Lesson 1: How Long Does a Round Take?
A round of golf for two players at a moderate pace takes about 2 and a half to 3 hours. That is 18 holes in 150-180 minutes. Divide that by 18 and each hole should take about 8-10 minutes.
That 8-10 minutes per hole includes: walking to your ball, deciding which club to use, hitting, walking to your next shot, putting, and walking to the next tee. When you think about it that way, there is not much time to waste!
On a busy golf course, there might be 5 or 6 groups playing at the same time. If every group plays a little slowly, the effect multiplies — the last group on the course might wait much longer than they should at every tee.
This is why pace of play is one of the most important etiquette rules in golf — and it is also a math problem. Understanding time and pace makes you a better playing partner.
A two-player round should take about 2.5 to 3 hours — roughly 8-10 minutes per hole.
Pace of play affects everyone on the course. Playing slowly multiplies across all the groups behind you.
Next time you play a hole, time it from the moment you tee off to the moment you finish and walk to the next tee. Write the time in your math journal. Do this for 3 holes. What was the fastest hole? The slowest? Calculate your average time per hole. Multiply that average by 18 — how long would a full round take at your current pace? Is that faster or slower than the ‘right’ pace?