MGS Debates: How Many Holes Should A Round Of Golf Be?

Throughout most of golf’s history, 18 holes has been considered a standard round.

While there are myths involving the number of shots in a bottle of scotch, the 18 holes actually came from the Old Course at St Andrews. Originally 22 holes, some of the shorter holes were combined nearly 300 years ago to make an 18-hole layout.

The R&A and St Andrews had such influence that 18 holes became the norm around the world.

But now that we are in the year 2025 (and not 1764), we are wondering whether 18 holes is actually the right number for a normal round of golf.

For this week’s MGS Debates question, we asked our staff the following:

A traditional round of golf is 18 holes, an arbitrary number passed down over centuries. But if golf was starting over today, what would be the “right” amount of holes for a standard round of golf? 

Sean Fairholm: I would say 15 holes is the perfect number. Taking off three holes subtracts 45 minutes or so of playing time, but you still have the satisfaction of feeling like you played a full round. Going to fewer holes, I would worry about that unsatisfied feeling. Around three to 3.5 hours would be my ideal amount of time on the course. Anything longer than that is too large of a time window to plan for on a consistent basis. Anything shorter is not what I came out for, unless I’m on a time crunch.

Adam Beach: My answer is 12 holes. A 12-hole round could be finished in ~2.5–3.5 hours, making it much more accessible for busy people. Greens fees could be lower because maintenance costs drop (less land is required for a 12-hole course). It’s long enough for competition but short enough for casual play. It attracts younger players, families, women and people new to the game. The industry says it wants to “grow the game … this is one of the simplest ways to actually do it.

Connor Lindeman: Golf should be six holes. Two par-3s, two par-4s and two par-5s. Simple as that. Takes an hour max, saves space and makes it much easier to play after or before work/school.

Brittany Olizarowicz: I’d keep 18 holes as the standard, but courses should be structured into six-hole loops. That way, you could play six, 12 or 18, depending on time. Six holes would be like going to the range (quick and simple), while 18 remains an option for those who want the full round.  

Chris Nickel: I think you have to consider that people will be adjusting from 18 holes as the norm, so six holes is out. It’s not enough. You can’t serve me a 16-ounce ribeye one day and a five-ouncer the next day and tell me they’re the same thing. If you want to maintain the concepts of “front nine” and “back nine”, then you need an even number. So 12, 14 and 16 all work. Given those three, 16 is out because it’s too close to 18. I’m going with 14 … you can still play a seven-hole “front nine” in 60-90 minutes to appease the “after work” crowd, and 14 holes would still give the sense of a complete experience. It also doesn’t make playing 28 in a day feel that extreme. While I’m no fan of five-hour rounds of golf and I don’t get much value in sprinting around a course, I think the right number of holes for golf is actually 27. A standard 18-hole course and a shorter nine-hole course. Sometimes more is more.

Scott Hutchison: 36 holes. Loop the traditional 18 twice. “But, honey, I don’t make the rules, that’s how long it takes now. Guess I’ll see you in 10 hours.”  

Dave Wolfe: Keep it a 9/18 system but eliminate riding carts. Not the topic at hand but carts are the root of eight-minute tee time greed and sprawling of the slow-playing course designs. 

Phillip Bishop: I like 9-12 holes in three or four-hole loops. Most private club members are likely playing in three- or four-hole loops anyway. It happened all the time while I worked at Cedar Point. The World Handicap System already requires you to play a minimum of 10 holes to post a score for 18 holes. I love the examples of Sweetens Cove Golf Club and Bobby Jones Golf Course. Sweetens has nine holes. Golfers can play all day (if they want to). But you can play upwards of 36 holes with the variety of tee boxes and double-green complexes. A very unique experience. BJGC is similar. Nine double green complexes, plus a six-hole short course.

Bennett Green: I am 100 percent on board with 12 holes. Even from front to back. Four 3s, four 4s and four 5s. Just right. Most players are gassed by 12 anyway and you still get a front and can redeem yourself on the back (with a hot dog in the middle). It’s also the best way to introduce new players to a “full round.” It is less expensive/time consuming for maintenance, makes for shorter rounds and more frequent play/after work activities with family or friends, is eco-friendly with less water and fertilizer, gives you quality golf without the fatigue and returns golf to its roots as 12 holes (thank you, Prestwick).

Which one of us is right? Which one of us is way out of line?

Let us know in the comments.

Top Photo Caption: The seventh hole at Pebble Beach. (GETTY IMAGES/Stuart Franklin)