
Golf is a great way to keep fit, with players covering a lot of ground during a round. The distance walked depends on the length of the course, the layout, and the player's movement during the game. An average golf course is around 6,000 yards or more, but golfers tend to walk much further than the scorecard yardage. On average, golfers walk about 10,600 yards (6 miles) on a 6,000-yard course, which equates to roughly 12,800 steps. Some studies have found even higher distances, with golfers walking up to 77% more than the scorecard length. This can translate to several miles of additional walking, with an average 18-hole round resulting in over 5 miles walked.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average distance walked by golfers | 6.6 miles |
| Yardage of the course | 6,800 yards |
| Distance walked in miles according to yardage | 3.9 miles |
| Shortest distance walked | 5.7 miles |
| Longest distance walked | 7.8 miles |
| Average distance walked for an 18-hole round | 4-6 miles |
| Average number of steps taken for an 18-hole round | 10,000-14,000 steps |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn

Yardage-to-mile conversion
The distance walked during a game of golf varies depending on the course yardage and the length of the round. On an average 6,000-yard course, golfers walk about 10,600 yards, which is just over 6 miles. This equates to about 12,800 steps.
The yard is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. It is defined as 3 feet or 36 inches, and is equal to 0.9144 meters. The yard is commonly used in the United States and the United Kingdom for measuring distances in sports, construction, and everyday activities.
The mile is also a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems. It is defined as 5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, or 1,609.344 meters. To convert yards to miles, you can divide the number of yards by 1,760. For example, 3,520 yards divided by 1,760 gives you 2 miles.
Converting yardage to miles can be useful when dealing with large distances. Yards are a smaller unit of measurement, so converting to miles provides a more manageable and comprehensible representation of distance. For instance, when planning a road trip or measuring the length of a marathon, it is more practical to express the distance in miles. Maps also often use miles as the standard unit of measurement, so converting yardage to miles can aid in navigation and understanding distances on a map.
Anthony Kim: Golf's Lost Star
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Calories burned
Golf is a great way to burn calories, and walking the course is a high-impact way to do so. The number of calories burned depends on several factors, including the weight and height of the golfer, the length of the course, the elevation, and whether they are carrying their golf bag or using a push cart or caddie.
Walking an 18-hole golf course can mean walking about five miles on average, though this can increase to seven or eight miles depending on the length of the course. A general rule of thumb is that walking one mile burns around 100 calories for most people. Therefore, walking an 18-hole golf course could burn around 500 to 800 calories.
According to a study by the New York Times in 2010, walking 18 holes while carrying your golf bag or using a push cart burns around 1,400 calories. This is because carrying the extra weight of the golf bag, which can be around 25 pounds, increases the number of calories burned. However, it is important to note that using a push cart burns almost the same amount of calories as carrying your clubs, but takes significant strain off your back.
For a 9-hole game, the New York Times research showed that people who carried their golf bag burned slightly more calories at 721, compared to those with a push cart, who burned 718 calories. Meanwhile, walking with a caddie for 9 holes burned 621 calories.
Other estimates for calories burned during an 18-hole game include 1,215 calories for a 150-pound man walking at 3 mph, and 2,015.6 calories for a 180-pound man walking at 4 mph. It is estimated that golfers burn between 350 and 475 calories per hour playing golf, with this number increasing to between 200 and 300 calories per hour if using the driving range.
In conclusion, golfing, and especially walking the course, is a great way to burn calories and improve your health. The number of calories burned depends on various factors, but it can be estimated that walking an 18-hole golf course burns between 500 and 2,000 calories.
Golfing Globally: The Ultimate World Tour
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Distance walked by pro golfers
The distance walked by golfers during a round of golf varies depending on the course and the individual. While the scorecard gives the length of a course from tee to green, golfers often walk further than this distance due to the layout of the course and the need to walk between holes.
