How long does a round of golf take

On a course, the walking, the searching and the waiting take more time than the golf. In a simulator bay most of that disappears, and what is left is the swings, the putts and the conversation in between.

So the answer changes between a course and a bay, and so does the planning, whether it is 9 holes for two or 18 holes for 4 players.

How long does a round of golf take outdoors

These are the rules of thumb most golfers plan around, not measured figures. The layout, how busy the tee sheet is and the pace of the group ahead all move them.

• 18 holes, four players. Around 4 to 4.5 hours, and longer on a busy weekend.
• 18 holes, two players. Often closer to 3 to 3.5 hours, as long as the group ahead keeps moving.
• 18 holes, on your own. Can be under 3 hours on a quiet course, though you will usually catch the group in front.
• 9 holes. Roughly half the time of 18 for the same group, so about 2 hours for a foursome.

Why a round on a simulator is usually faster

In a bay nobody walks to the ball, rakes a bunker or looks for a drive in the trees. Every shot is played from the same mat, and the next player steps up as soon as the last ball lands on screen.

That does not make the time fixed. A bay round still runs at the pace of the group, and a few choices matter more than people expect.

• Putting. Holing every putt adds a lot of time. Simulator software often lets you set a gimme distance or switch on automatic putting, and if the setup in your bay offers it, that is the biggest time saver there is. If not, the group can simply agree that anything inside a putter length is good.
• Mulligans. Every replayed shot is another full turn. Decide before the first tee whether you allow any.
• Number of players. Only one person hits at a time, so every extra player adds a full set of shots to every hole.
• Experience. A first-timer takes more swings per hole than a regular. That is fine, as long as you plan the booking around it.

How much bay time to book

PGM suggests 1 to 1.5 hours per player, warm-up included. Treat it as a planning guide rather than a promise of how many holes you will finish. Bookings come in 30-minute blocks with a 30-minute minimum.

• 1 player: 1 to 1.5 hours.
• 2 players: 2 to 3 hours.
• 3 players: 3 to 4.5 hours.
• 4 players: 4 to 6 hours.

A quick group that uses gimmes lands near the low end. A group of first-timers, or anyone who holes everything out, will want the top of the range.

What it costs, with one example

The rate covers the bay, not the person, so the group splits one price. Four players booking 4 to 6 hours at $30 an hour, on a Sunday afternoon for example, pay $120 to $180 plus GST, or $30 to $45 each.

The cheapest hours are early mornings and late nights. Our post on the new golf simulator rates in Calgary explains the three bands, and the rates page has the full schedule and a planner for your group size.

How to play a round faster

1. Play 9 holes. It roughly halves the time and still gives everyone a full scorecard to argue about.
2. Set a gimme distance before the first hole, in the software or by agreement, and stick to it.
3. Agree on mulligans up front, or skip them.
4. Be ready when it is your turn. Ball teed, club chosen, glove on.
5. Pick the course before you arrive. Our guide to
   golf simulator courses to play
   helps you choose, so nobody spends the first 15 minutes scrolling.
6. Split big groups. With six or more players, book two bays for the same time and run two groups. Two rounds go at once for the same total bay time.

Plan it, then book it

Count the players, multiply by 1 to 1.5 hours, round up to the next 30 minutes, and pick a start time. The how it works page covers the door access link and the timing from start to finish. Then choose a slot on the Calgary booking page and bring your clubs.