How Long is a Pitch and Putt Golf Course?
Not everything is about the tee shot in golf and many players both beginner and seasoned take to a short course to practice their short game, those chips and of course putting. We take a look at what makes Pitch and Putt a great, and economical, way to practice that short game and look at how long is a pitch and putt golf course here.
Typically, a pitch and putt golf course has 9 holes not exceeding 100 yards, although there are exceptions. The average hole ranges from 60-90 yards, within range of a 8 iron to pitching edge and with 9 holes this means the course is between 660 to 810 yards long. Dramatically shorter than a full size golf course.
Pitch and putt course are designed to offer an introduction to golf, and to provide golf to areas that may not have the space to house a full size golf course. They are very popular with beginners and experienced golfers to work on developing skills useful on full size course.
This is but one of a series of articles on Pitch and putt that we have across the site, and we will list the others that may be of use to you in a table below the article for easy navigation. We have tried to keep the information bite sized so you spend more time on the course and less time reading here!
What is Pitch and Putt?
Just in case thisis your first ever tiem hearign about Pitch and Putt, we offer a quick explanation of waht it actually is here.
Pitch and Putt golf is a simplified and shorter version of traditional golf that is typically played on a shorter course. The game is played using the same or at least similar rules as regular golf, but the course is shorter in length and the holes are much smaller.
Pitch and Putt courses typically have a par of 27, which means all holes are par 3 and often even short for a par three. Usually the holes range in length from 60 to 90 yards although we go into that below. The game is often played as a recreational sport and is suitable for players of all ages and skill levels which is what makes it so very popular. We have more details on what makes pitch and putt so great for beginner golfers here.
How long is a Hole on a Pitch and Putt Golf Course
As we mentioned above holes on a Pitch and Putt golf course typically range in length from 60 to 90 yards. However what makes this such an accessible way to be involved in golf is that they can be designed to fit in whatever space is available ( up to a point of course)
So although a pitch and putt hole is likely to be between that 60-90 yards, it will not be uncommon to see holes with as low as 20 -30 yards distance, and we certainly have played a few of these in our time. At the other end of the scale they can also go to over 100 yards, and anecdotally, we noticed quite a few Hotel courses may do this on their 9 holes courses.
What ever length of holes you find on the pitch and putt course, they are shorter, and often considerably, shorter than those on a traditional golf course, which can be up to 600 hundred yards long. the current record is (offically) hole 7 at the Satsuki golf course in Japan, at 964 yards…. or approximately 1.5 times the length of an average pitch and putt course!
pitch and putts shorter hole length makes the game quicker to play and more accessible to players of all skill levels, including beginners and children. It takes away the need for controllign the power of drivers and woods and even long irons and concentrates on both the skill and fun aspects of golf.
You can work out how far you actually walk around your pitch and putt course by using the calculator on the link here and below.
How Long to Play a Pitch and Putt Round.
Although the time it takes to play a Pitch and Putt golf course can vary depending on several factors such as the number of players in your group, the course layout, and the skill level of the players.
It will, kinda obviously, take a lot less time that a full round of golf, even if you only play there front of back nine on a full size course.
On average, a round of Pitch and Putt golf can take between 30 minutes to 90 mins to complete depending on complexity, popularity and length. Because the holes are shorter in length than traditional golf, players can complete a round more quickly.
In addition, because Pitch and Putt is often played as a recreational sport, players may also spend less time on each hole, which can also contribute to a shorter overall play time. Also some facility have time limitation in peak hours which need to be taken care they may also have stroke limits in the rules either as standard or at busy times.
So if you still looking at a pitch and putt course from your window at work, maybe grab three clubs and head there for lunch!
How many Holes on a Pitch and Putt Golf Course?
A Pitch and Putt golf course typically has 9 holes, hence another reason for the alternative name ‘short course’. This is in contrast to a traditional golf course, which can have 18 or more holes. ( One up to 396 holes like Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China!)
As mentioned the smaller number of holes on a Pitch and Putt course makes the game quicker to play and more accessible for those who may not have as much time to spend on the course. If you want to play a full 18, well then you just start from the beginning again!
Why is Pitch and Putt So Short
Pitch and Putt golf is shorter than traditional golf because it is designed to be a more accessible and quicker version of the sport. It requires less maintenance, and therefore less costs and provides a economical way to both try, and practice the sport of golf.
It is also, though probably not by design, a great place to practice your short game and improve those scrambling percentages.
Additionally, Pitch and Putt courses are often, though not solely, located in urban areas and communities with a high population density, where there may not be enough space for a traditional 18-hole course. Having both less and shorter holes makes it more feasible for town council, business and youth organizations to create facilities for the sport.
Conclusion
Pitch and Putt course will range from 600 to around 900 yards in length, although there will be outliers at both ends of the scale.
With hole lengths between 60 to 90 yards, and limiting the number to 9 holes it saves both on costs, construction, accessing for players, and manitence as well as time to play a round of golf.
these reductions in both the time to play and the costs for both the owners and the players provides a great introduction for beginning golfers, and a great place to practice skills for dedicated or experienced golfers.
