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PGA Tour vs. Champions Tour Course Lengths

By willmillar August 3, 2018 in Tour Talk

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400 to 500 yards

I’d say 200-300 yards difference

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Having played over 60 events on the Senior PGA Tour back in the mid 90's, most courses would have a "advertised" tournament yardage of 6700 to 7000. There were some courses (Ojai, Griffith Park) where physical limitations prevented that type of yardage. This was true of some of the older traditional courses. Day to day actual playing yardage could vary due to weather or course conditions. A course would almost never be set up to play to its maximum "advertised" tournament yardage - this is true today on all tours.

Ideally, the tour would like firm and fast fairways which would give 30 to 40 yards of roll out. Played many 450 yard par 4 holes. I played when the huge advances in equipment was just beginning. In 1993, my 1st year, I believe still were using Titleist Tour Balata - then the "Professional" came out next. Most were using metal drivers.

Q School was always set up on average tougher than a regular tour stop. Easily 7000 yd.

I would say that if you were to put both tours on the same course, PGA tour setup would be 200 to 400 yards greater.

I was at the Champions event in Minnesota today, and noticed the "advertised" course length was over 7100. On 2 or 3 holes, they were not even using the back boxes, so I'm guessing the 7100 number was based on total max yardage. They will be playing the new regular tour event at this course next year, so I'm curious to see what changes will be made in terms of length and other things to make it tougher.

We followed K Perry all the way around, and practically fell over when he burned the edge for a possible double eagle on 18 that would have resulted in a 59!

@_the_crook

I was a walking scorer at the Senior Constellation Tournament in July.

They used the back tees. 7149 yards. Plus or minus a little for tee placement change during the round.

Course scorecard shows the back, Black tees as Par 75, Slope 137.

eight possible sets to play from there.

what a track.

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Average length is about 7000. Shortest one I can think of is Newport Beach CC. That plays about 6600.

Regular tour averages a bit over 7200.

As someone said, they set them up very differently day to day depending on conditions. It isn’t often that all the tees are back at the tips.

Kookaburra1966

Poses an interesting idea for a one-off tournament. Main tour and Seniors tour side by side, off their respective markers, playing their own flights and perhaps an overall which would not be as important. Remove all variables (pin placements and course prep always seem a touch more generous on the Seniors and LPGA tours) except course length. See how scores stack up, as well as some of the micro factors like SG here and there.

Might just shine a light on what the “correct” % differential between course lengths could or should be at that level. Maybe repeat the dose with an LPGA field. After a few years of adjustment and fine tuning we might just see how players on the three tours could legitimately go head-to-head, if at all.

I believe the Pga Seniour Champ a few years ago was setup around 6900 Max distance. Junior Pga boys champ last week was just over 7000 Max. distance.

sciota was tipped, almost 7200 and mostly uphill second shots, I still have the scorecard

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You won't believe how much farther PGA Tour Champions players are hitting the ball now than in their primes

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Dustin Johnson's prodigious playoff drive at last week's Northern Trust was the latest reminder that today's PGA Tour pros hit the ball a lot farther than their predecessors. The combination of better technology in golf clubs and golf balls, and a more fit golfer in Johnson, allowed him to take a line off the tee on the 18th hole at Glen Oaks Club that even the game's longest hitters 20 years ago couldn't have imagined.

It's not just today's players, however, who are hitting it farther. Yesterday's players—the guys playing the PGA Tour Champions—are hitting it farther than ever, too. And we don't just mean farther than previous generations of senior tour players, but farther than they ever hit it in their primes.

To find out how much farther, we went down the list of driving-distance leaders on the PGA Tour Champions this season and then looked up what some of those bigger-name players averaged off the tee during the PGA Tour season in which they turned 30. (We picked 30 because it's a nice, round number, but it also happens to be the average age of Johnson and Rory McIlroy, the PGA Tour's two longest hitters this year.) The results were eye-popping, even for the 60-year-olds on the 50-and-older circuit.

Let's start at the top with John Daly, who at 51, leads the PGA Tour Champions with an average of 299 yards off the tee. At age 30 in 1996 Daly only averaged 288.8 yards, which was part of eight consecutive seasons in which he led the PGA Tour in driving distance. To be fair, Daly had seasons with much higher figures, topped by a 314.3 average in 2003. Daly has always been freakishly long, so he's not the best guy to look at. Let's move on.

Kenny Perry ranks fourth on the PGA Tour Champions in 2017 at 295 yards per poke. In 1990, he had a driving-distance average of just 270.8 yards. That's not bad considering Tom Purtzer led the PGA Tour that season at 279.6 yards (for comparison, Rory McIlroy's 316.4 yards leads this season) but that equates to nearly a 9-percent increase in driving distance from the time Perry was 30 to his current average as a 57-year-old.

The increase is even bigger for Fred Couples, if we use his driving-distance average (a whopping 300.4 yards) from 2015, the last time he played enough rounds on the PGA Tour Champions to have official stats. In 1990, two years before Freddie won the Masters and ascended to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, he averaged a measly 272.6 yards on his tee shots. Of the players we looked at, Couples' 10.2-percent increase led the way. (It should be noted that the Callaway Big Bertha was launched in 1991 , ushering in a new era where driver heads grew to the size of small microwaves, giving a boost to driving distance stats.)

What about the senior tour's dominant force, Bernhard Langer? At 60, the German checks in at 25th in distance at 280.4 yards. But that's up 7.72 percent from his 260.3 average in 1987, two years removed from the first of his two Masters titles. That's right, Langer is significantly longer now than he was 30 years ago . We know the guy is a physical marvel, but no matter how much time he spends in the gym, those numbers are crazy.

Anyway, these examples go on and on, so we decided to make a list ordered from biggest distance increase (by percentage) to smallest:

Earlier this year, the USGA asserted there's only a "slow creep" when it comes to distance increases across all tours in the past 13 years. But if this trend continues, it makes you wonder just how far someone like Dustin Johnson will be able to hit it when he's on the senior tour.

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Average Golf Course Length; Size | Acres | Areas

What is the average size of a golf course.

A golf course is a field or a ground in which the game of golf is played. The grounds enclose a series of holes each consisting of a ‘fairway’ surrounded by the green.

The rough and several ‘hazards’ included in the out of play area, the greens and tees, occupy approximately 5% of the total space. Seemingly simple, golf courses vary not only in size but also in types.

Table of Contents

Coming up with a single average size is difficult but I have done the research to outline the absolute best answer ever documented online.

Now let me explain about the size of a golf course in detail.

The average size of a golf course is between 100 and 190 acres. This measurement includes area for the club house, driving range and practice greens. Smaller golf courses will instead be around 70 acres (28.3 hectares).

Reports from the GCSAA reveal that a 100-110 acres golf course is ideal for an 18-hole golf course. This is inclusive of water bodies and other areas that are not used for the game. These off field areas include clubhouses, storage, and parking.

Resorts have golf courses that range from 170-190 acres (0.36 km 2) , while urban golf courses span a smaller area of 110 to 120 acres.

Regulation golf courses comprise of 18 holes but vary in length. It’s common to see four short holes which are about 130-400 yards in length. Added are ten average holes that are 350-400 yards, and four longer holes of 450-550 yards distance between the holes.

Rough Area Size

60% of the golf course is dedicated to the Rough area which covers all out-of-play areas including hazards. Around 67 acres (27.1 hectares) is the size of Rough area on a good golf course.

Fairway Size

According to the GCSAA, about 31.8 acres is the required size to design a fairway. The fairway occupies almost 29% of a golf course.

Driving Range Size

6% of the golf course is usually reserved for the driving range on a golf course.

The average size of a driving range occupies approximately 7.1 acres of the total golf course. In smaller golf courses where space is limited, the driving range is not feasible and is left out.

Tees and the Green Size

5% of the total golf course is allotted to the most significant part of the golf course known as the tees and the greens. This area scales around 6 acres. After the main elements of the course are planned, the golf course should also account for the clubhouse, storage, and parking areas.

Average Golf Course Length in Yards

Golf course length is dependent on the number of tees in a tee box and also the kind of tournaments that are played.

The average length of a golf course is 6,700 yards (6.12 kms).

If you’re a professional and play on the PGA tour, you’ll probably be playing on a golf course which spans a length of about 7,200 – 7,300 yards.

A golf course length of 6,200-6,600 yards is used in the LPGA tournaments and the average golf course length used in Champions Tour for over 50 Pros range from 6,500-6,800 yards.

Female golfers with a low handicap prefer using tees whose distance is 250-500 yards less than that of male pro golfers playing in LPGA tournaments.

Mid-handicappers most often choose tees with yardages that are 500 – 1,000 yards less than their professional counterparts. Of course the counterparts will be of the same gender and similar age.

On the other hand, high-handicappers most often will choose a length that ranges 1,000-1,500 yards less than their pro counterparts.

If you’re a beginner and not sure whether you can hit the ball to a good distance with fair accuracy, I would advise you to start from the forward tees. The rule of thumb is that if you’re unable to cover the distance of Par 3 holes in one shot (or Par 4 holes in two shots) from the tee, it’s time to scale back to a shorter set of tees.

Average Golf Course Length in Miles

The golf course length on the PGA tour covers around 7,200 yards which is 4.09 miles. A PGA player on an average plays about 78 rounds in a year spanning 319 miles a season.

For example, there are some professionals like Danny Lee who have played 100+ rounds in a season while there are a few like Louis Oosthuizen who have played only 46 rounds covering less than 190 miles. The average PGA tour players rounds are taken into account and the miles travelled is then calculated.

Average Golf Course Length in Meters

Golf course length of 18-hole course ranges from 6,500 to 6,900 yards which is approximately 5,900 to 6,400 meters. Individual holes range from 100- 600 yards which are 90-550 meters.

Par 3, 4, 5 are more common with many golf courses but some courses include Par 6. The following are the distances for various holes from the standard tees for men and women.

While Par 3 is 230 meters for men it covers roughly 190 meters for women.
Par 4 covers 230 meters for women and 410 meters for men
Par 5 is 412 meters for women and a 631 meters for men
The distance for women’s Par 4 ranges from 193 – 366 meters and Par 5 ranges from 367-526 meters.

Average Golf Course Length in KM’s

Golf courses really do take up a large area of real estate. You may not really realize it, but you will end up walking several kilometers during your playing sessions. On average, it has been found that a person walks around 8.5 km during the course of a single session of golf.

This distance does not include travelling across the car parking areas or clubhouses. If these places are included in the calculation, then the distance increases by 1 kilometer.

This takes the total average distance to around 9.5 km which is the distance that you can expect to end up walking for each round of golf!

No wonder you may feel very tired after each round. During a game, you’ll be burning up around 1,000 calories easily. Of course, these are not absolute figures but are estimates. These figures are calculated by using fitness apps or smart GPS watches to calculate the total distance covered and calories burnt during a game.

How Long Does it Take to Walk a Golf Course

On average it will take 4 hours to walk a standard 18 hole golf course from beginning to end. The time it takes to walk along a course from start to finish will differ for each person. The size of the course, number of players, your skill level, will all add to the total duration.

If you’re playing on a regulated 18-hole golf course, you’re likely to have walked anywhere between 3 and 6 miles. Walking an 18-hole golf course usually means covering 5,900-6,400 meters.

To calculate the distance walked from the first hole to the eighteenth tee, multiply the number of yards by 3 and divide the answer by 5,280 to get the answer in miles. So, a 6,500-yard golf course means you will be walking 3.69 miles.

How many acres is a golf course?

The average golf course is 140-180 acres. The largest acreage for a golf course is 190 acres, and the smallest acreage is 100 acres.

Golf courses are sometimes additional amenities offered in resorts.

Elite residential properties around the fairways promise a residential golf community. These golf courses promote recreation for club members and can also be the site for tournaments which generates profits.

Golf courses may be designed just for the health and leisure of nearby residents, or it could be used to promote visitors and tourists to the area.

Average 18 Hole Golf Course Length

Calculating the length of a course will be dependent on various design elements like the rough, practice greens, tee areas and fairways.

The average length of a 18 hole golf course is 5,000 – 7,000 yards. The area is spread over 110 – 190 acres.

A report from the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America reveals that an 18-hole golf facility in a resort covers a sprawling 150 – 200 acres which include water bodies, hard structures and out of play areas.

Golf courses set in urban areas occupy only 110 – 120 acres making them around 50 acres smaller than courses set in resorts.

How Many Acres is a 9 Hole Golf Course

The surface of a golf course seems to stretch out forever. It’s size is vast and you may often wonder how big a golf course really is. You may be surprised to know that you’re in fact walking more than 5 miles to finish up 1 single round of golf.

So now that you know that a golf course typically covers miles of square area, you might want a better estimate of the total area covered. The area will vary depending on whether it’s an urban setting or a resort setting. A resort setting will have a larger rough area and more sophisticated features which usually takes up a lot more of area. An urban setting will be quite compressed and won’t feature a lot of rough areas.

A 9-hole golf course ideally needs at least 1,000 to 3,000 yards of tees to greens which means a 9 hole golf course is 20-60 acres in size. These figures refer to course with a few Par 4 holes and a single Par 5 hole. The area in acres may vary depending on the number of Par holes, making it smaller or larger.

Average PGA Tour course length

PGA tours are considered the ultimate professional golf tournaments. PGA tours generally follow all the USGA rules to a tee.

The average course length of a PGA tour golf course is 7,200 yards (4.09 miles).

If this is the length of a course for a PGA tour, you might be wondering about the distance covered by the players during the course of a year. Well, the numbers are staggering, to say the least. The average professional golfer walks around 319 miles during a season. It’s not surprising to know that golfers burn hundreds of calories after each game.

