How Many Miles Is The Average Golf Course? An average 18-hole golf course is about 3.75 miles long from the first tee to the last green. That’s around 6,600 yards. But when you play a full round of golf, you usually walk 4 to 5 miles, sometimes more.
Why? Because you don’t walk in a straight line. You move between shots, walk around trees, bunkers, and water, and sometimes chase the ball if it goes off course.
This means golfers often take over 10,000 steps during one round.
So even if the course map says 3.75 miles, you’ll end up walking more, making golf a fun game and a good form of exercise too.
How Far Do You Walk on a Typical 18-Hole Golf Course (From a Pro Golfer’s View)
As a pro, I’ve walked more golf courses than I can count, and trust me, it’s way more than just the numbers on a scorecard.
Most 18-hole golf courses are 6,500 to 7,200 yards long. That’s about 3.7 to 4.1 miles if you go straight from tee to green. But in real life?
We zigzag, chasing balls, avoiding bunkers, reading greens, walking from one hole to the next. All that adds up.
On average, I walk between 5 to 7 miles per round, even on courses that don’t look that big. That’s around 12,000 to 14,000 steps and can burn over 1,500 calories, especially if you carry your bag or play in the heat.
And even when I ride a cart for practice or during casual rounds, I still end up walking a lot, to the ball, around hazards, on the greens.
So when someone asks, “Is golf real exercise?” I always say yes. Your body knows, even if your score doesn’t show it!
Table: How Many Miles Is the Average Golf Course (By Type & Experience)
| Course Type | Tee-to-Green Length | Miles (Straight) | Miles Walked | Steps (Average) | Calories Burned |
| Standard 18-Hole Course | 6,500 – 6,700 yards | 3.7 – 3.8 miles | 4.5 – 5.5 miles | 11,000 – 13,000 | 1,400 – 1,600 |
| White Tees (Recreational) | ~6,200 yards | 3.5 miles | 4 – 5 miles | 10,000 – 12,000 | 1,200 – 1,400 |
| Pro-Level Championship | 7,200 yards+ | 4.1+ miles | 5.5 – 7 miles | 13,000 – 15,000 | 1,600 – 1,800 |
| Florida Flat Course | 6,600 – 6,800 yards | 3.75 – 4 miles | 4 – 5 miles | 10,500 – 13,000 | 1,300 – 1,600 |
| 9-Hole Course | 2,700 – 3,200 yards | ~1.6 – 1.9 miles | 2 – 3 miles | 5,000 – 7,000 | 600 – 800 |
Note: This chart shows both the measured course length and the actual walking distance experienced by players.
How Far Does a Golfer Walk on a Full 18-Hole Golf Course
Most people think a golf course is only as long as the number printed on the scorecard. But in real life, golfers walk much more than just the yardage from the tee to the green.
Course Length vs. Actual Walking Distance in Golf
From my experience playing hundreds of rounds, I can tell you:
A standard 18-hole golf course from the white tees is about 6,200 yards, or 3.5 miles. But we don’t walk in straight lines.
We walk between shots, around bunkers and trees, across hills, and sometimes into the rough to find lost balls. All of this adds extra steps.
By the end of a round, I’ve usually walked 5 to 6 miles, even though the course itself only measures about 3.5 miles. That’s around 12,000 to 14,000 steps.
Does Walking a Golf Course Burn Calories
Yes, and a lot of them. When I carry my bag and walk all 18 holes, I can burn between 1,400 and 1,800 calories.
Even when I use a push cart or ride in a golf cart, I still end up walking 4 to 5 miles because I walk to my ball, walk around the greens, and walk across the fairways.
Golf Course Distance with Cart vs. Walking
| Method | Miles Walked | Average Steps | Calories Burned |
| Walking with a Bag | 5 – 6 miles | 12,000 – 14,000 | 1,400 – 1,800 |
| Using a Push Cart | 5 – 5.5 miles | 11,000 – 13,000 | 1,200 – 1,600 |
| Riding a Golf Cart | 4 – 5 miles | 7,000 – 9,000 | 500 – 800 |
Why You Walk More Than the Scorecard Says
Golfers walk more than expected because of:
- Green-to-tee transitions that aren’t in a straight line
- Searching for balls that miss the fairway
- Walking around bunkers, trees, or water
- Moving across slopes and elevation changes
- Reading greens from different angles
Even professional golfers on the PGA Tour walk more than 6 miles per round.
