How Long Does it Take to Play 18 Holes of Golf?

The amount of time it takes to complete a round of golf depends on a variety of factors including the number of holes being played (9 or 18), skill levels of each player, whether players are walking or riding in a golf cart, course difficulty and how many players are in the group. Each of these factors will contribute to how long it's going to take your group to play a round of golf. For the purposes of this post, we are exploring how long it takes to play 18 holes of golf. Generally speaking, dividing the total expected time it takes to play a round of 18 holes by 2 will provide a fairly accurate estimate for how long 9 holes will take to complete.  In the following guide, we'll help you understand all of the factors to be considered when estimating the time to complete your next round of golf. Let's dive into those factors now!

Answering How Long It Takes to Play 18 Holes of Golf

Many sources say that the average round of golf takes 4 hours to complete for the average foursome. That is, it takes 4 golfers 4 hours to complete 18 holes or a little more than 13 minutes per hole. Certainly there are plenty of examples where that's been true in my personal rounds of golf over the last 30 years, but I must say that the average round of golf takes closer to 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete. Here's why...

The average foursome is likely riding in a cart which helps limit the time it takes between shots. However, average golfers spend more time looking for their balls than more skilled players. Because the average golfer is less consistent, their end results are much more varied than a solid golfer. Therefore the average golfer spends more time trying to find their balls in the rough, near hazards, and away from fairways which extends the rounds further. Related to this, average golfers may not use time on the golf course to improve their skills, but rather as a social outlet to connect with friends, family members, or other community members. That to say, keeping an expedient and respectable pace of play may not be top of mind for average golfers causing further delays beyond the 4 hour estimate that exists on many other golf sources.

Average golfers are also generally not playing by the exact USGA rules of golf. Rounds of golf with average golfers can closely resemble the sport of golf, but with some informalities sprinkled in that do not exist in competitive play. For example, I have played with golfers who will take mulligans without any regard for pace of play or the rules of golf. We're not here to impose the letter of the rulebook on every golfer, but we do think following the rules can actually help improve pace of play. One exception to that might be when a player has exceeded a maximum limit of shots. In that case, it's probably time to pick up the ball and move on to the next hole.

Lastly, many golfers are playing public courses on the weekends when tee sheets are full, groups are going out every 8-12 minutes, and the courses are operating at capacity. This plays a significant factor in how long the average round of golf takes. Especially in denser populations and major metropolitan areas, public golf courses can be known for taking 5-6+ hours to complete 18 holes.

Overall, it takes the average foursome approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete 18 holes of golf. The time decreases for threesomes (3 hours and 45 minutes), twosomes (3 hours and 15 minutes), or solo players (3 hours).

Factors Affecting Time to Complete 18 Holes of Golf

Group Size

Solo players complete holes the fastest while foursomes take the longest. Below, we share the average time it takes a foursome to complete a par 3, par 4, and par 5. Ranging from 15-20 minutes depending on the length, those numbers are more efficient with a smaller group size. We estimate a 90-minute difference between the time it takes a solo player to complete 18 holes as compared to a foursome. There is a 20-30 minute deviation to consider, but generally speaking, group size will impact the time it takes to complete 18 holes in a significant way.

Player Skill

The next most important factor for how long it takes to play 18 holes of golf is the skill levels of each golfer in the group. Average golfers take more strokes than low GHIN players, so the average golfer will take longer to complete 18 holes than more skilled players. Because average golfers tend to be less consistent, don't hit fairways or greens as often, and may find themselves near hazards more often, the time to look for each player's shot plays a factor in pace of play, too. For a foursome where each player averages 90, they should take about 4.5 hours to complete a full round of golf. If the foursome is comprised of all scratch golfers then they could probably finish closer to 3-3.5 hours. For a foursome of players with mixed skills, it'd take closer to 4-4.5 hours to complete the round.

Course Rating

More challenging courses demand better shots from golfers navigating its tees, fairways, and greens. Therefore, courses with high ratings may take longer to complete than lower course ratings. On the flip side, golf courses with lower ratings are more forgiving for golfers with high GHIN or less consistency, and therefore will take less time to complete. The estimation of 4.5 hours to complete the average round of 18 holes applies to course ratings which are 2-4 strokes beneath its par.

Walking or Riding

My preferred way of playing 18 holes is by carrying my Titleist stand bag and walking. Other walkers may prefer to use a pull cart while walking which will increase the average time it takes to complete each hole. Many golfers prefer to ride in a golf cart, which absolutely can improve the overall time it takes to complete 18 holes of golf. However, keep in mind the other factors we've covered here because skill level, course rating, and group size can be more significant determining factors for how long a round of golf takes.

How long does it take to play 18 holes of golf with 1 person? 

Considering the several environmental, external, and player factors affecting the time to complete a round of golf for a single player, the time it may take that 1 player to complete 18 holes will vary significantly. In addition to what we've covered already, other factors like the number of practice swings, whether the player is walking or riding, density of tee times booked on that particular day at the golf course, and pace of walking will determine how quickly one player can complete a round of golf. To understand how long it might take 1 player to complete 18 holes of golf, let's start with the fastest round of all time!

Guinness World Records reports that the fastest round of golf ever recorded by an individual is 27 minutes and 9 seconds by James Carvill at Warrenpoint Golf Course on 18 June 1987.

Since most of us aren't trying to set world records for pace of play, it's more realistic to think that it'll take the average player about 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete a single round of golf.

How long does it take 2 players to golf 18 holes?

In our estimation, it should take 2 players about 14 minutes per hole when playing a round of golf. By that estimation, it'll take 2 golfers about 252 total minutes or 4 hours and 12 minutes in total. We recommend factoring in +/- 25 minutes for two players on 18 holes for other factors.

How long does it take to play 9 holes of golf with 4 players?

We believe that the average foursome takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete 18 holes based on the various factors which affect the average round of golf for the average players. That being said, the average foursome will take 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete 9 holes. 

How many holes of golf can you play in 3 hours?

One player can absolutely complete 18 holes of golf in 3 hours. So if you're asking yourself whether or not you could complete a twilight round of golf before last light, 3 hours can be enough time for one player to complete a round of golf. 

However, most people will need much longer than 3 hours to complete one round of golf. We believe that the average golfer can complete about 12 holes in 3 hours. For higher GHIN players, 9 holes in 3 hours is a better estimation.

In Conclusion: How Long it Takes to Play 18 Holes

It takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes for the average foursome riding in a golf cart to complete 18 holes. A variety of factors can affect how long 18 holes will take, including player skill, course rating, group size, and whether players are walking or riding. Once you factor in other aspects of playing a round of golf like stopping at 'the turn' to use the restroom, grab a bite of food, or indulge in a beer for the back 9, that process also adds time to the round. How full a tee sheet on that particular golf course for that particular day will also impact how long it takes to play 18 holes. Keep these factors in mind when estimating about how long your next round of golf will take and therefore how many hours you have permission to be away from the house. We joke, but only because we know it's true for some of you out there. Regardless, enjoy those 4.5 hours on the course!