The famous Danny Lee played around 120 PGA tour rounds in one single season in the year 2015. If you compute the average distance covered by him, it works out to just less than 500 miles. That is quite a huge figure to be covered by a person in a season.

On the other hand, if a player plays just 45 rounds in a season, he would have covered just 190 miles. So the total distance covered depends on the number of rounds played by the golfer.

Golf Course Hole Length

Most of the professional players find it quite easy to guess the Par of the hole based on its length. It comes quite instinctively to them. Though the designers are free to pick the length of the course for a Par rating, there are some basic guidelines to be followed.

The USGA has come up with a basic set of guidelines to help design the course length. For a Men’s Par 3 golf course, up to 250 yards is considered a normal length. For female golfers, around 210 yards is considered a Par 3 golf course.

When it comes to Par 4 courses, these will of course be larger than Par 3 designs. Around 470 yards is considered a Par4 for men, while 400 yards is the Par limit for women. This trend continues for Par 5 courses, with the length differing for both men and women.

The Par distance is set so that a player can comfortably cover the distance; while sinking the ball in the set number of strokes.

For example, in a Par3 golf course, the player should be able to hit the ball in one stroke to cover the distance and then use 2 putts to hole the ball. A hole is given a Par 3 ranking because the course designer believes a total of 3 strokes are definitely achievable with enough skill.

The concept of effectively playing to the length of a course also comes into play when discussing the hole length.

Length of Grass on a Golf Course

There is clear evidence that the demand for faster-putting greens continues to increase. The best way to increase speed is to cut the grass shorter. Special mowers are used on golf courses to cut grass.

The Bed-knife fitted at the bottom of the lawn mower can be adjusted to raise and lower the blade to enable the desired cut and height of the grass. Half an inch of grass is cut in the fairways while those near the trees are cut to 4/10 of an inch.

Greens are cut short about 1/10 of an inch or sometimes a little more. The roughs are cut using a standard rotary motor and are in the range of 2-2 1/2”.

Urban Vs Resort Setting

Unlike the traditional golf courses, urban golf is nothing but regular golf played around an urban settings. The origin of this type of golf course can be traced back to Scotland in the year 1741.

A different golf course setting you may have played at is in a resort setting. A resort setting is where artificially made bunkers are created along with carefully placed trees.

A resort setting as the name suggests is built around a 4 or 5 star rated resort. It has a luxurious setting and are designed with relaxation in mind.

Most of the resort golf settings are larger than urban golf courses. The urban style courses are created out of necessity and can be set up in the suburbs or large remote fields.

The main difference between a urn and resort golf course is that one course is naturally made, while a resort course is artificially made.

Resort courses do offer a more luxurious and sophisticated golfing experience. There is more lee way with designing the exact course the designer wants, and is really only limited to his imagination.

Driving Range Area

A driving range is a place where people who would like to learn the skills of the game start their learning process guided by a golf instructor. Without any extreme contours, 300 yards of the driving range is ideal.

8 hectares or up to 20 acres is considered a good size for a driving range. Buffer areas on either side of the range’s fairways enable easy finding and picking of wayward golf balls.

In the earlier days of the sport, golfers just teed up on greens. However back then golfers felt that a separate teeing zone further away from the regular play area improved not only speed but also gave a level starting point with improved safety.

As years passed by, the size of tees became larger and longer. Nowadays tees are aesthetically and artistically designed to equal the size of greens and bunkers.

The size of the tee area is 150- 200 sq.ft per 1,000 rounds for the tee surface.

Private clubs with limited play say 20,000 rounds are 4,000 sq.ft. Tees available on a public course that play more than 40,000 rounds can be 6,000-8,000 sq.ft. . These yardages measure approximately 7,400 yards in length and sometimes are in the range of 4,500-7,500 depending on the course location.

Fairway Area

Golf courses must possess a certain standard when used to host tournaments. The PGA advocates narrowing of a course’s fairways. If you have a golf course with more roughs and fewer fairway space; it offers ideal worthy challenges for the best golfers. Fairway guidelines of the PGA tour expect fairways in the range of 25-30 yards for Par 4 and Par 5 holes.

The Nationwide and Champions tour also apply the same guidelines with respect to fairways. The PGA has also given instructions for exceptional situations where fairways can be wider than normal. This is only allowed if the size of fairway caters to their guidelines, and that the bunkers are forced deeper enough within the rough. Under such situations, wider fairways are permitted by the PGA tour.

Size of a Golf Bunker

The size of a golf bunker varies with the size of a golf course. Large bunkers come into play when you have a course with wide fairways, greens, water bodies, and large trees.

Smaller bunkers are found where the courses are small with narrow fairways and where the construction cost and maintenance costs are maintained to a minimum.

The size of a golf bunkers is 4 feet (48”) for a fairway bunker to 6 feet (72”) for the green side.

Rough is an area that every golf player tries to avoid having their ball in. Only superintendents and the maintenance crew deal with the rough on a regular basis. It’s very important to maintain the roughs properly and in perfect condition.

It has been estimated that it takes on an average of around 90 to 130 man-hours to cut and neatly trim the grass in these areas. During the season when grass grows fast, a lot of man-hours are required to make sure that the area is presentable.

Cleaning up the debris on a periodic basis is very important and is done by the maintenance crew. Superintendents are specially appointed to oversee these tasks. The amount of the area allocated for a rough will vary between the private clubs and the posh ones. The posh clubs will have a well-maintained rough area which gives it an aura of sophistication.

The normal and not so exclusive clubs will have a smaller rough area and will be maintained at a lower cost.

Around 10% of the total labor force is generally allocated to maintain this area. Finding the perfect balance between a rough look, while also making it look elegant, is a challenging task for designers.

There is no particular concept of a definitive size for a green area. If you’re considering designing your own green area, you can do so based on certain factors.

You should calculate the size you require based on certain conditions. The precision greens will be smaller compared to the other greens.

For example, if you’re looking to build a green which offers greater accuracy, then you might just need a smaller piece of land.

On average, the golfing greens will be less than 200 yards in size, but this will of course be different for every hole.

For a bogey player, less than 200 yards is ideal whereas for a scratch player a size of over 300 yards in considered normal.

If your approach shot is around 140-180 yards, your green width, as well as the depth, can be about 14%.

A decent green size would be around 5,000 sq. feet to 6,500 sq. feet. Anything above this size is a bit difficult to maintain.

As the size of the green increases, the cost factor also increases proportionately. You will want to construct or design a green which will be easy enough to maintain as well as have a decent size which suit your requirements.

I must say that size does matter! I recommend reading my other articles which discuss various size elements of golf equipment.

Golf Ball Size
Golf Club Weight
Golf Cart Weight

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Ernie loves documenting interesting facts about golf.

How Long A Course Should You Play?

Over the last several years I’ve become convinced that a good deal of the problem with slow rounds is that players are not teeing off from the proper distances. Guys with white tee distance—in a fit of machismo—are teeing off from the blues, and red tee-ers from the whites. Inadequate distances forces them to swing harder, causing more missed fairways. Drives that fall too far from the green force the use of long irons and fairway woods, resulting in missing regulation, and eat up time with costly chips, flubbed flops and multiple shots out of greenside bunkers. Long shots into the green leave players far from the hole, requiring extra putts.

It’s interesting that players who would roll their eyes in disgust if a woman tried to tee off from the whites nonetheless will pull the same stunt by starting at the tips.

Playing from the wrong tees also greatly reduces the fun of playing golf. Ninety nine percent of us are not practicing for the US Open. It’s simply a lot more fun to hit driver-eight iron-putt-putt than driver-long iron-wedge-chip-putt-putt on every hole. And if you do regularly play with guys who hit from the back tees, just use the handicap system to level things out.

But what are the correct tees? Chris Mile of the Miles of Golf pro shop in Ann Arbor has a great rule of thumb . Simply multiply your average driving distance by 28. That’ll give you the yardage that you should play from; choose the tees closest to that distance.

This means that a player who hits the ball 200 yards on a drive should play from the tees closest to 5,600 yards.

I use the 200 yard drive figure deliberately. Studies have consistently shown that the average golfer drives the ball 200 yards on average, but THINKS he hits it 30 yards further. And remember that it’s the AVERAGE that counts. Occasionally uncorking a 270 yarder is not the same as hitting for an average of 270. You also have to consider all the times you don’t hit it that far.

Finally, parking the ego at the door: In 2010, the average PGA Tour player hits the ball just 282.7 yards on average.

Chris Mile explains the logic behind his 28 rule:

The logic behind the “Driver x 28″ is that an ideal course will have a combination of easy, moderately difficult, and difficult holes. Knowing the length of your drive, you can estimate how far you hit your other clubs. For example, most golfers will hit their 6 iron 64% of the distance of their driver. If a medium distance par 4 is a drive and #6 iron, you know the length of a good par four for you is 164% of the distance of your drive. Having this information plus definitions for short, medium, and long holes, you can compute the total distance for an ideal course for you based upon your driving distance.

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4 thoughts on “How Long A Course Should You Play?”

Also, I’ve had the “pleasure” of occasionally playing with guys (and they’re always guys) who tee off from the tips but their drives aren’t even as long as mine! And maybe it’s just me, but having to wait for them to each play multiple shots between mine just messes with my game somehow. Just in my head, I know, but it does!

I am going to keep this theory a secret in my group. Trying to balance my ego with reality, I think my average might be in the 240 range these days. That comes out to 6720, which is longer on both courses than the green tees (9 yards longer on one, 200 on the other). I will stay back at white for now (3rd of 4 tees).

Women on Red (forward) For men: Our rule is <10 handicap AND <50 -> Green (back) >65 -> Gold (just behind red) otherwise White.

I have told my group that my goal is to have an under 10 handicap in 7 more years so I won’t have to worry or be confused by changing tees. But in reality, I have had a 6 point index drop in 2 months, and a couple more low 80s will probably put me at a 9 and moving back.

Golf Blogger is so right about golfers over-estimating distances and playing the wrong set of tees. It is relatively common for me to see a foursome playing the back tees and struggling. Usually the group has one player who can inconsistently hit a long ball. He becomes the leader and pressures everyone else to play from the back even though none of the group really belongs there. The result is a long slow day and 4 very frustrated golfers.

I saw the short essay in the Miles’ newsletter and it makes a lot of sense. My hope is this estimating procedure becomes widely known and golfers start matching their abilities with the proper set of tees.

Would you rather bat 500 and play T ball or bat 250 and play real baseball. That is the choice the “real” golfers are proposing to others.

Average Golf Course Length: Factors, Longest And Shortest Courses, Par And Tee Box Analysis

Jose roberts.

September 27, 2023

Discover the factors influencing average golf course length, from elevation to bunker placement. Explore the longest and shortest courses globally, and analyze course length by par and tee box options.

Factors Affecting Average Golf Course Length

When it comes to golf course design and layout, several factors influence the average length of a course. Understanding these factors is important for both golfers and course architects, as they contribute to the overall challenge and enjoyment of the game. In this section, we will explore the key elements that affect the average golf course length.

Elevation and Slope

One of the primary factors that affect the average length of a golf course is the elevation and slope of the terrain. Golf courses built on hilly or undulating landscapes tend to be longer compared to those situated on flat terrains. The varying elevations not only add visual appeal to the course but also introduce strategic challenges for golfers.

Golfers playing on courses with significant elevation changes face the task of adjusting their club selection and shot strategy to account for the slope. Uphill shots require more power, while downhill shots may require less force but greater accuracy. Additionally, the slope can affect the roll and trajectory of the ball, adding an element of unpredictability to the game.

Fairway Width

The width of the fairways is another crucial factor that contributes to the overall length of a golf course. Fairways are the carefully manicured strips of grass that golfers aim to hit their tee shots onto. Widening or narrowing the fairways can significantly impact the difficulty and length of a course.

Narrow fairways demand more precise tee shots, as any errant shot may result in the ball landing in the rough, trees, or hazards. This increases the challenge and lengthens the total distance a golfer needs to cover from tee to green. On the other hand, wider fairways provide golfers with more room for error, potentially shortening the overall length of the course.

Rough Length

The length and thickness of the rough also influence the average distance of a golf course. Rough refers to the areas of longer grass found alongside fairways and surrounding greens. Longer roughs make it more difficult for golfers to advance the ball towards the target, increasing the overall distance they need to cover.

When a golf ball lands in the rough, it tends to sit down in the grass, making it challenging to achieve a clean strike. Golfers often have to use more lofted clubs and swing harder to escape the rough successfully. Consequently, longer and thicker roughs can add considerable length to a golf course and test a player’s skills.

Bunker Placement

Bunkers, also known as sand traps, are strategically placed hazards on a golf course that add both aesthetic appeal and challenge to the game. The placement and number of bunkers can greatly influence the average length of a course. Bunkers strategically positioned near fairways or greens force golfers to alter their shot strategy and potentially increase the overall course length.

When a golfer’s shot lands in a bunker, it requires a specialized skill set to escape and advance towards the target. The sand adds resistance to the clubhead, reducing the distance the ball travels. To successfully navigate bunkers, golfers must carefully select their clubs and execute precise shots, often resulting in longer distances to reach the green.

Water Hazards

Water hazards, such as lakes, ponds, and streams, are another significant factor affecting the average length of a golf course. These natural or man-made features not only add beauty to the course but also present golfers with challenging obstacles to overcome.

When golfers encounter water hazards, they must decide whether to play it safe and avoid the water or take a riskier shot to potentially gain an advantage. The presence of water hazards can significantly lengthen a course as golfers may need to play more conservatively, laying up short of the hazard, or take longer routes to avoid the water altogether.

