Mini golf is like golf but not completely. In regular golf, you will never hit a golf ball up a dragon’s tongue and into the hole. Mini golf has creative themes like that and so much more. Every golfer should play mini golf because it can help them to become a better analyst of the slope, position, and speed of regular golf greens. Regular golf takes about 4 hours for a round, but you may wonder about mini-golf.
So, how long does mini golf take? When you play 9 holes of mini golf as a group of 2, it will take you from 15 to 20 minutes. Contrast that with 18 holes of mini golf, it normally takes 30 to 45 minutes, which makes it a good choice if you want to practice your golf game right before work, but don’t have 4 hours for regular golf.
But different factors affect how long your minigolf round takes, and if you estimate it wrong, it might ruin your night.
Read on to learn how to estimate the length of your mini-golf game.
Factors Affecting Mini-Golf Duration
That gives you the average length of time, but it can vary depending on a few factors, like the number of holes. How many holes are in mini-golf? Mini-golf will include either 9 or 18 holes. Let’s cover the factors influencing the duration and answer the question, “How long does mini golf take?”
Course Length
Mini-golf takes less time than regular golf because of the shortness of the courses. The average hole will range from 30 to 45 feet. Putting all 9 holes at 45 feet adds up to a course of just 405 yards. Make that number 18 holes; the course is still only 810 yards.
Now consider most standard golf courses which average 6,000 to 7,200 yards — it explains why traditional golf takes much longer.
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Obstacles
The difficulty of the course determines how long it takes as well. For example, courses with lots of sand traps, watering holes, and windmills will take more time to complete. Sand traps are basically the same as in traditional golf, but watering holes can be more interesting. You might, for example, need to hit the golf ball across a small land bridge or risk it going off into the water.
Windmills, however, require you to hit your ball through a small hole in the center, which is no easy task. Moreover, sloped holes and stairs can further delay your game if you don’t know how to judge the distance, which can also add to your frustration.
Number of Players
You can play in mini golf groups from 1 to 5 players, but most recommend groups of a maximum of 3 or 4. If you have a group of 4, you can expect your session to take from 5 to 10 minutes for each hole. At a maximum of 4 players, it could take up to 90 minutes for 18 holes. For 9 holes, it will take about an hour.
Skill Level
Beyond the number of people you attend mini golf with, you should also consider the skill level of everyone present. Those with talent will likely finish each hole with much fewer strokes than those with little skill. In fact, a bigger party of skilled golfers could well finish a mini golf course before a smaller party of beginner golfers.
How Long Does Mini Golf Take on Average?
How long does an average round of mini golf take? The typical time to complete a round of mini with 2 players will take about 15 to 20 minutes. This also is provided that the course isn’t packed. If you have to wait on every hole for other players, that 15 to 20-minute duration can take 35 to 40 minutes. Similarly, if you opt for 18 holes rather than 9, the average duration is between 25 and 50 minutes.
Moving on from 2 players, we come to “how long does a game of mini golf take for 4 players?”. With more golfers in your party, you’ll likely experience increased delays in the form of poor golfing ability and general chit-chat. On average, you can expect 9 holes to take around 60 minutes. As for 18 holes, 90 minutes is a better estimate as your group will likely get more into the flow in the latter stages.
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Tips to Speed Up Mini Golf Play
Tip #1 Go on a Day with Fewer Players: How long does it take to play putt-putt? One of the things that can unnecessarily slow down your mini golf game is if you go on a busy day like a Friday or Saturday night. Mini golf courses often get crowded fast because they’re fun to play on. If you want to play with fewer players, go as soon as they open to speed up the gameplay.
Tip #2 Plan Your Shot Before Your Turn: When you create a plan before you swing, you will see an incredible speed improvement in your mini golf game. Think ahead and how you will take the shot. Let’s say that you play with a glove and take it off between shots. Put it back on before your shot.
Tip #3 Aim to Play in 20 Seconds: You can even make a rule for the group to try to play within 20 seconds if you want to speed up the pace of the gameplay. Adding a penalty can help enforce this rule and add another entertainment element into the mix.
Tip #4 Play 9 Holes: If you don’t have the time for a full game, switch over to 9 holes instead of 18. This way, you can enjoy your gameplay more than if you had to rush through it. It also means you get in more practice than if you were to not go at all.
Tip #5 Play with Fewer Players: You can play with a maximum of 5, but most people don’t recommend it because it takes so much longer. Even playing with 4 players can make the time drag. If you want to keep the gameplay as quick as possible, you should play with just 2 players.
How long does a round of golf take for 2 players compared to 4? In many cases, two players take less than half of the time.
Mini Golf Etiquette
Another thing that I’d like to highlight is the mini-golf etiquette when on the course with other players. Firstly, do not play on an upcoming fairway until the golfers up ahead have finished. It’s also good mini-golf etiquette not to play with more than 5 players because it can slow the game for everyone else.
Also, never walk on a fairway playing surface except when you go to take your turn. Along with that, never cut in front of other players on the course. If they’re going too slowly, ask if you can take your turn ahead of them. You can allow faster players from behind you to play ahead so that you can take your time and enjoy the game.
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Conclusion
How long does mini golf take? The answer to that question will depend on various factors like the course length, the obstacles, and how many players you will go with. Generally speaking, 9 holes will take 15 to 20 minutes for 2 players. But how long does 18 holes of mini golf take?
Assuming you’re sticking with 2 players, 18 holes will take between 30 to 45 minutes. If, instead, you have a party of 4, 90 minutes is a more realistic expectation. Hopefully, this adequately answers the question, “How long does it take to play mini-golf?”.
Remember that while the length of time it takes to play a round of mini-golf is largely out of your hands, certain factors are in your control. Namely, the number of people you choose to play with.
Ultimately, we would advise not stressing about how long a round takes to complete and just enjoying the experience. Mini golf is so fun because there are lots of creative and unique themes and wacky obstacles that make it very different from regular golf.
- Favorite club: Cobra Fly XL Set
- Favorite ball: Callaway Warbird Ball
- Favorite food at the turn: Nachos
