Mini golf offers a chance for everyone to have fun. Whether you are a single-figure handicap or have never held a club, anyone can enjoy the obstacles thrown at you on a mini-golf course. Even better is that it doesn’t drag on for hours like 18-holes on a traditional golf course.
This post answers the question of how long does mini golf take. I will explain how long it takes to navigate a 9 or 18-hole course. Plus, I will address the factors that stand to impact the pace of play.
How Long a Typical Game of Mini Golf Takes
9 Holes
It takes 15 to 20-minutes to play the average 9-hole miniature golf course. Naturally, that depends on various factors that I will touch on later on in this post.
18 Holes
Compared to a short 9-hole round, you need to scratch 30 to 45-minutes out of your diary for a complete 18.
Factors That Affect The Pace of Play for Mini Golf
Number Of People
The first factor that impacts playing times is the number of people at the facility. If the course is super busy, you can expect to wait an unprecedented amount of time at each tee. Especially if the group in front are beginners.
Even reservations at peak times won’t spare you from a long day of waiting and frustration. Those with minimal patience should time their visits for off-peak periods. If you are a senior and retired, you can play on weekday mornings.
Size Of Your Group
Aside from the others on the course, the size of your group can increase the length of your round. If you are in a rush, limit the members of your party. However, if you take the whole family for a round of mini-golf, be patient and prepared to wait.
Length Of The Course
Holes of miniature golf courses are short by nature. However, I have played holes of adventure golf that exceeded 70-yards. If you are playing with non-golfers, this is a challenge to judge, and they may take more time than needed to complete the hole.
Difficulty Of The Course
Like the length of a golf course, the difficulty also determines how long you will take to complete a hole. Some players may struggle to rise to the occasion if obstacles such as a watering hole, sand trap, and windmills are present. That can increase the time frame of your round.
Another challenge for the average golfer is stairs and sloped holes, making it difficult to judge the speed. This can waste time and cause frustration.
Skill Level
The skill level of those in your party impacts the amount of time a round of mini-golf takes. Solid players who consistently card the fewest strokes will get around the course rapidly, without crowds of individuals in front. However, less gifted players will take extra time because they need to make more putts to get the ball in the hole.
Strokes
The more strokes it takes to get the ball into the cup, the longer it will take to complete the entire course. Conversely, the fewer putts you require to sink the ball, the faster it will take you to navigate the course. However, if you are playing during peak hours, you will take longer than usual.
How Long Does 9 Holes Take for 2 Players?
If you are a party of 2, you can expect to get around 9-holes of miniature golf in 15 to 20-minutes, provided the course is not packed. If you need to wait on every hole, that can quickly become 35 to 40-minutes.
How Long Does 9 Holes Take for 4 Players?
9-holes of golf on a putt-putt course can take 4 players 25 to 40-minutes to complete. I work on a rate of 20-seconds per shot, even though many players take less time than that. Therefore, if you card a 2 on a par-2, the hole should take 40-seconds to complete.
Should everyone in your group card the same score, the hole will take 2-minutes and 40-seconds to complete. Maintaining that speed will see you soar around in just under 25-minutes.
However, the reality is a different story. Not every golfer in your group may know how to handle a putter, causing them to exceed the stroke limit on a few holes. Some may even fall victim to hazards and incur a stroke penalty or two, further adding to the length of your round.
As I stated before, the total duration of a round depends on the players in front of you.
How Long Does 18 Holes Take for 2 Players?
Continuing with the 20-second shot approach, we deduce that an 18-hole round of mini-golf takes 25-minutes to 50-minutes. From previous experience, I suggest finding a quieter time to visit the course, as a 2-ball. During peak hours, it is crazy golf out there. Droves of humans may hold you up and delay proceedings.
How Long Does 18 Holes Take for 4 Players?
4 hobby golfers can navigate an 18-hole mini-golf course in 45 to 80-minutes. That depends on the skill level of your party and if they know how to navigate putting greens.
You don’t have to know how to play golf to get around a putt-putt course, but it does help. If the golfers in your group are relatively solid with the flat stick, you should fly around an 18-hole course in record time. Provided the crowds are not in attendance.
Related: Read our guide on the 8 best putting drills to enjoy greater success in mini-golf.
Matt Stevens
Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.