Do elevation changes and slope affect the length of a golf course?
How does the width of fairways impact the overall distance of a course?
What role does the rough play in increasing the average length of a golf course?
How do bunkers strategically placed on a golf course affect its overall length?
Why do water hazards contribute to the average length of a golf course?

Longest Golf Courses in the World

When it comes to golf courses, length can be a defining factor in determining the challenge and excitement that golfers experience. Some golf courses are renowned for their vast expanses, offering players an opportunity to showcase their skills and endurance. Here, we will explore some of the longest golf courses in the world, each with its own unique characteristics and allure.

Mission Hills Golf Club (China)

Located in China, Mission Hills Golf Club is a sprawling golf complex that boasts numerous courses. Among them is the World Cup Course, which holds the distinction of being the longest golf course in the world. Spanning an impressive 8,093 yards, this course presents a formidable challenge even to the most seasoned golfers. The course features undulating terrain, strategically placed hazards, and breathtaking views that make it a must-play destination for golf enthusiasts.

Yas Links (United Arab Emirates)

In the United Arab Emirates, Yas Links stands out as a remarkable golf course that offers both beauty and length. Designed by renowned golf architect Kyle Phillips, this 7,450-yard layout takes full advantage of its coastal location, incorporating the stunning Arabian Gulf into its design. Golfers can expect to navigate through natural dunes, encounter challenging bunkers, and enjoy panoramic views that add to the overall allure of the course.

Prairie Dunes Golf Club (United States)

Moving to the United States, Prairie Dunes Golf Club in Kansas presents a unique blend of length and natural beauty. With a total yardage of 6,940 yards, this course challenges golfers with its undulating fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and thick rough. The course is known for its seamless integration into the surrounding prairie landscape, creating a serene and picturesque setting that captivates players and spectators alike.

The European Club (Ireland)

Ireland is no stranger to world-class golf courses, and The European Club is a prime example. Measuring 7,393 yards, this course offers a challenging layout that demands accuracy and skill from golfers of all levels. Designed by Pat Ruddy, the course showcases the rugged beauty of the Irish coastline, with breathtaking views of the Irish Sea. The European Club is known for its fast greens, strategically placed bunkers, and unique design elements that make it a memorable golfing experience.

Barnbougle Dunes (Australia)

Venturing Down Under, Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania, Australia, stands as a testament to the country’s natural beauty and golfing prowess. This 6,858-yard course is nestled among rolling sand dunes and offers a unique links-style experience. With its challenging fairways, deep bunkers, and unpredictable wind conditions, Barnbougle Dunes presents a true test of golfing skill. The course’s rustic charm and stunning coastal views make it a favorite destination for golfers seeking a memorable and challenging round.

Shortest Golf Courses in the World

When it comes to golf courses, size doesn’t always matter. While some golfers prefer the challenge of long fairways and wide open spaces, others find joy in playing on shorter courses that require precision and strategic shot-making. In this section, we will explore some of the shortest golf courses in the world that offer unique experiences for golf enthusiasts.

Guerande Golf Club (France)

Located in the picturesque town of Guerande in France, the Guerande Golf Club is known for its compact layout and beautiful surroundings. This 9-hole course may be short in distance, but it more than makes up for it with its narrow fairways and challenging greens. The course is designed to test a golfer’s accuracy and ability to navigate tight spaces, making it a favorite among those who enjoy a quick and challenging round of golf.

Golf de Morfontaine (France)

Another French gem, the Golf de Morfontaine offers a delightful golfing experience on its compact 9-hole course. Situated in a stunning parkland setting just outside of Paris, this course is renowned for its well-manicured fairways and immaculate greens. Despite its shorter length, Golf de Morfontaine demands precision and finesse, with strategically placed hazards and undulating terrain that require golfers to think strategically on every shot.

Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Club (Australia)

In the heart of the Australian Outback lies the Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Club, a truly unique golfing experience. This 18-hole course may be short in length, but it offers golfers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to play on a course that is completely made of compacted sand. With no grass in sight, players use artificial turf to tee off and navigate their way around the course. It’s an unforgettable experience that combines the love of golf with the rugged beauty of the Outback.

The Himalayan Golf Club (Nepal)

Nestled in the stunning mountains of Nepal, The Himalayan Golf Club is the highest golf course in the world. Situated at an elevation of over 8,000 feet, this 9-hole course offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas while providing a challenging golfing experience. The thin air at this altitude adds an extra layer of difficulty, as golfers need to adjust their shots to account for the reduced ball flight. It’s a truly unique and awe-inspiring place to tee off.

Dunaverty Golf Club (Scotland)

Scotland is often hailed as the birthplace of golf, and it is home to many world-renowned courses. However, Dunaverty Golf Club stands out for its compact size and stunning coastal location. Situated on the Mull of Kintyre, this 9-hole course offers golfers the chance to play in a breathtaking setting, with the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop. While the course may be short, the challenging terrain and unpredictable weather make it a memorable experience for golfers of all skill levels.

Average Golf Course Length by Par

Par 3 courses.

When it comes to golf, par 3 courses offer a unique challenge. These courses consist of primarily par 3 holes, where the average length of each hole is shorter compared to par 4 or par 5 courses. Typically, par 3 holes measure anywhere between 100 to 250 yards. Due to their shorter length, par 3 courses are a popular choice for beginners, as well as experienced golfers looking to work on their short game.

Par 3 courses provide an excellent opportunity for golfers to practice their accuracy and precision. With shorter distances to cover, players can focus on their iron play and fine-tune their approach shots. The shorter length also means that golfers can complete a round of golf in less time, making par 3 courses a convenient option for those with busy schedules.

One of the advantages of par 3 courses is that they are often designed with beautiful landscapes in mind. These courses are meticulously crafted to incorporate natural features, such as water bodies, bunkers, and strategically placed trees. Playing on a par 3 course not only challenges your golfing skills but also offers a visually pleasing experience.

Par 4 Courses

Par 4 courses are the most common type of golf course found worldwide. These courses consist of a combination of par 3, par 4, and par 5 holes. The average length of a par 4 hole ranges from 300 to 450 yards. Par 4 holes require a balanced approach, as golfers need both distance and accuracy to navigate the fairways and reach the green in regulation.

Playing on par 4 courses demands a strategic mindset. Golfers must carefully plan their shots, taking into consideration the length of the hole, the layout of the fairway, and the position of hazards such as bunkers or water bodies. The challenge lies in finding the right balance between power and control, as golfers aim to reach the green in as few strokes as possible.

Par 4 courses often feature a variety of landscapes, with undulating fairways, well-placed bunkers, and challenging roughs. The design of these courses offers a mix of long and short holes, providing an opportunity for golfers to showcase their versatility and adaptability. The varying lengths of par 4 holes add excitement and unpredictability to the game, making each round a unique experience.

Par 5 Courses

For those seeking a longer and more demanding golfing experience, par 5 courses are the ultimate challenge. Par 5 holes typically measure over 450 yards in length, requiring golfers to exhibit both power and accuracy. These holes offer the opportunity for golfers to unleash their driver and go for longer shots.

Par 5 courses are known for their strategic layout, often incorporating doglegs, hazards, and well-guarded greens. Golfers must carefully plan each shot to navigate the fairway and position themselves for an approach to the green. The length of par 5 holes allows golfers to take risks and attempt to reach the green in two shots, known as “going for the green in two.” However, this strategy comes with the risk of hitting into hazards or finding yourself in a difficult position.

The longer length of par 5 courses also means that they offer more space for creativity and shot-making. Golfers can choose to lay up and play strategically, or they can go for the aggressive approach and attempt to reach the green in fewer strokes. The variety of options and the potential for dramatic turns make par 5 courses a thrilling experience for golfers of all skill levels.

Average Golf Course Length by Tee Box

Golf courses come in various lengths, and one factor that determines the overall length is the tee box from which golfers start their round. Each tee box is designed to accommodate different skill levels, allowing players to choose the appropriate level of challenge for their game. Let’s explore the average golf course lengths based on the different tee boxes available:

Championship Tee

The championship tee box is typically the farthest and most challenging tee box on a golf course. It is designed for professional golfers and highly skilled amateurs who possess exceptional distance and accuracy in their shots. When playing from the championship tee, golfers can expect longer fairways and strategically placed hazards, such as bunkers and water features, that test their skills to the fullest.

Championship tee boxes often result in longer average course lengths compared to other tee boxes. They allow golfers to experience the course in a way that mirrors professional tournaments, where the best players in the world compete against each other on courses set up at their most demanding lengths.

Men’s Tee

The men’s tee box is the most commonly used tee box by male golfers of varying skill levels. This tee box offers a balance between challenge and playability, providing a fair test for the majority of male golfers. While not as long as the championship tee, the men’s tee still presents a good level of difficulty with strategically placed hazards and well-manicured fairways.

Golf courses designed with the men’s tee in mind often provide a range of distances, catering to golfers with different levels of driving distance. This allows male golfers to choose a tee box that suits their game, ensuring an enjoyable and challenging round of golf.

Women’s Tee

The women’s tee box is specifically designed to accommodate the average driving distance of female golfers. It offers a shorter distance compared to the men’s and championship tees, allowing women to experience the course with the same level of challenge and enjoyment. The women’s tee provides an opportunity for female golfers to showcase their skills without feeling overwhelmed by the length of the course.

Courses that cater to female golfers often consider factors such as fairway width, rough length, and bunker placement to ensure a fair and enjoyable playing experience. By utilizing the women’s tee, female golfers can navigate the course with confidence and have a memorable round of golf.

The junior tee box is designed for young golfers who are just starting their golfing journey or for those who have yet to develop the strength and distance capabilities of adult golfers. These tee boxes offer a significantly shorter distance compared to other tee boxes, allowing juniors to play a course that is suitable for their age and skill level.

Junior tee boxes are essential in fostering a love for the game among young players. By offering a course that is tailored to their abilities, juniors can experience success and enjoyment on the golf course. This encourages them to continue playing and developing their skills as they progress in their golfing journey.

Famous Golf Courses and Their Lengths

Augusta national golf club (united states).

Augusta National Golf Club, located in Georgia, United States, is renowned for its rich history and challenging course design. This iconic golf course has been the host of the prestigious Masters Tournament since 1934. Known for its lush fairways and perfectly manicured greens, Augusta National is a golfer’s paradise.

The length of Augusta National varies depending on which tees are used. From the Championship Tees, the course measures approximately 7,475 yards. This challenging length puts the world’s best golfers to the test, as they navigate through the famous Amen Corner and tackle the treacherous water hazards.

St Andrews Links (Scotland)

St Andrews Links, located in Scotland, is often referred to as the “Home of Golf.” This historic golf course is steeped in tradition and has been played by golfers for over six centuries. St Andrews is a true golfer’s pilgrimage, attracting players from all over the world.

The Old Course at St Andrews, which is the most famous course within the St Andrews Links complex, measures around 7,305 yards from the Championship Tees. This legendary course is known for its challenging bunkers, undulating fairways, and unpredictable wind conditions. Golfers must navigate their way through famous holes such as the Road Hole and the Swilcan Bridge.

Pebble Beach Golf Links (United States)

Pebble Beach Golf Links, located in California, United States, is often regarded as one of the most scenic and challenging golf courses in the world. Situated along the rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean, this course offers breathtaking views and demanding shot-making.

From the Championship Tees, Pebble Beach Golf Links measures around 7,040 yards. Golfers face the challenge of navigating narrow fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and the unpredictable coastal winds. The iconic finishing hole, the par-5 18th, requires a precise tee shot and a nerve-wracking approach over the ocean to a small green.

Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Australia)

Royal Melbourne Golf Club, located in Victoria, Australia, is widely regarded as one of the finest golf courses in the Southern Hemisphere. Designed by renowned golf course architect Alister MacKenzie, Royal Melbourne offers a unique blend of strategic design and natural beauty.

From the Championship Tees, the Composite Course at Royal Melbourne measures approximately 7,055 yards. This course challenges golfers with its undulating fairways, deep bunkers, and fast greens. The intricate layout requires players to carefully plan their shots and consider the risk-reward options on each hole.

Royal County Down Golf Club (Northern Ireland)

Royal County Down Golf Club, situated in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, is often ranked as one of the top golf courses in the world. Nestled at the foot of the majestic Mourne Mountains, this course offers stunning views and a true test of golfing skills.

From the Championship Tees, Royal County Down measures around 7,186 yards. Golfers must negotiate narrow fairways, deep bunkers, and the ever-changing coastal winds. The course is known for its demanding opening holes and the challenging par-4 ninth hole, known as “The Railway.”

In conclusion, these famous golf courses offer unique challenges and breathtaking experiences for golfers of all levels. Whether it’s navigating through the iconic holes at Augusta National, battling the unpredictable winds at St Andrews, marveling at the scenic beauty of Pebble Beach, experiencing the strategic design of Royal Melbourne, or tackling the demanding links of Royal County Down, these courses provide unforgettable moments for golf enthusiasts around the world. No matter which course you choose to play, you are guaranteed to be part of golfing history and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Which Set of Tees Should You Play From on the Golf Course?

Several Methods Work Well for Determining Appropriate Yardage for Your Game

Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism.

Every golf course you visit is likely to have multiple sets of tees boxes, as designated by colored markers on the teeing grounds at the start of each hole. Most golf courses have at least three sets of tees—the forward tees, middle tees and back (or championship) tees. Other courses might have as many as five, six or seven sets of tees. How do you know which set of tees to use?

