How long does it take to play 18 holes?
A number of factors impact how long a round of golf lasts. These include weather conditions, course setup, the number of people in your group and more. In general, though, here are some average times.
| Group Size | Time |
| Two people | 3 – 3.5 hours |
| Three people | 3.5 – 4 hours |
| Four people | 4 – 4.5 hours |
Especially during a busy time (like on the weekend), four hours is a good average for how long to expect to be on a golf course. We’ll break down how this time is calculated as well as how you might be able to save a few minutes here and there.
What factors affect how long it takes to play a round of golf?
The first set of factors are within your control: your skill level, the size of your group, whether you are walking or driving a cart, and your playing style, which we will discuss below. The factors you can’t control include the weather, the course setup, how busy it is and course rules like tee-time intervals.
How long does it take to play one hole in golf?
A typical par-72 golf course has four par-3 holes, 10 par-4s and four par-5s. Here are the pace of play guidelines from the United States Golf Association.
Number of Players | Par 3 | Par 4 | Par 5 |
| Groups of Four | 15 minutes | 17 minutes | 19 minutes |
| Groups of Three | 13 minutes | 15 minutes | 17 minutes |
| Groups of Two | 11 minutes | 13 minutes | 15 minutes |
With this chart in mind, you can calculate how long it will take if you have a larger group or if you play alone. However, this is only one part of the equation.
