How Long Does It Take To Play 9 Holes Of Golf?

You (or your spouse) have probably asked how long it takes to play 9 holes of golf before you’ve left for a round.  The short answer is that it typically takes around 2 hours to play 9 holes of golf.  There are a few additional factors that can affect the length, which we’ll get in to below.


How Long Does Nine Holes Of Golf Take To Play?

How Much Time For 9 Holes Of Golf

Assuming you’re playing in a group of four, it will take approximately 15 minutes per hole.  With 9 holes lasting roughly 15 minutes each, that puts a group of 4 taking about 2 hours and 15 minutes to play a group of 9 holes.

If you’re playing alone or with a group less than four, this will reduce the total time it takes to play 9 holes.

Number of Players9 HolesPar 3 HolePar 4 HolePar 5 Hole
11hr 30 min7 min8 min10 min
21hr 40 min8 min10 min12 min
31hr 50 min9 min12 min14 min
42 hrs10 min13 min15 min

Factors That Determine How Long It Takes To Play 9 Holes Of Golf

How Long For 9 Holes Of Golf

There are many variables that will affect how long it takes you (or your group) to play through 9 holes.  We’ll walk through these now. Also take a look at our guide on how long it takes to play 18 holes of golf if you’re planning a full round.

The Size Of The Golf Course You’re Playing

The average golf course is between 5,500 and 6,000 yards, and most are 34 to 37 par courses.  On these standard courses, you’ll expect to take 2 hours to play 9 hours of golf.  If your selected course is larger or has higher par, you’ll want to factor in additional time – at least up to an extra hour.

Course Layout and Hazards

Depending on the frequency and severity of roughs, water hazards, bunkers, and other obstacles on the course, these will all affect your gameplay length due to the additional strokes and recovery time they can add.  Be sure to know the layout of the course if keeping a strict timetable is of importance to you.

Par 3, 4, or 5 Holes

If you’re playing a par 3 course, these holes can take as little as 10 minutes to complete, which will really speed up your playing time for 9 holes.  A par 4 hole can take around 13 minutes, while a par 5 can be up to 15 minutes.  Take a look at the 9 holes you’re playing ahead of time and the par to get a better idea of your time commitment.

Using A Golf Cart Versus Walking The Course

Clearly, using a golf cart will be faster than a round of 9 holes played walking the course.  Expect this to shave 30 minutes or more off of your round.

How Busy The Course Is

If you’re playing a congested course on a busy day, it can add up to an extra hour to your play time while waiting for other groups to finish, or letting other groups play through if needed.

Your Group’s Skill Level

Simply put, the better the players in your group, the less shots your group will take, which shaves minutes off of each hole.  Beginner golfers or high handicappers can add extra minutes to each hole, so be aware of this when planning your trip.

Your Group’s Size

Again, this is likely obvious, but the more members you have in your group, the longer each hole (and the total 9 holes) will take to play.  The rule of thumb is that it takes about 15 minutes per hole for a group of four.  This can be reduced by about 2 minutes for each less player you have, or 13 minutes per hole for a group of three, 11 minutes per hole for a couple, or 9 minutes per hole for a single player.

If playing solo, you could finish 9 holes of golf in under 90 minutes if using a golf cart!

Weather

If it’s windy or raining, this can add strokes to your party’s game, taking more time to finish 9 holes.


How To Speed Up The Time It Takes For 9 Holes Of Golf

How Much Time To Play 9 Holes Of Golf

There are a few ways to reduce the amount of time you or your group will spend playing 9 holes of golf.  Let’s take a look below.

Playing Ready Golf

Rather than allowing the farthest player from the hole to hit each time, you can switch to a mode where the first player who’s ready to hit can take their turn, reducing the time it takes for each hole.

Playing From The Proper Tees

If you’re a beginner or a high handicapper, playing from the back tees is not the best idea (both for the time it takes to play, along with your score).  Play from the right tees for your skill level to save time.

Use A Golf Cart (And Use It Wisely)

This is fairly obvious, but using a golf cart is much faster than walking the course, so you can save between 30 and 60 minutes per 9 holes by taking a cart.  Additionally, you can drop a player near their ball and then take the cart to the next ball on the hole, saving additional minutes.

Don’t Hunt Too Long For Your Ball

Resolve to spending only five minutes max looking for each ball, and dropping a new one if you can’t locate your previous shot.

Split Your Group If Necessary

If playing with a group larger than three, consider splitting your group up – this will speed up the pace of play and you can all catch up at the clubhouse afterwards.

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