The different tee boxes correspond to different yardages, which also means different playing abilities. The tees at the back of the tee box are the longest set, the ones at the front the shortest set (you can find the yardages by checking the corresponding lines on the scorecard—blue tees are designated on the scorecard by the "Blue" line, and so on).

Over time, knowing which set of tees to use will become self-evident. If you are struggling from one set of tees—unable to reach par-3 holes from the tee, or unable to reach par-4 holes in two shots—then move up to an easier (shorter) set of tees.

Don't Play Tees That are Too Long for Your Game

Many amateur golfers (especially men) try to play from tees that are too long. It's not uncommon to see a group of guys on a teeing ground hitting from the championship tees, only to hit weak slices into the woods. Don't be one of these people. There's no shame in playing from a forward set of tees if that is appropriate for your game. And golfers who play from tees that are too long for their games are only slowing down the pace of play.

Three Tee Boxes = Easy Choice

At a golf course with three sets of tees, the guidelines for choosing the correct set are pretty easy:

The championship tees (back tees) are for low-handicap men.
The middle tees are for middle to high handicap men, low-handicap or long-hitting women, and low-handicap or long-hitting senior men.
The forward tees are for middle or high handicap women and seniors, and beginners of all stripes.

How to Choose Yardage to Play From When There are Many Tee Boxes

At courses whose tee boxes contain more than three sets of tees, it gets a little more complicated. But we can sort it out by considering the yardages that the professionals play from.

On the PGA Tour, the average golf course length these days is around 7,200-7,300 yards. On the LPGA Tour, average golf course length is around 6,200 to 6,600 yards. On the Champions Tour for over-50 pros, average golf course length is around 6,500 to 6,800 yards.

If you are a low-handicap golfer, then feel free to play from the set of tees that mimics the yardages on the pro tours (which will be the back tees for men).

Low-handicap women and seniors might choose the set of tees whose yardage is 250-500 yards less than the averages of the LPGA and Champions tours, respectively.

Mid-handicappers might choose the set of tees whose yardage is around 500-1,000 yards less than the pro tour that represents their gender or age.

High-handicappers should consider the set of tees whose yardage is 1,000 to 1,500 yards less than the pros play.

And beginners? Unless you know that you can hit the ball a good distance with at least a little bit of accuracy and consistency, then start from the forward tees. After a round or two from the forward tees, you'll have a pretty good idea (based on your score and your frustration level) if you should move back to a longer, tougher set of tees.

And always remember that first rule of thumb we mentioned: If you are unable to reach the par-3 holes in one shot (we're talking distance, not actually getting your ball on the green), or unable to reach the par-4 holes in two shots from the set of tees you are playing, it's a good sign that you need to move up to a shorter set of tees.

Another Method: Use Average 5-Iron Distance

Here's another general guideline for choosing the distance at which to play a golf course: Take your average 5-iron distance (be honest!), multiply by 36, and choose the tees that most closely match that yardage. Example: You hit your 5-iron 150 yards. So 150 times 36 equals 5,400. Choose the tees closest to 5,400 yards in length. If you hit your 5-iron 180 yards, then look for tees around 6,500 yards (180 times 36 equals 6,480).

PGA of America/USGA Recommendations for Choosing Proper Tee Box

In 2011, the PGA of America and USGA issued a set of recommendations designed to encourage golfers to play from appropriate yardages. These guidelines are based on golfers' average driving distance. So find your driving distance, then see what yardage these two organizations recommend:

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Tee Precision

How Long is the Average Golf Course? (and the World’s Longest Course)

One of the unique aspects of the game of golf is that every course is different. Some are short, some are long, and others lie somewhere in the middle.

But, just how long is the average golf course?

The average length of the top 100 public golf courses in America ( as ranked by Golf Digest ) is about 7,200 yards, which is equivalent to about 4.09 miles. The average length of all the courses on the PGA tour also happens to be 7,200 yards. On the LPGA tour, the average course length drops to just 6,500 yards or about 3.7 miles.

That’s a lot of walking between shots!

As golf club technology continues to improve, golf courses have been getting longer to accommodate the longer distances commonly seen from the modern player.

In 1980, the average driving distance on tour was just under 257 yards. Fast forward to today, and the average distance tour pros are hitting the ball off the tee has jumped to nearly 300 yards!

golfers can play golf courses from the middle tees

And who knows what the future might hold. So, chances are courses will continue to keep growing in length as time goes by.

The Longest Golf Course in The World

In terms of physical distance, the Nullarbor Links in Australia is the longest golf course in the world, and the statistics here will shock you.

Situated along the Eire Highway that runs across the immense Nullabor Plain, the course runs for almost 150 miles and even crosses the border between Western and Southern Australia.

Depending on which direction you’re driving, the course begins in the gold-mining town of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and ends at the coastal town of Ceduna, in South Australia.

But don’t worry, the actual course itself doesn’t cover the entire 150 miles.

In fact, you need to drive between holes to play the whole course, which in itself only covers about 6,750 yards.

some players play tees that make the length of the hole challenging

The average drive between holes (by car, not cart) is 41 miles, with two of the holes situated almost 124 miles apart. So, don’t try and walk this course!

But, as mentioned above, the playable part of the course is only 6,750 yards long. So, in terms of actual playing distance, this course isn’t really the longest in the world.

For that, we need to hop over to the Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club in Lijiang, China. It comes in at a whopping 8,548 yards (and surprisingly, only a par 72), and is located in the Chinese Himalayas.

The course is over 10,000 feet above sea level and is the second-highest championship graded golf course in the world. (That honor goes to the La Paz Golf Club in Bolivia at 10,965 feet.)

There’s a very good reason why the Dragon Snow Mountain course is so long; golf balls travel further at altitude.

The stats are impressive. The shortest par 3 on the course is an incredible 236 yards, and the par 5 5th hole is the longest par 5 in the world, measuring a staggering 711 yards.

But at that altitude, even the shortest of hackers might be able to hit the green in regulation.

golfers play golf courses from the forward tees for a shorter course length

If you really want to see how far you can hit a ball, you might want to try the Yak Course in India. It’s not a public golf course, seeing as it’s located on a military base, and you’ll need permission to play there.

But at 13,000 feet, you might just hit the longest drive of your life! That alone might make it worth the trip, snow permitting.

How long is a hole in golf?

Working out the par score for a hole is relatively simple. If played in regulation, a par three will include one drive and two puts. A par four will take two shots to reach the green, plus two puts. A par 5, three shots, plus two puts.

You get the idea.

Most golf courses have a par of 72 over 18 holes, but this can vary between clubs and courses.

The current yardage guidelines from the USGA specify that a par 3 can be up to 250 yards for men and up to 210 yards for women. A par 4 hole can be between 251 and 470 yards for men, and between 211 and 400 yards for women. A par 5 hole can be between 471 and 690 yards for men, and between 401 and 575 yards for women. Anything longer than that will be considered a par 6 or 7, although these are very rare.

the length of a golf course can change what golf clubs players use from the back tees

Assigning the right mix of par holes is an art form when it comes to designing golf courses.

The course architect aims to design a course that will take between 70 to 72 shots to achieve a par score.

Of course, you could simply have 18 par 4 holes on a course, but where’s the fun in that! Most course architects will aim to include four par 3s (two on the first nine, two on the last nine), 10 Par 4s (five per nine), and four par 5s.

But these objectives can change depending on the architect’s wishes, or even the terrain of the land.

Some smaller courses only have 9 holes that you need to play twice to complete the full 18 holes.

Some larger courses have more than 18 holes that you can play in different configurations to complete a full round.

So, as usual with golf, there is no normal.

What is the longest golf hole in the world?

At 711 yards, you might be thinking that the par 5 5th at the Dragon Snow Mountain course would be the longest hole in the world. And it is the longest par 5 in the world.

the average golfer will likely play from the middle tee box

But there are par 6 and par 7 holes that are even longer.

The longest hole in the world is the par 7 3rd hole at the Gunsan Country Club in South Korea that measures a whopping 1,097 yards.

It will take you 5 clear shots to reach the green regulation, which is harder than it sounds considering the hole runs alongside a substantial water hazard.

So, if your golf ball seems to be attracted to water like metal is to a magnet, this might be a hole to skip!

But of course, it’s not always the size that counts.

Some of the shortest holes in golf are some of the most challenging and most iconic. Take the 106-yard seventh hole at Pebble Beach, the shortest hole on the PGA tour.

It’s located on the edge of a gorgeous cliff and the breeze drifting off the pacific ocean makes club selection a nightmare, even for the pros!

golf fans like watching pros play on long courses

How do you choose which tees to play from?

There is a range of different tee boxes you can choose to play from.

Championship Tees
Ladies tees
Junior Tees

The one you should select depends on your handicap and how far you can hit the golf ball. As long as you’re playing from the right set of tees for your skill level, you should be able to reach each hole in regulation.

But how do you choose which tee box is best for you?

Well, first off, don’t be unrealistic. It’s tempting to play from the tips just because “the pros do” but unfortunately very few are skilled enough to do so.

Those who play from the championship tees without the required experience risk slowing down the pace of play on the golf course and becoming frustrated much quicker.

There are two main ways to choose the tee box you should play from .

By handicap:

First, you might consider your skill level based on handicap. Better players should play from the back tees while beginners and high handicappers should play from the forward tees .

course length from the middle tees is easier than from the back tees

Here’s a look at which tee box you should choose based on your handicap:

By Distance:

The next way you can choose which tees to hit from is based on how far you hit the golf ball. This is helpful if you do not know your handicap.

Here’s a chart that explains which yardage you should play based on your average driving distance:

Keep in mind, different golf courses might have different tee box configurations. For example, many local or municipal, or executive golf courses will only have three sets of tees per hole, while other championship courses might have as many as five sets of tees.

When you’re trying to figure out which tee box to hit from, use the strategies mentioned above or ask the club professional what they’d recommend.

If you find you’re having trouble reaching the greens in regulation, then move forward one tee.

Another strategy some golfers use to figure out which tees to play from is the average 5-iron distance method. Fair warning, this requires some basic math.

What you do is take your average 5-iron distance and multiply by it 36, and then choose the tees that are a yardage that is closest to that number.

For example, if you hit your 5 iron 175 yards, you’d multiply this number by 36 to get 6,300. Based on this information, you should look for the set of tees with a yardage closest to 6,300 yards.

But in the end, sometimes it’s a matter of “feel”. If the weather conditions are favorable, there’s no reason why you can’t try a harder tee position than you’re used to.

Or, if you’re just playing for fun, there’s no reason why you can’t jump ahead to one of the easier tee boxes.

As always, just be sensible.

The Takeaway…

The average length of golf courses around the world depends on things like altitude and the style of each particular course.

The average length of a course on the PGA Tour is 7,200 yards while the average course length on the LPGA Tour is 6,500 yards.

Of course, there will always be some outliers like the 8,548-yard long track at Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club.

When deciding which tees to play from, you should always consider your skill level (handicap) and how far you can consistently hit the golf ball.

Hope this was helpful!

Average Golf Course Length FAQ’s

How many miles is a golf course.

The average golf course is approximately 4 miles long. However, depending on how crooked and how many shots you take it can be a lot more walking than 4 miles!

What Is A Full Length Golf Course?

A full length golf course is a standard 18 hole course. Typically a par 70, 71 or 72 and consists of a mix of par 3’s, 4’s and 5’s.

By saying it is “full length” does not mean it is long, just that it is a standard 18 hole course.

What Is A Long Golf Course?

A golf course that is around 7,200 yards is considered a long golf course.

What Is The Average Length Of A Golf Course On The LPGA Tour?

The average length of a course on the LPGA Tour is between 6,200 and 6,600 yards. Ladies hit the ball shorter than the men do, playing a much different style of game.

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The 10 longest and 10 shortest courses on the PGA Tour in 2019-2020

The PGA Tour plays on anywhere from 48-50 courses most years, so the players see a variety of golf courses, architects, holes, grasses and styles. The lengths of these courses varies wildly, by 949 yards from the longest course on the PGA Tour (Torrey Pines' South Course, part of the Farmers Insurance Open) to the shortest course on the PGA Tour (Pebble Beach Golf Links, part of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am).

We wanted to share with you the 10 longest courses on the PGA Tour and the 10 shortest courses on the PGA Tour in the 2019-2020 season, which you can then compare to our list of the hardest courses on the PGA Tour and the easiest courses on the PGA Tour .

The longest courses on the PGA Tour

Farmers Insurance Open, Torrey Pines GC (South), par 72, 7,765 yards
Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, Corales Golf Club, par 72, 7,670 yards
Sentry Tournament of Champions, Plantation Course at Kapalua, par 73, 7,596 yards
Wells Fargo Championship, Quail Hollow Club, par 71, 7,554 yards
Puerto Rico Open, Coco Beach Golf & CC, par 72, 7,506 yards
Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC, par 72, 7,475 yards
3M Open, TPC Twin Cities, par 71, 7,468 yards
Sanderson Farms Championship, CC of Jackson, par 72, 7,460 yards
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Bay Hill Club & Lodge, par 72, 7,454 yards
Houston Open, GC of Houston, par 72, 7,441 yards

The longest course on the PGA Tour is Torrey Pines' South Course, which plays to a length of 7,765 yards -- a 60-yard increase over last year. It can play that length, in part, because it was lengthened for the 2008 U.S. Open. That hasn't changed.

Next up is the 7,670-yard Corales Golf Club, which will host the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship.

The renovated Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort, home to the Sentry Tournament of Champions, is just under 7,600 yards and the third-longest course on the PGA Tour. It plays as a par-73 course.

Three of the four majors will not be played on courses in the 10 longest this season.