Your scorecard may say 6,600 yards, but your legs will say otherwise. After 18 holes, you’ve likely walked over 5 miles, taken thousands of steps, and burned real calories.
Golf isn’t just a game of swings; it’s also a full-body walk across nature. And every step counts.
How Course Design and Location Change How Far You Walk in Golf
Not all golf courses are the same. Where the course is built, and how it’s designed makes a big difference in how far you actually walk during a round.
Walking a Golf Course in Florida vs. the Mountains
From my time playing across the U.S., I’ve noticed this:
Florida golf courses are usually flatter and easier to walk. Most of them are around 5,800 to 6,400 yards long, and since there aren’t many hills, the walking feels smoother.
You still walk about 4.5 to 5 miles, but it’s not as tiring.
Now, if you play a mountain course, it’s a whole different story. Even if the yardage is the same, the hills make it harder.
You walk 15% more because of all the climbing and slope changes. I’ve walked over 6 miles on mountain courses that are technically “short.”
How Big Is a Golf Course (In Acres and Miles Walked)
Most full-size golf courses take up 120 to 200 acres of land. That’s a lot of space — kind of like 100 football fields.
- A PGA Tour course is about 7,300 yards long and covers 140 to 180 acres.
- A smaller executive course (9 holes) uses about 80 acres, and you’ll still walk 2.5 to 3 miles in a round.
So even on small courses, you’re moving a lot. And when the course gets longer or steeper, your steps really add up.
Every Golf Course Walk Feels Different
I’ve played on desert courses, mountain resorts, flat parks, and oceanfront links. The scorecard might list the same yardage, but depending on the land and design, I’ve walked as little as 4 miles or as much as 7 miles in one round.
That’s what makes golf great: every course is its own journey.
Table: Golf Course Distance and Size by Region and Type
| Course Type / Location | Yardage Range | Estimated Miles Walked | Elevation Impact | Course Size (Acres) |
| Florida Golf Course | 5,800 – 6,400 yds | 4.5 – 5 miles | Low (flat terrain) | 120 – 150 acres |
| Mountain Golf Course | 6,200 – 7,000 yds | 5.5 – 6.5 miles | High (+15% walk) | 150 – 180 acres |
| Executive 9-Hole Course | 2,500 – 3,200 yds | 2.5 – 3 miles | Medium | ~80 acres |
| PGA Tour Championship | 7,200 – 7,400 yds | 6 – 7 miles | Medium–High | 140 – 180 acres |
| Desert or Links Course | 6,500 – 7,000 yds | 5 – 6 miles | Variable (wind/hard turf) | 130 – 160 acres |
Note: This table shows how regional geography (like flatlands vs mountains) and course type (executive vs championship) impact total walking distance.
Is Walking 18 Holes of Golf Good Exercise for Players and Pros
As a professional golfer, I can honestly say: walking 18 holes is one of the best low-impact workouts out there, if you’re a pro or just starting.
How Much Do You Really Walk in a Round of Golf
During a tournament, I usually walk between 5 and 7 miles for 18 holes. That might sound like a lot, and it is. It’s not just tee to green.
I walk between holes, read the green, check the terrain, and walk with my caddy. My caddy walks even more, sometimes 1 extra mile just circling the greens and checking the lines.
Even amateur golfers walk a lot. I’ve seen players easily take 12,000 to 15,000 steps in a round, especially if they’re not using a cart.
That’s like walking around your neighborhood three or four times in one day.
How Many Calories Do You Burn Walking a Golf Course
The amount of calories burned depends on your body weight and how you play. On average:
- If you weigh 150 lbs, you’ll burn about 1,400 calories.
- If you’re closer to 220 lbs, it can go up to 2,000 calories in one round.
That’s about the same as doing a 45-minute jog, but with a lot more views and a lot more fun.
If you’re trying to get in shape, stay healthy, or just enjoy the outdoors, walking a golf course is real exercise, and a great one at that.
