Are you planning to hit the links in the near future? Perhaps you are also rather short on time due to family obligations or an upcoming business meeting. In either of these situations, it is always a good idea to appreciate (on average) how long it will take to play a round of golf. What different factors are involved and is there any way to speed up a game without sacrificing your level of enjoyment? Let’s take a look at these questions so that you will know what to expect well in advance.
What Major Factors Impact the Length of a Round of Golf?
Assuming that you are playing 18 holes, one of the main concerns involves how many other players are present on the course. It should be obvious that a packed club will inevitably cause the pace of the game to slow down.
Another issue is the number of golfers within your group. As each will take his or her own turn, larger groups will naturally require more time to play and complete each hole.
Let us never fail to mention that the skill of individual golfers needs to be taken into account. Those who require a long time to line up for a shot are nearly certain to slow down the entire round. Furthermore, anyone with a high handicap will need more strokes to sink the ball. As a result, the pace of the game could dramatically decrease.
A final metric involves the difficulty of the course. It should be obvious that courses with higher overall pars will take much longer to complete. Wide-open locations with relatively few hazards present much less of a challenge.
The Individuals Within a Group
One of the most crucial factors in determining the speed of the round involves what is known as the “pace of play”. This is another phrase for measuring how quickly (or slowly) each member of the group plays. Even if you are always ready to tee off, the same might not always be true for other golfers. A single slow member within a group can cause the speed of the round to decrease to the pace of a snail. This is why it is always wise to remember your place in the lineup and to be ready for the next shot.
Can You Speed Up an Average Round of Golf Time?
As we have seen, some factors such as the difficulty of the course and how many other groups are present are essentially outside of your control. However, you can still make certain that you are ready when it is your turn to play. Another useful suggestion if time is of the essence is to call ahead in order to determine how busy the course is expected to be on a given day.
Having perused all of the observations mentioned above, an average round of golf time will require approximately four hours to complete when four golfers are present. Still, try to be as flexible with your schedule as possible so that you can fully enjoy the outing.