The shortest courses on the PGA Tour

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Pebble Beach GL, par 72, 6,816 yards
Bermuda Championship, Port Royal GC, par 71, 6,828 yards
Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands, par 70, 6,841 yards
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Monterey Peninsula CC, par 71, 6,958 yards
RBC Canadian Open, Hamilton Golf & Country Club, par 70, 6,967 yards
The RSM Classic, Sea Island Resort (Seaside), par 70, 7,005 yards
Mayakoba Golf Classic, El Camaleon GC, par 71, 7,017 yards
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Spyglass Hill GC, par 72, 7,035 yards
Zozo Championship, Accordia Golf Narashino CC, par 70, 7,041 yards
Sony Open in Hawaii, Waialae CC, par 70, 7,044 yards

Two of the four shortest courses on the PGA Tour by the scorecard are part of the three that host the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which makes sense given the format.

The Travelers Championship, which has given up the lowest score in PGA Tour history (58), is the third shortest course.

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How Long is an LPGA Golf Course?

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) stands as one of the longest-running and most prestigious women’s professional golf tours in the world. Stretching back to 1950, the LPGA has showcased the talents of countless female golfers on a variety of courses worldwide. The length of these courses is an integral component that impacts the strategy and challenges of the game and it seems to be increasing year on year . We take a look at how long is an LGPA Golf Course.

An average golf course on the LPGA Tour typically spans between 6,200 to 6,600 yards. However, the exact length varies based on the tournament and course design. As female golfers continue to evolve in skill and strength, some courses have extended course length even further to over 6,800 yards.

This article looks into the specifics of LPGA course lengths, give some examples of the most famous course lengths on the tour, why course length does and doesn’t matter and looks at why these lengths seem to be increasing year by year.

How Long is an LPGA Golf Course. LPGA course length

Why Course Length Matters

Course length plays an important role in the game of golf, though its not the be all and end all of your game. It determines the strategic approach players must adopt, influencing club selection, shot type, and risk-reward decisions on each hole.

A longer course can increase the challenge, demanding not only power but precision, as hazards and obstacles become more prominent.
Shorter courses might focus on accuracy over distance, requiring careful and skillful shots . Course length can level the playing field, ensuring that players employ a mix of skills to complete them effectively.

For spectators, varying course lengths offer different experiences, from awe-inspiring drives on long par-5s to delicate and skillful approaches on shorter par-3s.

LPGA Course Length

LPGA courses represent the very top of course design made for the world’s best female golfers. Over the years, these courses have evolved, both in design and length, reflecting the increasing skill and athleticism of LPGA players.

Average Length of LPGA Courses Today: According to the LPGA website The average length of LPGA courses sits around 6,200 to 6,600 yards. This range can vary based on the event and the specific course chosen for that year and the length of LGPA courses have been steadily increasing over time to over 6,800 yards in 2023.

Factors Influencing the Length of an LPGA Course :

We take a look at some of the factors that can influence that average LGPA course length below.

Player Skillset : As female golfers continue to break records and push boundaries, courses have adapted to offer the right balance of challenge and playability.
Course Design and Topography : Natural elements, from water hazards to elevation changes, play a role in determining course length. Designers have to ensure holes maximize these features while maintaining fair play.
Weather and Conditions : In regions with strong winds, like links courses in the UK, length can be deceptive. A shorter course can play much longer in heavy wind, and vice versa.
Comparison to PGA Course Lengths : While PGA Tour courses often stretch beyond 7,000 yards, it’s essential to note that pure length isn’t the sole determinant of difficulty . Many LPGA courses, though shorter in yardage, can present design elements, placements of hazards, and challenging greens that test every aspect of a player’s game.

Examples of LGPA Courses:

Kia Classic at Aviara Golf Club : This LPGA event’s course in Carlsbad, California, plays at just over 6,609 yards, with water features coming into play on nearly every hole, adding both beauty and challenge.
ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills Country Club : Known for its iconic leap into Poppie’s Pond by the champion, the course plays around 6,763 yards, testing players with its length and tricky green complexes.

Notable LPGA Courses and Their Lengths

The LPGA tour just like the PGA showcases a range of diverse courses that challenge players’ skills and offer spectators a visual treat. With all courses its not just about that power drive and certainly not just about course length or time to play.

Below is a table that outlines some of the more famous courses and lengths in recent years on the LPGA circuit:

What are the Longest LPGA Courses?

Two of the longest courses played on the LPGA Tour currently are, of the majors at least, Walton Heath in London, UK at 6881 yards in 2023 which hosted the Woman’s British Open (now the Woman’s Open), and the Jack Nicklaus designed course at The Club at Carlton Woods at 6881 yards which hosted the 2023 Chevron Championship.

These courses highlight the narrowing gap between the LGPA and the PGA in terms of distance.

Significance of Course Length in the LPGA

In professional golf, course length is more than how much power you use to drive. It influences the whole round of golf, especially in the LPGA, where course design and layout cater to the skill sets of female professionals.

We take a look of why course length matters in the LGPA and for all golfers here.

Club Selection : The course length dictates which clubs players opt for, both off the tee and for approach shots. A longer hole might see players choosing drivers or fairway woods, while a shorter one could have them strategizing with irons.
Risk vs. Reward : Longer holes, especially par-5s, can offer opportunities for aggressive players to reach the green in two shots , but often with added risk . Deciding when to play safe or go for glory becomes a pivotal aspect of the game.
Endurance : Longer courses can be more taxing, requiring players to maintain concentration and energy levels across extended yardages.
Diversity of Skills : While longer courses might demand powerful drives, they also often feature intricate bunker placements, water hazards, and green designs. This means players need a balanced skill set, combining distance with precision.
Variety for Spectators : Different course lengths provide varied viewing experiences. While powerful drives on long holes can be awe-inspiring, the delicate precision required on shorter holes, especially par-3s, has its own charm.
Narrative and Drama : The course length, combined with its design, can generate moments of tension, excitement, and unpredictability, vital for fan engagement.

With where is the best place to sit – or stand – to attend a golfing tournament we have a break down of hole types and locations here to give you some ideas

Why are LPGA Courses Getting Longer?

The progressive increase in the length of LPGA courses is a recognition of the advancements and developments both in the sport and its athletes.

Athleticism : Today’s LPGA players are athletes, just like all other elite sports people. Their physical conditioning and fitness levels are at an all-time high . training regimens have increased strength, enabling more powerful swings. This has meant the need for courses that challenge this increased driving distance.
Advancements in Equipment : Over the past few decades, golf equipment, particularly clubs and balls, has seen significant technological progress . Clubs are now designed with materials and configurations that allow for optimized swing speeds and trajectories. The modern golf ball, with its advanced layering and dimple patterns, is engineered for greater distance and reduced drag.
Deepening Talent Pool : As golf grows globally, the talent pool deepens. With more players competing at elite levels, there’s a constant push to set new standards. This increase in top level players means a need for longer courses that test and challenge these abilities.
Course Design : The philosophy behind golf course design has evolved. Previously, courses were designed for the average golfer. But with professional tournaments in mind, designers are now including longer fairways, strategically placed hazards, and varied greens to provide a challenge to professionals.
Maintaining Tournament Integrity : As players achieve greater distances, it’s important for the game that courses provide a realistic challenge. It shouldn’t be just about power but also about strategy, accuracy, and adaptability . Lengthening courses ensure that players have to use every club in their bag and think critically about each shot.

Are PGA Courses Still Longer than LPGA Courses?

PGA Tour courses are generally longer than LPGA courses, at the moment at least. On average, PGA courses can stretch beyond 7,000 yards, while LPGA courses, as of 2023, hover between 6,500 to just under 6,900 yards for most events.

This difference in length stems from several factors, including the historical design of golf courses and physiological differences between male and female players.

Remember though, that length is just one part of a course’s difficulty. Both LPGA and PGA courses present unique challenges, demanding a complete skill set from all the players.

Golf Course Lengths over time

Historically, golf courses were not as carefully measured and standardized as they are today. Course lengths changed with the times, influenced by a many factors including advancements in equipment, ball design, and athletic conditioning.

Over the Years : In the early days of golf, particularly in its birthplace of Scotland, courses were significantly shorter . This was mainly due to the equipment of the era; hickory-shafted clubs and feather-filled balls didn’t travel as far as today’s technologically advanced counterparts.
Comparisons between Men’s and Women’s Courses : Traditionally, courses designed for women were shorter. For instance, i n the 1970s, the average LPGA tour course was around 6,000 yards, while PGA courses were upwards of 6,800 yards . This gap has been narrowing as women golfers have displayed increasing power and skill.
Notable Shifts with Technological Advancements : One example can be found in the transformation of Augusta National, home to the Masters. Originally designed in the 1930s with a length of about 6,700 yards , it has been extended multiple times over the decades, to 6,925 yards in 2001, especially as players began hitting longer with the introduction of metal woods and modern golf balls. Augusta National now has a length of over 7,475 yards.

Standard Course Length for Professional Golf

Professional golf courses, regardless of the hosting tour, adhere to a standardized layout of 18 holes . The length of these holes determines the course’s total yardage, but it’s the par system that often gives an indication of the course’s nature and difficulty.

Overview of an 18-Hole Course : A standard 18-hole golf course typically comprises a mix of par-3, par-4, and par-5 holes. Par-3 holes usually range from 100 to 250 yards, par-4s between 250 and 470 yards, and par-5s between 470 and 690 yards.
The Par System and Course Length : A golf course’s “par” is the total of the pars of its individual holes, which generally lies between 70 and 72 for professional courses. The length of the course is directly related to this system. For instance, a course with more par-5s will generally be longer, while one with a greater number of par-3s will be shorter.
Pebble Beach Golf Links : Known for its breathtaking coastal views, Pebble Beach is a par-72 course with a total length of 6,828 yards from the championship tees.
TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course) : Home to the Players Championship, this par-72 course stretches to 7,245 yards, known for its iconic 17th hole island green.

While these lengths provide a general guideline, we should recognize that course length is only one of many factors that decide how challenging a golf course is.

Elevation changes, hazards, wind conditions, and green designs can significantly influence how a course plays, no matter what its total length is.

The length of an LPGA course, from 6,200 all the way to 6,800 and over yards, shapes the strategies players adopt, impacts the drama of tournaments, and offers fans a range of experiences – from long drives to intricate putting scenarios.

As female golfers continue to elevate their game, course lengths and designs have adapted, reflecting the evolving challenges and skills showcased on the LPGA tour.

https://www.lpga.com/contact-us/faq
https://golficity.com/why-you-should-be-watching-the-lpga-tour/
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Golf Club Distances w/ Chart | Averages for Am & Pro Players

Last Updated on July 25, 2021

Distance is critical in golf. As golfers, we're always striving for more distance off the tee and consistent yardage gaps between the rest of our clubs.

In this guide, we'll break down how far amateur golfers of various skill levels and swing speeds hit each of their clubs to give you an idea of how you stack up. We've also included PGA and LPGA carry distance averages to see how you compare with the pros.

After that, we'll cover what factors affect your golf club distances and explain how to find out how far you hit each club.

Golf Club Distances Table

The table below shows how far golfers of various skill levels and swing speeds hit each club.

We've included PGA and LPGA carry distance averages of professional golfers that TrackMan gathered .

For amateur male golfers, we've split them into groups of "short," "mid," and "long" hitters. All distances refer to carry distance (distance until the ball first hits the ground) rather than total distance (carry and roll).

While TrackMan gathered extremely accurate data for LPGA and PGA carry distance averages, good data for amateurs is harder to come by.

There's a massive gap in skill-level and swing speeds among amateur golfers. Golfers of various handicaps also achieve their handicaps in a variety of ways. A 5-handicap golfer could be a super fast swinger in their athletic prime or a senior golfer who has lost distance over the years.

For our amateur short, mid, and long hitting male amateur distances, we relied on the limited available large sample data and what we've seen personally from loads of amateur golfers.

Because these yardages are for golfers of all ages, junior, middle-aged, and especially senior golfers may find themselves with distances closer to the "Short Hitting Male Amateurs" column. Most young adult to middle-aged male golfers should carry the ball to at least the "Mid-Length Male Amateurs" distances, while faster swingers of these ages can reach the distances in the "Long Male Amateurs" column.

Lastly, aside from LPGA professionals, we didn't include other female golfers in our distance table. There's even less data available for amateur female golfers than for male amateurs. We've also found a more considerable disparity in how far female recreational players hit the ball. Basically, we weren't confident we could provide any accurate/valuable information for female amateurs' distances.

What Affects Distance in Golf

There are a lot of factors that influence your golf club distances.

Club speed is the most significant factor in determining distance .

To illustrate this, look at the correlation of club head speed vs carry distance for PGA Tour players in the scatter plot below:

2020 PGA Tour Players Average Club Head Speed vs Average Carry Distance

Assuming all other things are equal, more swing speed means more energy that can be transferred from the club to the golf ball, resulting in higher ball speed. Higher ball speed means the ball will travel a further distance.

Factors like impact location on the club face, club path, spin rate, and launch angle also play a large part in how far a ball travels.

Impact Location Golf Iron and Driver Sweet Spot

An impact out of the "sweet spot" of your irons or woods will lead to a higher smash factor than strikes that are too low, too high, off the toe, or off the heel.

Smash factor is a calculation of how well you converted club speed into ball speed (Smash Factor = Ball Speed / Club Speed).

In particular, strikes out of the heel and low strikes can kill distance with the driver.

Strike Location Affect on Ball Speed, Spin Rate, and Distance

If you struggle to consistently hit the ball with or near the sweet spot of your club face, you'll have issues with the consistency of your yardages.

Spin Rate and Club Path

Spin rate plays a large role in how far you'll hit the ball and the shapes of your shots.