Table: Golf Course Distance Conversion by Unit and Walking Scenarios
| Measurement Type | 18 Holes (Course Length) | 18 Holes (Walked Distance) | 9 Holes (Walked Distance) | 72 Holes (Tournament Total) |
| Yards | 6,500 yards | ~10,500 yards | ~5,250 yards | ~42,000 yards |
| Meters | 5,945 meters | ~9,600 meters | ~4,800 meters | ~38,400 meters |
| Kilometers | 5.9 km | ~9.6 km | ~4.8 km | ~38.4 km |
| Miles (Straight Line) | 3.7 miles | 6 miles | 3 miles | 24 miles |
| Steps (Average) | — | 12,000 – 15,000 steps | 6,000 – 7,500 steps | 48,000 – 60,000 steps |
| Calories Burned | — | 1,400 – 2,000 kcal | 600 – 1,000 kcal | 5,600 – 8,000 kcal |
Note: This chart shows how the measured yardage of a golf course differs from the real walking distance.
What Makes a Golf Course Long in Terms of Yardage and Difficulty
As a golf pro, I’ve played on courses of all types, short, tight layouts, and long, wide-open tracks. But one thing’s for sure: a “long” golf course is more than just a big number on the scorecard.
How Long Is a Golf Course Measured From the Back Tees
When we talk about a long golf course, we usually mean 7,000 yards or more, especially from the championship or back tees.
That’s the setup used in PGA Tour events, and it’s built for strong hitters. A course like that usually covers at least 150 acres of land, with wide fairways and long distances between holes.
But even if the number says 7,000 yards, it can feel longer depending on slope and rating, two numbers used to measure a course’s difficulty.
A higher slope means the course plays tougher, especially for amateur players.
Slope Rating and Course Layout Can Add Extra Distance
Some courses are only 6,500 yards, but feel like 7,200 because of:
- Tight landing areas
- Wind exposure
- Uphill holes
- Green elevation
I’ve played shorter courses that felt way harder than the yardage suggested, just because the design made every shot more challenging.
That’s why you can’t judge a course only by its length; you have to walk it and play it to understand it.
A course over 7,000 yards with a high slope rating will push both your swing and your legs.
It’s not just about hitting far, it’s about staying focused across a huge, technical landscape. And when you play it on foot, you’ll feel every step of it.
FAQs
How many miles is an 18-hole golf course?
A standard 18-hole golf course is about 3.7 to 4 miles long from tee to green. But most golfers walk 5 to 6 miles during a round because they move between shots, around hazards, and across the course.
How many miles to walk an 18-hole golf course?
Golfers usually walk 5 to 6 miles when playing all 18 holes. This includes walking from green to the tee, looking for golf balls, and covering slopes or rough areas.
What is the average distance of a golf course?
The average golf course is 6,500 to 6,700 yards, which equals about 3.7 to 3.8 miles in a straight line. The walking distance is higher because of the course layout and terrain.
How many miles are 72 holes of golf?
If you walk all 72 holes (4 full rounds), you’ll cover about 20 to 25 miles, depending on the course size and how much you move between shots.
What is considered a long golf course?
A course is considered “long” if it measures over 7,000 yards from the back tees. These are often used in PGA Tour events and can be tough even for experienced players.
Is walking the golf course healthy?
Yes. Walking a full round burns 1,400 to 2,000 calories, improves heart health, and gives you light exercise. It’s a great way to stay active while playing golf.
How many miles do golfers walk?
On average, golfers walk 5 to 7 miles per round. The distance depends on the course design, how well they play, and whether they use a cart or walk the whole time.
Conclusion
After years of playing on all types of golf courses, short, long, flat, hilly, here’s what I’ve learned:
Even though most 18-hole golf courses are about 4 miles long on paper, you usually walk about 6 miles during a full round.
That extra distance comes from walking around bunkers, across fairways, between holes, and sometimes chasing a ball off track. It’s part of the game, and part of the fun.
Walking the course is also a big health win. It burns about 40% more calories than riding in a cart.
For me, it helps keep my legs strong and my mind clear, even during long tournaments. Some days, I burn over 1,500 calories just by walking 18 holes.
And courses are getting longer. According to USGA data, the number of golf courses over 7,000 yards has grown by 78% since 2005. That means more steps, more strategy, and more fitness in every round.
So if you ever wonder whether golf is real exercise, just walk it once. You’ll feel it by the 18th green.
An effortless way to gain 20 yards!
Posts References:
Curious to hear what everyone’s average 18 hole walking distance
How Many Miles Do You Walk in a Round of Golf