into the rough, a bunker, or a water hazard. When they dry out, greens are also less receptive to golf shots and in some instances can result in balls bouncing or rolling over the back of some greens.

Checking In and Time to Warm Up Before Your Round

To ensure an enjoyable round of golf, you want to arrive at the course about 30 to 45 minutes before your scheduled tee time. This will allow you ten minutes to check in with the golf shop and grab a drink, snack, and some practice balls to warm up prior to your round.

After spending 15 to 20 minutes taking some practice swings on the driving range, you’ll want to check in with the starter so you can be called to the first tee on time. After checking in with the starter, you should spend five to 10 minutes practicing your putting to get a feel for the green speeds before you start your round.

Getting Your Round Off to a Good Start

Now you’ve given yourself plenty of time to check in and warm up. When your group is called for the first tee, the starter will likely explain to you the local rules of the course, which can help you to enjoy your round and play at an enjoyable pace.

When the first fairway clears, it will be your group’s turn to tee off. You should determine the order of play (who tees off first, second, and so on) so there is no delay. Each player should be present on the tee to watch each other tee off. Getting in the practice of watching each golfer’s tee shot can go a long way in minimizing search times for wayward drives.

Having More Fun, Playing Faster, and Shooting Better Scores

Ready Golf

Formal golf matches (including the PGA Tour) utilize the “honor system” in nearly all instances. This system encourages the player with the lowest score on the previous hole to play first. Then, after play on the hole has begun, the player farthest from the hole plays first. Ready Golf is a concept that encourages players to forget the “honor system,” as it only wastes time. Ready Golf can improve the pace of play as long as it is done in a safe and responsible manner.

To play Ready Golf, players should be ready to play their shot when it is their turn and should not be afraid to play out of turn. To play this way, you’ll want to know your yardage and have your club ready before your playing partner has hit.

As you approach the green, try and leave your clubs or park your cart as close to the next tee box as possible. Simply doing this can save about 30 minutes during your round. Once the hole is completed, leave the green promptly and proceed to the next hole. The best place to record your score for the previous hole is on the next tee box—this allows players in the group behind you to play up to the green you just left.

Another great time-saver is to watch each player in your group play their shots and watch their ball until it comes to rest. This will help to minimize search times for errant golf shots. If a ball is hit out-of-bounds or players are unable to determine if it is lost or not, golfers are encouraged to play a second (provisional) ball in the interest of a good pace of play.

Tee It Forward

Tee It Forward is a joint initiative between the USGA and the PGA of America that aims to encourage players to play from a set of tees best suited to their driving distance. Teeing it forward can make your round more fun and help to improve your group’s pace of play.

According to the USGA, a recent survey of Tee It Forward participants found that:

• 56% played faster
• 56% were likely to play more often
• 83% hit more lofted clubs into greens
• 85% had more fun
• 93% will Tee It Forward again

Give Tee It Forward a try—you could end up having more fun and play in less time!

Arriving at the golf course early enough to check in and warm up for your round of golf, playing the appropriate set of tees, playing Ready Golf, and keeping an eye on your playing partner’s golf shots can help to improve your pace of play, ensuring an enjoyable experience on the golf course.

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