On average, golfers walk between 5.7 and 7.8 miles during an 18-hole round, with an average of 6.6 miles. This equates to around 10,600 yards or 12,800 steps. However, this can vary depending on the length of the course and the individual golfer's pace.
Some golfers use fitness trackers like FitBit or Apple Watch to monitor their steps and distance during a round of golf. These devices can also provide information on calories burned and heart rate. Additionally, there are mobile phone apps that can record distances walked and provide maps of the area covered.
While golf courses can vary in size and layout, the vast amount of ground covered by golfers highlights the sport's potential for keeping players active and fit. The distance walked during a round of golf is often greater than what one might expect based on the course yardage alone.
Golf Courses: Miles of Fun and Challenge
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Walking with golf clubs
Walking an entire golf course can be physically demanding, with the average golfer walking between 3 and 6 miles, or 10,600 yards, and burning 721 calories in the process. The length of the course is not the only factor that determines how far a golfer walks, as the distance can be affected by how many extra steps are taken to search for wayward balls or walk between holes.
To build up your endurance, you can try various off-course golf workouts, such as metabolic strength training, power and control driving, lower body level-up exercises, or full-body push and pull workouts. These exercises can help improve your golf-specific strength, build muscle endurance, and reduce the impact of fatigue on your golf swing.
Additionally, walking with a golf club has been observed as a means of protection for elderly individuals when walking in areas with aggressive wildlife, such as coyotes and javelinas. The weight at the end of a golf club allows for a fast swing with minimal strength, making it an effective weapon for self-defence.
Golf: Is it a Man's Game?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Golf course layout
Golf is a sport that involves a lot of walking. On an average 6,000-yard course, golfers walk about 10,600 yards, or just over 6 miles, which equates to about 12,800 steps. The distance walked can vary depending on the layout of the course, with some courses featuring more walking between holes than others.
A golf course is a large, outdoor area designed for playing golf, typically consisting of 18 holes, although 9-hole courses are also common. Each hole on a golf course has a teeing ground, a fairway, a green, and various hazards. The holes are usually laid out in a way that takes advantage of the natural terrain and may include undulating terrain, sandy soil, and water hazards.
Understanding the layout of a golf course is key to improving your game and enhancing your enjoyment of the sport. Course guides, hole layouts, and yardage books can provide valuable information about each hole, including its length, shape, hazards, and distance to the hole. Golf course software and apps have also made it easier for golfers to access this information, with interactive features that allow golfers to view the course as if they were actually there.
In addition to the physical layout of the course, golfers should also be mindful of golf course etiquette and maintenance. This includes being aware of their pace of play, repairing divots, and raking bunkers, all of which contribute to the overall enjoyment and challenge of the game.
Surf and Turf: Golfing and Surfing Adventures
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The average golfer walks between 10,000 to 14,000 steps, or 4 to 6 miles, during an 18-hole round of golf. This equates to around 6,000 to 7,000 yards.
The average golfer burns around 700 to 1,200 calories during an 18-hole round of golf, depending on various factors such as whether they carry their clubs and the terrain of the course.
According to Gizmodo, motion-tracking studies have shown that golf leads other sports in terms of the distance travelled by athletes during play. The average pro golfer walks 319 miles in a year, which is the equivalent of 7.8 times the number of yards Peyton Manning threw in his NFL career.





















![Zozen Measuring Wheel, Green 6Inch Measure Wheel, Distance Measuring in Feet and Inches, Rolling Measurement [Up to 10,000Ft], Telescopic/Mechanical/One Key to Reset, Include Carrying Bag.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51-Z8324uIL._AC_UL320_.jpg)


![Zozen Measuring Wheel, Blue 6Inch Measure Wheel, Distance Measuring in Feet, Rolling Measurement [Up To 10,000Ft], Telescopic/Mechanical/One Key to Reset, Include Carrying Bag.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/515Jt5TgD2L._AC_UL320_.jpg)

![Zozen Professional Measure Wheel, with Brake & Handle Reset - Advanced Collapsible/Mechanical, Distance Measuring Wheel in Feet [Up To 10,000Ft], with Cloth Carrying Bag.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61R0Z5kAf7L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
















