It’s not only a great way to get outside and enjoy the weather, but also an excellent form of exercise.
In this blog post, we’ll examine how many steps it takes to walk nine full holes on a golf course and also touch on other important factors such as how long it takes, the benefit of walking instead of using a cart and how playing golf is great for exercise!
What is the Total Step Count After 9 Holes of Golf?
The average 9 hole golf course is around 3250 yards so when converting yards into steps using a conversion tool, the total step count for 9 holes is 3900 steps.
You can track these steps using a smartwatch such as an Apple Watch, FitBit, or a fitness app on a smartphone such as Strava which is available for both Android or iOS devices.
Should I Even Count Steps When Playing Golf?
According to Reuters* who examined a study by the University of London, people who log their everyday steps are not only more healthy, but they are also less likely to have cardiovascular conditions.
On top of this, health problems like diabetes and heart disease often plague people who don’t take care of themselves physically.
Studies show that golfers who track their steps per day had lower blood pressure levels than those who didn’t.
While you may think tracking your steps when playing golf is distracting, modern fitness trackers or pedometers are very unobtrusive and can accurately track the number of steps so you can keep your focus on the game.
Fitness trackers can also do other things apart from track steps like helping you monitor your heart rate, sleep patterns, and food intake.
They store lots of data like your best workout, your most active day and the number of calories burned.
All this data can provide an invaluable insight into how you’re progressing towards a healthier lifestyle and how you are achieving your fitness goals.
If all these benefits aren’t enough to convince you then know that playing golf is also great for stress relief!
Golf is a game of concentration that requires focus to play well so many players argue it’s not worth the distraction of counting steps as they swing at the ball or walk around the course – so bite the bullet and invest in a good fitness tracker!
How Many Calories Do You Burn When Playing Golf?
So now we have figured out step count – what about calories burned? The average person will burn about 700 calories over nine holes of golf.
More if you are overweight or carry a standard golf bag with a full set of clubs.
To put this in perspective, if you are doing a 30 minute run on the treadmill it would result in burning around 300 calories.
So while running is more intense than playing 9 holes of golf – walking and swinging your club still provides an excellent cardio workout and of course it’s more fun right?
To burn more calories when playing golf you should try to increase your walking pace between holes and shots.
You can also try swinging harder and faster – you will be surprised at just how much more energy it takes!
How Long Does it Take to Walk 9 Holes of Golf?
There are quite a few factors to consider when estimating the time it takes to walk nine holes of golf. Firstly is the course busy and there may be golfers ahead of you in foursomes taking longer than expected.
An average golfer, playing without a cart and walking the full nine-hole course would take around 2 hours to complete their round.
Fast players or single-player rounds will take less time, reducing this time by as much as 45 minutes. If you can try to walk at a brisk pace this helps bring your heart rate up a little which is beneficial for your health.
Don’t forget to factor in the time it takes to tee off and then get back into position for each stroke, this will take an extra few minutes.
If your finding that your round of golf is taking too long and you are getting other golfers moaning at you then try these tips for playing a little faster.
- Book in advance if you can instead of just turning up on the day.
- Try to book in the early afternoon after the morning competitions have been completed and before the afternoon league matches.
- Invest in a pull cart! These are great and allow you to store water bottles and other stuff and will save you from feeling fatigued vs carrying a should bag.
- Be proactive on the course! Yes, help others find their golf balls, consciously walk at a brisker pace, and letting fast players go ahead of you will help reduce the stress and moaning of other players on the course.
Is Walking 9 Holes Good Exercise?
If you are counting steps then you are probably looking to get fitter right? This means walking when playing golf is a great idea. When you walk you use the following muscles in the body: hamstrings, quadriceps, calf muscles, toes, and more!
Walking briskly for 20 minutes will burn over 120 calories! This is a great way to start getting more active in your day-to-day life or if you want to lose weight.
The best part? You get all the mental benefits of walking and if do play in the early morning there is no better way to start your day than playing a round of golf!
Counting the Steps While Paying the 9 Holes
There are a lot of benefits to playing golf, and for many people walking nine holes is the perfect way to get their exercise in.
We hope this article has helped you learn more about how much time it takes to walk a 9 hole round of golf, what other benefits there are to taking on your own two feet and how you can best track your steps if walking isn’t enough!
Finally, Invest in a good fitness tracker to count your steps when you head out onto the green next time. Modern apps on smartwatches or phones do a great job of monitoring your fitness activity on the golf course!
Citations:
* Study featured on Reuters by St. George’s University of London on the benefits of tracking steps.