A lot of golfers put too much spin on the ball with their driver either because of too much club loft, poor strikes (bad impact location), or poor club face control (the direction the club face is aimed relative to your swing path).

If you feel you're hitting the ball well but should be getting a few more yards, work with a club-fitter to see if your driver has too much loft. The ideal spin rate depends on your club speed , but too much spin will cost you yards.

Slices and hooks are caused by the club face being aimed too open ( slice ) or too closed ( hook ) relative to the club path. This can lead to both too much spin and the ball's spin axis being too strongly left-to-right or right-to-left.

If your club face is open (aimed right) relative to your club path, this can both cause too much spin and will cause the ball to spin too left-to-right on its spin axis . You'll lose a lot of yards from a slice as the ball travels left-to-right rather than straight.

Launch Angle

For each club, there is an optimal amount of spin and an optimal launch angle. Launch angle is the angle of a golf ball's initial ascent relative to the ground.

Launching the ball too high or too low will cost you distance.

While launch angle problems could be due to your swing, they can also be caused by playing the wrong clubs for your swing. If you feel like you're hitting the ball too high or too low, work with a club-fitter to dial in your clubs.

Factors Out of Your Control

There are also factors out of your control that can affect distance, like temperature and altitude.

Every 10 degrees that the temperature rises can easily lead to a couple of yards of additional ball flight with a driver.

If you drive the ball 240 yards at sea level, you will carry it around 255 yards in Denver's mile high altitude.

How to Find Your Distances

If you're looking to better understand how far you hit each club, we'd recommend purchasing a launch monitor or finding a range with a launch monitor.

To get accurate distances, you'll also want to make sure that you're hitting the same golf balls you normally play on the course.

Many golf ranges have cheap, inconsistent, or even balls purposefully made not to fly as far as normal golf balls.

Your typical range ball can easily cost you 10+ yards with the driver, while a limited flight range ball can lose you 30+ yards of distance with driver compared to a premium golf ball.

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Golf Club Distance Charts By Age, Gender And Skill Level

Last Updated on January 9, 2024 by Matt Greene

How far should you hit the ball?

How do you compare to others?

It's always good to know that age, gender, and skillset are the biggest differentiators so you don't make unrealistic comparisons.

I did so much research on this article to bring you the most up to date information to help you quickly skim the tables and charts about golf distance.

My golf distance charts show the key elements that influence how far you can hit each golf club:

Swing speed
Smash factor
Quality and optimization of equipment

These factors are all heavily influenced by your physiology, skill, age and strength or flexibility levels. Very often, you can optimize each area, with some training or coaching or both.

Golf Club Distance Chart by Swing Speed

Swing speed is a major determining factor the golf club distances. It is not the only factor but if 100 people strike the ball the same, the fastest swings will carry the ball further.

Most golfers are around 90 mph driver swing speed.
The average swing speed on the PGA Tour is around 114 mph.
150 mph is the top range and only long drive competitors will be swinging toward this range.

NOTE: The swing speed at the top of each column is driver swing speed. We use this as a general gauge to estimate the distance of each club thereafter.

How do I swing the club faster?

You've compared yourself to the numbers in the chart but you want to hit it longer. Almost everyone does and there are 3 ways to swing the club faster:

Get lessons on proper mechanics with a professional swing coach. They will utilize all your physiological elements and limitations to the maximum, as well as help you hit the ball in the center of the club face. You can add as much as 10 mph to your driver swing speed with correct technique.
Get stronger and more mobile in the gym. Strength training plus mobility work with a trainer will increase your swing speed guaranteed. You will have a wider range of motion in your muscles and your strength will 100% translate into more speed. You can add 10-20mph to your swing depending on how advanced your strength and mobility currently is.
Get lighter golf equipment fitted to your swing. Lighter shafts can help increase your swing speed 2-5 mph.

These are the only ways to improve swing speed but the MOST important factor is the coaching and practice so that you can HIT THE SWEET SPOT of the golf club.

The center strike means you send as much energy into the ball as possible and we measure how well you hit the ball using the Smash Factor.

What is Smash Factor ?

Smash Factor is ball speed divided by club speed.

For example: 150 mph ball speed / 100 mph swing speed = 1.50 Smash Factor

The number calculated gives a ratio to show how much energy is moved from the club head to the golf ball at impact.

Low Smash Factor numbers mean less energy is transferred, while higher Smash Factor numbers mean you send more energy from your golf club into the golf ball.

The optimum Smash Factor number for excellent ball striking with the driver is 1.50 Smash Factor.

Ideal Smash Factor for every club

The PGA Tour golfers are the best in the world so we can use their averages to assume the best smash factors in the world. If you can attain these smash factor numbers as stated by Trackman , you are striking the ball as good as you possibly can.

Note how the smash factor decreases as the loft increases.

Skill level affects smash factor

Distance is affected by the swing speed but MAINLY the quality of the strike related to that swing speed.

In other words, how close to the center of the club face you hit the ball will determine how your swing speed power is transferred into the golf ball.

If you employ a swing coach, they will assist you in hitting the ball in the middle of the face, or closer to the middle.

That will take your existing swing speed and optimize it by being more efficient with where you hit the ball on the club.

The measurement we use for the quality of your strike is called Smash Factor.

Equipment affects swing speed and smash factor

The pros on tour have optimized equipment to their specific technique and skill level as well as body shape and strength.

The same swing speed in a PGA Tour pro will send the ball much further than an amateur golfer of higher handicap who has a similar swing speed.

The PGA Tour players technique is perfect so if you and a Tour pro hit the ball the same, the pro would still hit the ball further because their equipment has been customized to their exact swing.

A fitting can help to optimize your strength and swing for more distance.

Average Golf Club Distance For Male Golfers By Skill Level

From 'Good Golfer' onward, the 2 iron down to 5 iron should improve as confidence and technique improve, thus bringing more swing speed.

Beginner Golfer: New to the game - first 6-12 months.

Average Golfer: 15-24 handicap .

Good Golfer: 6-14 handicap.

Excellent Golfer: Below 6 handicap.

Swing speed charts by age and gender

Swing speed is a vital factor in determining the distance you hit the ball.

The swing speed, with a strike near the middle of the club face makes the ball go further.

A poor strike with high swing speed will go less distance.

A pro golfer swinging at the same speed as an amateur gets wildly different distance numbers because they hit the ball in the center of the face often.

Therefore, if you want to improve your distance with the same swing speed, you can work on improving your strike closer to the middle of the face.

Average swing speed by age and gender chart

In this chart we show the 50th percentile driver swing speed for each gender and age range according to the research done by TPI .

Driver Swing Speed Chart by Golf Skill Level

Confidence and skill make a big difference when hitting the driver efficiently and out the sweet spot.

Beginners with a driver will be more tentative and have less effective mechanics.

Mid handicappers will be more adept at the driver because of experience or lessons.

Advanced golfers swing with confidence from hitting a lot of golf balls and taking lessons with a pro.

PGA Tour golfers have optimized every aspect of the game with the driver and are the very tip of the spear.

Is a 250 yard drive good?

Yes it is very good. According to Arccos and Shotscope , between 15% and 31% of golfers hit 250 yards or more.

Here is a video of me breaking it down.

Ball Speed To Club Head Speed Chart for Driver

The ball speed off the driver face is dependent on the strike.

If your strike or Smash Factor is good, you will hit the ball further with your swing speed than the same speed with a bad strike.

Below, we take the club head speed and use a Smash Factor of around 1.42 which is 0.08 away from a perfect strike.

Ball Speed To Club Head Speed Chart for Driver

What swing speed hits 250 yard drives?

A swing speed of around 105 mph with the driver, and ball speed of around 150 mph will produce a 250 yard drive.

Ball Speed To Club Head Speed for 7 iron

A 7 iron optimal smash factor is 1.33. That is the PGA Tour average. Remember for the driver it is 1.50

The ball speed off the 7 iron is determined by the swing speed and smash factor.

As the clubs get shorter, the ideal smash factor actually changes.

What distance will you get from a 7 iron at every speed of swing?

What swing speed hits the 7 iron 150 yards?

A swing speed of around 76 mph with the 7 iron, ball speed of around 105 mph and dynamic loft of 21° will produce a 150 yard carry shot.

Golf Club Distance Charts Other Important Factors

Every club has a different loft and more loft goes less distance, while less loft goes longer distance in combination with longer golf shafts.

Driver usually goes furthest while the lob wedge around 60 degrees goes the shortest.

The golf clubs of today go a lot further since the manufacturers started creating cavity back golf clubs in combination with lower lofts for the same clubs.

Every club is between 2 and 5 degrees lower in loft in the current day, which automatically increases distance by up to 15 yards per iron compared to prior times. Driver lofts cannot get much lower as people will not be able to hit them. In order to hit a driver with a loft below 9 degrees, your swing speed needs to be incredibly fast.

An important factor to note for slower swing speeds, is that a higher lofted fairway wood or higher lofted driver can actually GAIN you distance because low lofted clubs are harder to launch at slower swings. Most golfers should be playing fairway woods with a loft that does not go below 16 or 17 degrees .

The club heads are bigger for all golf clubs in modern times with much larger sweet spots. With the addition of lighter shafts in both the irons and the woods, the ball speeds and swing speeds are higher as well. Check out our article on the flex of shafts in the current game.

Golf Club Distance Charts of PGA Tour Golfers

Why are modern golfers longer than prior generations, physical fitness.

Most modern pros are in the gym multiple times per week and in the physio offices often. In prior generations during the Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus days, the pros were regular people who even used to enjoy a smoke and a drink on the course.

Bryson Dechambeau is an example of someone who bulked up in order to hit it further and it made a big difference. The side effects of that can be disputed as he has slimmed down again.

Tiger Woods was one of the first modern day pros to begin working in the gym. His huge transformation to a big, strong guy inspired a whole new generation of golfers and now most up and coming pros are hitting the ball longer than even this generation of pros.

Club advancements

Lofts have changed and the lower lofts in irons will change how far the ball appears to go with the same 'number' iron.

A 7 iron from the 80s may have had 40° of loft while a current 7 iron can have as low as 28° of loft. That 12 degree difference makes a 20-30 yard difference in distance.

The other important factor especially with the woods and drivers, is the materials of the clubs. The drivers now are lightweight titanium and carbon, with graphite shafts, optimized for huge distance.

That alone makes an astonishing difference when we compare to the old persimmon wooden clubs and heavy steel shafts.

The golf ball changed a lot with the release of the Pro V1. Golf balls just went further than ever before.

They spin less, they go straighter and they have advanced to a point that the ruling authorities of golf want to make them go shorter to preserve the golf courses.

If the pros hit the ball too long, they need to extend the golf courses, and there is a lkmited amount fo land available.

The balata golf ball is significantly shorter than the current urethane covered solid core golf balls they use today on the Tour.

You can compare how you shape up against the average golfer, the senior golfer, the pro golfer and the advanced golfer.

The key though is to understand your own game and your distances so you can more effectively plan your game and piece together a good golf score. When you fully understand and accept your distances that you hit the golf ball, you will score better.

For the pros and the advanced players, the distance they hit each club is not a matter of ego. It's a matter of 'which club gets the job done?' and they use that.

You can too, whichever distance you hit it.

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Golf compendium, yearly champions tour scoring average leaders.

The name of Bernhard Langer appears often on the list of Champions Tour scoring leaders

The List: Champions Tour Scoring Leaders

Popular posts from this blog, golfers with the most wins in major championships, 2024 masters tournament winner and final scores.

24 Famous Golfers Who Were Photographed in the Nude

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Can Korda Top The Field at The Club at Carlton Woods For Five In a Row?

Nothing fazing nelly korda at the chevron championship.

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Tournament News

Let’s step back from all of the Nelly Korda conversations and take a good look at this major championship venue. After 51 years in Rancho Mirage, Calif., The Chevron Championship moved to The Woodlands, Texas, and The Club at Carlton Woods last year. A 36-hole facility just north of Houston, this immense property has hosted a number of premier golf championships.

One of those championships was the 67th U.S. Junior Amateur, won by Will Zalatoris back in 2014. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course bears the name of the greatest major winner of all time. Forget Korda’s streak of four straight victories for a moment and begin to consider what it will take any competitor in the 132-player field to win. The par-72 layout plays to 6,889 yards. It was the longest LPGA venue last year and will certainly sit at or near the top again in 2024.

Each of the top 25 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are in this field, and with a $7.9 million purse and a major championship title on the line, who can blame them? The top 65 and ties will play the weekend looking for a first-place check of $1.2 million and a quick dip in the lake adjacent to the 18th green.

Jack Nicklaus designed the course in 2001, and it has 62 bunkers and nine holes where water comes into play. Some of those bunkers are as big as a par 3. The greens are an average of 6,800 square feet and possess unique slopes that partition them into distinct sections. The course itself covers an immense area. Walking between holes will keep these players expending energy through every step of the season’s first major championship.

The GCSAA report reveals a course in major championship shape. The Houston region has been warm, and the 2023 renovation has settled nicely. The forecast calls for temperatures in the 80s until Sunday, and a breeze will be blowing in the mid-teens with expectations for a rainy front to roll through on Saturday evening. Sunday’s closing round will be cooler and the windiest test of all four rounds.

Attending the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2014 provided many lessons about this venue. Just because the course is long, doesn’t mean length is the primary focus. If you look at the rounds and results of the top 10 from a year ago, their ability to produce success reveals a blueprint to contend in years to come.

This is a complete tee-to-green affair. The top 10 from a year ago gained an average of 7 plus strokes on the field. Nelly Korda leads the 2024 field in strokes gained tee to green. Others in close proximity are Megan Khang, Alison Lee and Rose Zhang.
Strokes gained approach is the second category that will catch your attention from the 2023 contenders. Greens in regulation in a major are a valuable commodity. Korda, Nasa Hataoka and Lydia Ko are the best strokes gained approach and greens in regulation players to watch this week.
If length is a key, how can we differentiate the long hitters? Combine the scoring average and strokes gained off the tee analytics. Korda, Patty Tavatanakit, Brooke Henderson and Charley Hull are the top players available on the board.
These greens are designed in sections, so if you hit it in the wrong quadrant, it will be tremendously hard to two-putt. Major championships are decided with the flat stick, and last year's Chevron Championship was no different. Don't forget to select great putters like Angel Yin, Hyo Joo Kim, Jin Young Ko and Sei Young Kim. Makes sense really, as Angel Yin lost to another great putte,r Lilia Vu, in the playoff last year.

Are there any other attributes that you should be looking at? Players are going to make mistakes, so avoiding bogeys with excellent around-the-green acumen will be key. Once again, Korda tops this field, but alongside her are Tavatanakit, Leona Maguire and Lydia Ko.

That’s obviously a list of major champions and elite young players, and there has to be a way to narrow all of these contenders down. Nelly gets the nod in so many categories, but she can be beaten. Prior to her winning four in a row, there were other winners this year, as (Lydia) Ko, Tavatanakit and Hannah Green all secured a victory earlier this spring.

The last factor to seriously consider is par-4 and -5 scoring, with par 4s weighing more than par 5s (70-30). Unsurprisingly, Korda leads the field, and those quick to follow her are Xiyu Lin and Hull. Now you’re getting an idea of how to break this all down. Individual stats come together in analytics like par-4 scoring, and by combining certain skills, we can see the winner’s picture a little clearer. It might look a lot like Korda, but based on this research, pay attention to Tavatanakit, Sei Young Kim, Henderson and just a few others.

We only get a couple of tournaments with a venue like this each year, so definitely pick some players for yourself. The action is going to be entertaining and will be even more engaging if you back some players to win.

Keith Stewart is an award-winning PGA Professional. He covers the LPGA and PGA TOUR for Golf Digest, The Sporting News, Sports Grid, and the two tours. If you are looking to raise your golf acumen and love inside information about the game, check out his weekly newsletter called Read The Line .

2024 Paris Olympics: Gold Medalist Nelly Korda Looking Forward to Olympic Games With Just Under 100 Days to Go

Lauren Coughlin Holds First-Round Lead at The Chevron Championship

Nelly Korda Within Two of Lead After Thursday 68 at The Chevron Championship

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Tune in to watch as the LPGA Tour tees it up for their first major championship of the 2024 season. The Club at Carlton Woods plays host to The Chevron Championship. The 132-player field, highlighted by 10 of the top 10 in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, will compete for a $7.9 million purse.

2024 RBC Heritage prop bet picks and PGA Tour predictions

T he top players in the world won't have much of a break following the Masters because up next on the schedule is the 2024 RBC Heritage , a signature event with a loaded field. The 1st round from Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C., begins on Thursday.

Below, we search for the best value prop bets among the 2024 RBC Heritage odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions .

Scottie Scheffler , fresh off his Masters victory, remains the No. 1 player in this week's Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. Xander Schauffele , who's also in the field, comes in at No. 2, followed by Rory McIlroy , Ludvig Aberg and Patrick Cantlay – all of whom are playing the RBC Heritage. Last year's champion Matt Fitzpatrick is Golfweek's 20th-ranked player.

Harbour Town is one of the shorter courses on tour and emphasizes accuracy off the tee and ball-striking with irons. The greens are also some of the smallest on the PGA Tour, so it's essential for players to be accurate when approaching the greens. It's a par 71 and 7,213 yards, slightly longer than it was last year.

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RBC Heritage – Top-5 picks

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook ; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Patrick Cantlay (+300)

Cantlay is Mr. Top 5 at the RBC Heritage. Since 2017, he's played this event 6 times. He finished inside the top 5 on 4 occasions, missed the cut once and came in 7th another time. If there's ever a tournament to bet Cantlay to finish in the top 5, it's this one.

Collin Morikawa (+350)

Morikawa has yet to finish in the top 5 at this event, but he came close in 2021 when he came in 7th. Since then, he's had finishes of 26th and 31st, proving to be a good fit at Harbour Town with his accuracy off the tee and iron play.

RBC Heritage – Top-10 picks

Tommy fleetwood (+160).

Fleetwood has notched back-to-back top-10 finishes in his last 2 starts, including a tie for 3rd at the Masters. He's finished 15th, 10th and 25th in 3 of his 4 career starts at this event (MC in 2021), so he's played well at Harbour Town in the past. He could legitimately win this tournament on Sunday.

Shane Lowry (+300)

Lowry is poised to bounce back after a dreadful putting performance at the Masters. Harbour Town is a ball-strikers course and Lowry ranks among the best on tour this season. He's finished in the top 10 here in 3 of his last 5 starts.

Cam Davis (+375)

Davis still has long odds despite his course history (7th, 3rd, 25th) and 12th-place finish at the Masters. His length won't be a big advantage this week because it's not a bombers course, but he's played well here in the past and should do so again.

Other T10 contenders ( in order from longest odds to shortest ):

Russell Henley (+250)
Ludvig Aberg (+125)

RBC Heritage – Top-20 picks

J.t. poston (+150).

Poston has been feast or famine at the RBC Heritage. He finished 3rd in 2022, 8th in 2020 and 6th in 2019, but he missed the cut in his 2 other starts in 2023 and 2021. He's one of the best putters on tour (even if his numbers don't reflect that this year) and has the course history to finish near the top again this week.

Corey Conners (+120)

In the last 4 years, Conners has finished 31st, 12th, 4th and 21st. He seemingly loves this course and has had success here in the past, and we're probably getting a little bit of a discount after a disappointing week at the Masters.

Matthieu Pavon (+170)

Pavon has proved he can compete with the best players in the world, winning at Torrey Pines earlier this year. In his last 2 starts this season, he's finished 5th and 12th, so his current form is good despite his lack of course experience (no previous starts here).

RBC Heritage – Matchups

Suggested play is golfer in bold .

Cameron Young (-120) vs. Jordan Spieth (-105)

Spieth looked out of sorts at the Masters and he's now missed the cut in 3 of his last 4 starts. He won here in 2022 and lost in a playoff last year, but he's not playing nearly as well right now. Give me Young, who finished 3rd here in 2022.

RBC Heritage – Top Canadian

Corey conners (+200).

Conners is the favorite to be the top Canadian, ahead of Adam Hadwin (+300), Mackenzie Hughes and Nick Taylor (both +400). Conners is the best course fit and has the better track record at Harbour Town.

RBC Heritage – Top Australian

Cam davis (+110).

Davis and Jason Day (-135) are the only two Australians in the field, yet it's Davis who's the underdog. Day hasn't played here since 2020 and he missed the cut that year, while Davis' course history is noted above.

RBC Heritage – First-round leader

Patrick cantlay (+2200).

Cantlay ranks 2nd only to Scheffler in Round 1 scoring average this season (67.5) and he's now coming to a course where he's finished 7th or better in 5 of his last 6 starts.

Xander Schauffele (+1600)

Schauffele is on fire right now, with his worst finish in his last 5 starts being 25th. Otherwise, he's had 4 top-5 finishes. He's 9th in 1st-round scoring average this year and opened with a 67 here last season.

More expert prop bet predictions

Group c winner: cameron young (+320).

In this group are Russell Henley (+333), Si Woo Kim (+333), Spieth (+375) and Sahith Theegala (+400). Young is the slight favorite and understandably so with the way he's playing right now coming out of the Masters.

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For more sports betting picks and tips , check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW .

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This article originally appeared on USA Today Sportsbookwire: 2024 RBC Heritage prop bet picks and PGA Tour predictions

Apr 17, 2022; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Patrick Cantlay lines up a putt on the 18th green during the final round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

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Pga championship 101: history, qualifications and this year at valhalla golf club.

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Take a look at some answers to frequently asked questions about the PGA Championship:

Still holding down the second spot?

Correct. The PGA Championship moved from the major finale in August to the second of the season in May, in 2019. Then 2020 came and the golf calendar was reorganized because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PGA was contested again in August, after the U.S. Open and ahead of the Masters. Things returned to order in ’21 and, for the foreseeable future, the PGA of America’s crown jewel sits in its spring spot.

Wait, isn’t this the championship of the PGA Tour?

Sigh. No, this is not the championship of the PGA Tour. That would be considered The Players Championship. This is the championship of the PGA of America.

Why the need to designate “of America”? What else would it be – the PGA of Timbuktu?

Obviously we need a history lesson here. We’ll keep it as brief as possible. There used to be one PGA – the “of America” one, which was founded in 1916. In 1968, action was begun that resulted in an eventual split into the PGA of America and the PGA Tour.

Why the split?

The original golf pros were the people who work at golf clubs. You know, the ones who sell us logoed ball markers and take our green fees when they’re not trying to cure our slices by giving us lessons. The better players among them also played the national tournament circuit.

As golf grew in popularity and tournaments became more lucrative, a class of pros evolved who were tournament players first and foremost. If they held a club job, it was often ceremonial.

Over time, more of these pros discarded the idea of working at a club at all, instead devoting full time to tournament play.

OK, I follow you so far.

So now you had one organization, the PGA of America, trying to represent the interests of two entirely different types of “golf pros.” No surprise that the root of the dispute was money, specifically what to do with what was becoming a windfall in rights fees from the TV networks. The tournament players, a group that included Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, wanted that money to go to increased tournament purses, while the club pros wanted it to go into the PGA’s general fund. Eventually the touring pros broke off on their own. The PGA of America remained in place, representing the traditional “club” pros.

If the PGA of America was no longer going to represent the interests of tournament players, why does it still have a championship? And why is it a major?

It wanted to keep the PGA Championship alive for many reasons, not the least of which is that it generates considerable revenue. As for your second question, that is a big ol’ can of worms for another day. We will say this, however. For most of the PGA Championship’s existence, it has had a justifiable status as a major. Whether that will ever change, whether it will ever be replaced in the major rotation by The Players Championship is anyone’s guess. But golf is a game that respects – and clings to – tradition.

Anything else about its history that sets it apart?

The most obvious thing is that from its inception in 1916 through 1957, the PGA was a match-play tournament. It has been periodically suggested that it return to match play, but that is not considered likely. Prior to the shift to May in 2019, it was previously held during this month in 1949, when Sam Snead won.

We get the May thing, but why no longer match play?

Worst-case scenario – all the highly seeded “name” players get eliminated before the final. If you’re a TV network that has spent big bucks to televise this event, do you want two guys you’re never heard of in the final?

Speaking of the final, what’s the name of the winner’s trophy?

It’s called the Wanamaker Trophy, and it was named after Rodman Wanamaker, a department store magnate who was influential in the formation of the PGA.

How does a player qualify for this major?

There are 13 ways, based on the 2023 criteria (will be updated when PGA releases full 2024 criteria):

All former winners of the PGA Championship
Winners of the last five Masters (2019-23)
Winners of the last five U.S. Opens (2018-22)
Winners of the last five Open Championships (2017-22) [Note: Canceled in 2020]
Winners of the last three Players Championships (2021-23)
The top three on the OWGR’s International Federation Ranking List as of April 24, 2023
Winner of 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
The top 15 finishers and ties from the 2022 PGA Championship
The top 20 finishers from the 2023 PGA Professional Championship
The top 70 players who are eligible and have earned the most PGA Championship points from the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson through the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship (ending May 7, 2023)
Playing members of the last named U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams (2021), provided they remain in the top 100 on the Official World Golf Rankings as of May 7, 2023
Winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored or approved tournaments whose victories are considered official, from the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge through the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson
If necessary to complete the 156-person field, those players beyond the top 70 players who are eligible and who have earned the most PGA Championship points from the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson through the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship (ending May 7, 2023) in order of their position on such a list

Are LIV Golf players eligible?

Yes, as long as they meet the above criteria.

I probably should have asked this a lot earlier, but what does PGA stand for?

Professional Golfers’ Association. Remember, in the early years of the 20th century, pros were looked down upon. It was only natural that they band together under one umbrella organization.

Let’s get to the tournament itself. The Masters has Jack Nicklaus winning at age 46 in 1986 and Tiger Woods’ remarkable turns in ’97 and ’19. The U.S. Open has 20-year-old Francis Ouimet upsetting two of the top British pros in 1913 and Arnold Palmer’s charge in 1960. The Open Championship has the Duel in the Sun in 1977 and Woods destroying the field in 2000. So, what have been the most memorable PGAs?

It would be hard to beat a then-unknown John Daly winning in 1991. He got into the tournament as ninth – ninth! – alternate, then torched the course with a combination of absurdly long driving and incredible touch around the greens. Then there was Bob Tway holing a final-hole bunker shot to beat Greg Norman in 1986 – something we didn’t yet know would become a trend. And who could have predicted that the player who would give Woods his toughest test would be one of his former junior-golf rivals, Bob May, who did everything except beat him in 2000? And, of course, there was 2021, when Phil Mickelson, at age 51, became the oldest-ever major champion.

What happened last year?

Brooks Koepka won his third Wanamaker trophy at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York. The LIV Golf player shot 72-66-66-67 to win by two shots over Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler.

Who has won the most PGA Championships?

Nicklaus and Walter Hagen have each won five times. Woods has won four times. Woods has twice won back-to-back in this major, in 1999-2000 and 2006-07.

Where are they playing?

Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The venue is owned by the PGA of America and has hosted three PGA Championships. Mark Brooks won in a playoff over Kenny Perry in 1996. Tiger Woods prevailed in a playoff over Bob May in 2000. And, Rory McIlroy beat Phil Mickelson by a stroke in 2014. Valhalla also hosted the 2008 Ryder Cup, won by the U.S.

PGA TOUR’s TOURCAST launching real-time ShotLink Select data for Korn Ferry Tour

With ShotLink Select, players opt-in to wear a small GPS device which transmits location data to ShotLink throughout their round. (Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

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Korn Ferry Tour pros have historically kept stats by hand, manually charting their rounds each evening to shed insight into patterns and optimize future practice. While useful for self-improvement, this approach can be a bear amidst the inherent stresses of chasing 30 PGA TOUR cards via the season-long points race.

“After the rounds, we’re pretty tired, and the last thing you want to do is think about all the shots in your round,” said Korn Ferry Tour veteran Dawson Armstrong.

This week, the Korn Ferry Tour enters a new era. Effective at this week’s LECOM Suncoast Classic, the PGA TOUR’s long-standing TOURCAST product will provide real-time ShotLink Select data on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Not only will players have access to the comparative statistics that will best shed light on their games, but also Korn Ferry Tour fans can now follow their favorite players with meaningful context as to distance and proximity, via the live leaderboard on PGATOUR.COM and the PGA TOUR app. The uncertainty of following a Korn Ferry Tour pro via verbiage of “shot one from the tee box; shot two from the fairway” is no more.

The combination of ShotLink Select and TOURCAST technology will add a new layer to the storytelling efforts around the Korn Ferry Tour. It's a win-win for players and those who support them.

TOURCAST debuts on the Korn Ferry Tour at this week's LECOM Suncoast Classic. (Credit Kevin Prise)

“Now instead of comparing stats to the PGA TOUR average, now we’ll be able to compare to our peers,” Armstrong said. “That will be nice to see on a week-to-week basis, because some weeks are firmer, some weeks are a little bit softer. … Things like that will make it a lot more case-by-case oriented, to where guys can actually look at, ‘What do I need to work on specifically for the next week?’ It’s going to be really helpful for us to look at on a daily basis.

“And (for fans), instead of looking at shot two from the fairway or from the rough, they’ll see, ‘Okay, he is 186 (yards) or he’s 122.’ … There’s a big difference from 186 to 122. It will make my family a lot more stressed out, but I’m sure they’ll enjoy it a lot more. It will keep a lot of fans more engaged throughout the round.”

ShotLink makes possible the TOURCAST platform that gives fans 3D insights into every shot struck at a tournament. The PGA TOUR’s ShotLink real-time scoring system is a robust operation that involves dozens of employees and volunteers each week. The manpower necessary to power the revolutionary system was the hurdle that kept it from being implemented on other tours, but innovation has led to a new way to gather the same information without the workforce previously required.

Players on the Korn Ferry Tour will wear transponders, known as “ShotLink Bugs,” that will mark their position each time they address the ball. This small piece of technology, which weighs just 90 grams and measures just 2x3 ½ inches, can easily be worn on a belt and will gather the necessary location data to measure a player’s lie and distance to the hole. In order to increase coordinate accuracy on and around the green, volunteers will capture ball locations with a laser.

These location-measuring devices also will make it possible to bring the TOURCAST platform to the Korn Ferry Tour. The current iteration of TOURCAST was debuted on the PGA TOUR in 2020 and offers not only three-dimensional renderings of every hole, but allows fans to track a player’s every shot on the course. This is done in real-time, on-demand as the platform utilizes Amazon Web Services to accelerate the delivery of content.

“The implementation of TOURCAST on the Korn Ferry Tour will bring fans even closer to the action on a swing-by-swing basis,” said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin. “TOURCAST has become a staple on the PGA TOUR, and in addition to providing another avenue for fans to connect with our Tour, this enhancement will provide an unprecedented level of data to our players and fans. Whether you’re a fan looking to follow along during the final round, or a swing coach looking to analyze your player’s ball dispersion, the introduction of TOURCAST on the Korn Ferry Tour is another step forward.”

The PGA TOUR’s Golf Technologies team has long investigated ways to provide ShotLink through a more efficient on-site footprint, said Ken Lovell, TOUR Senior Vice President of Golf Technologies. The TOUR’s long-standing ShotLink application maps golf courses within an inch on the green and a foot on the fairways but requires a team of ShotLink-specific volunteers, cameras, lasers and radar. GPS tracking was investigated as a potential new approach, though it involved walking scorers standing directly over the ball to capture data, which was a non-starter, Lovell said.

To accomplish the objective, the long-standing ShotLink software – which matches data to a ball, player, location and so on – was rewritten from scratch. Constraints were relaxed; rather than looking at where the ball is, the hardware would measure a player’s location within a club length.

The result is ShotLink Select, which, after debuting on the Korn Ferry Tour, is slated to begin testing on the PGA TOUR for eventual implementation.

“We were trying to come up with an alternative ShotLink product that allows us to get distance data on all Tours,” Lovell said. “We’ve created a new input device and rewrote all the software. It has been updated since 2003, but this is legitimate ‘delete and start over.’ Rebuild the code base from scratch, rebuild the walking scorer app and scoring administration app. Rebuild every single piece of this – assume nothing existed – all in 12 months.”

The TOUR’s “air force,” as Lovell describes it, began mapping courses in spring 2022 with handheld devices as well as fixed-wing and hovering drones. Using a laser-based LiDAR system, trees are mapped to “every individual tree, branch, leaf.” A method of photogrammetry – “really fancy stitching together of photographs” – builds the 3D model that creates TOURCAST, allowing fans to “navigate around multiple dimensions, multiple places and multiple angles,” Lovell said.

As opposed to a ShotLink volunteer measuring the ball’s location, the walking scorer will use an input device (a cell phone) to identify the player as he addresses the ball, sending a signal to a cloud server which instructs the shot bug to provide corresponding data. Prior to the start of play on each competition day, rules officials will collect course setup information – tee placement and hole location.

Crucially, this allows ShotLink Select to function within the confines of the Korn Ferry Tour’s standard operating procedure.

Data managers at the PGA TOUR’s Global Home will oversee the input procedures across the field of walking scorers, with the ability to fix any errors across the course of competition. The result is not only a substantial boost to the Korn Ferry Tour fan experience but added value for players as well.

“The in-depth stats that we have on TOUR have allowed my coach and I to be able to dive down and narrow up what I need to work on week-in and week-out from that event,” said Austin Smotherman, who graduated from the Korn Ferry Tour in 2021, prior to the introduction of ShotLink Select.

“Sometimes you have that data to prove against what you thought you were doing really well; you see the differences and it’s a whole ‘nother level. (It’s part of why) you see the average age on TOUR dropping every single year. Guys are going to get so much better, that much quicker.”

Smotherman’s grandpa Bill Acquistapace, one of his biggest fans, has long maintained a routine of following rounds hole-by-hole on the PGA TOUR website. During Smotherman’s time on the Korn Ferry Tour, the two had a weekly chat where the grandson would explain a course’s intricacies and provide context clues of how to interpret the “shot 1 from the tee box; shot 2 from the fairway” type of information, without any further details.

That context isn’t needed on TOUR – after earning his card, Smotherman joked that he might need to order his grandpa a new computer, “Get it dialed up to where it refreshes itself.”

Effective this week, the same holds true for his Korn Ferry Tour successors.

IMAGES

2021 VALORANT Champions Tour Overview
Average Driving Distance Pga
Pga Champions Tour 2024 Schedule
Tour Averages via Trackman : golf
TrackMan PGA Tour Averages
Golf Club Distance Chart Template

COMMENTS

PGA Tour vs. Champions Tour Course Lengths
Total Rating 100%. Posted August 5, 2018. Average length is about 7000. Shortest one I can think of is Newport Beach CC. That plays about 6600. Regular tour averages a bit over 7200.
You won't believe how much farther PGA Tour Champions players are
The increase is even bigger for Fred Couples, if we use his driving-distance average (a whopping 300.4 yards) from 2015, the last time he played enough rounds on the PGA Tour Champions to have ...
Exploring the Average Golf Course Length: A Comprehensive Analysis
The average back tee yardage for 18-hole U.S. courses is 6,518 yards, or about 3.70 miles. This falls within the standards for a championship course, which is not surprising considering the U.S.'s prominence on the international golf stage. Looking at golf globally, the average length of a golf course is approximately 3.9 miles.
PDF R36
There are a considerable range of yardages played within the season with a 900-1000 yard range being typical on the PGA TOUR and over 1000 yard range on the PGA European Tour in recent seasons. Table 1 The arithmetic mean average, median, minimum and maximum course lengths on the PGA European Tour and PGA TOUR by season. Year.
Golf Stat and Records
PGA TOUR Champions Stats. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks.
Average Golf Course Length; Size
A golf course length of 6,200-6,600 yards is used in the LPGA tournaments and the average golf course length used in Champions Tour for over 50 Pros range from 6,500-6,800 yards. ... The average course length of a PGA tour golf course is 7,200 yards (4.09 miles). If this is the length of a course for a PGA tour, you might be wondering about the ...
How Long A Course Should You Play?
Chris Mile of the Miles of Golf pro shop in Ann Arbor has a great rule of thumb. Simply multiply your average driving distance by 28. That'll give you the yardage that you should play from; choose the tees closest to that distance. This means that a player who hits the ball 200 yards on a drive should play from the tees closest to 5,600 yards.
PGA TOUR Champions: Official home of the Charles Schwab Cup
Official home: PGA TOUR Champions, live scoring, news, stats, video, player profiles and tournament information. The best PGA TOUR golfers age 50 and above.
Golf Stat and Records
Scoring Average (Actual) Steven Alker. 67.43. Avg. 1. Stewart Cink. 67.67. Avg. 2. ... PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. ... and is used in ...
Average Golf Course Length: Factors, Longest And Shortest Courses, Par
These courses consist of primarily par 3 holes, where the average length of each hole is shorter compared to par 4 or par 5 courses. Typically, par 3 holes measure anywhere between 100 to 250 yards. Due to their shorter length, par 3 courses are a popular choice for beginners, as well as experienced golfers looking to work on their short game.
Which golf-course length best suits your ability? This handy chart will
If, for instance, you fly your 7-iron 140 yards, the best course length for you is 5,900-6,100 yards. If your 7-iron only goes 125, you should move up and play from 5,400-5,600 yards. And so on ...
How to Decide Which Set of Golf Tees to Play On Course
On the PGA Tour, the average golf course length these days is around 7,200-7,300 yards. On the LPGA Tour, average golf course length is around 6,200 to 6,600 yards. ... On the Champions Tour for over-50 pros, average golf course length is around 6,500 to 6,800 yards. If you are a low-handicap golfer, then feel free to play from the set of tees ...
How Long is the Average Golf Course? (and the World's Longest Course
The average length of the top 100 public golf courses in America (as ranked by Golf Digest) is about 7,200 yards, which is equivalent to about 4.09 miles. The average length of all the courses on the PGA tour also happens to be 7,200 yards. On the LPGA tour, the average course length drops to just 6,500 yards or about 3.7 miles.
The 10 longest and 10 shortest courses on the PGA Tour in 2019-2020
The longest course on the PGA Tour is Torrey Pines' South Course, which plays to a length of 7,765 yards -- a 60-yard increase over last year. It can play that length, in part, because it was ...
Course Table
Comprehensive table detailing various characteristics of PGA TOUR courses. data golf . ... which means they should be interpreted as the values we would expect from an average PGA Tour field. For example, the unadjusted GIR value at the 2021 TOUR Championship was 67.5% while the adjusted GIR value was 64.3%. In each column, the 5 hardest ...
How Long is an LPGA Golf Course?
An average golf course on the LPGA Tour typically spans between 6,200 to 6,600 yards. However, the exact length varies based on the tournament and course design. As female golfers continue to evolve in skill and strength, some courses have extended course length even further to over 6,800 yards. This article looks into the specifics of LPGA ...
Golf Club Distances w/ Chart
Club: Short Hitting Male Amateurs: Mid-Length Male Amateurs: Long Male Amateurs: LPGA (From TrackMan) PGA (From TrackMan) Driver: 200 yards: 230 yards: 260+ yards: 218 yards: 275 yards: 3-Wood: ... 2020 PGA Tour Players Average Club Head Speed vs Average Carry Distance, Data Source: pgatour.com.
Golf Stat and Records
Course. Scoring Average. Scottie Scheffler. 68.839. Avg. 1. Xander Schauffele. 69.924. Avg. 2. Alex Noren. ... PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered ...
Golf Club Distance Charts By Age, Gender And Skill Level
Average Golf Club Distance For Male Golfers By Skill Level From 'Good Golfer' onward, the 2 iron down to 5 iron should improve as confidence and technique improve, thus bringing more swing speed. Beginner Golfer: New to the game - first 6-12 months.
Yearly Driving Distance Leaders on the Champions Tour
The first golfer to average 300 yards per drive on the senior tour was Dan Pohl in 2004. The longest driving average so far on the Champions Tour is 308.7 yards by Padraig Harrington in 2022. That broke the previous record of 303.6 yards, recorded by John Daly in 2016 (his rookie year on the tour), by five yards.
Yearly Champions Tour Scoring Average Leaders
(He also led in 2020, but because the 2020 season was shortened due to COVID-19, the Champions Tour combined its stats for 2020 and 2021, counting those years as one season. Langer, then, did not lead the 2020-21 "season.") The lowest scoring average yet posted in Champions Tour history is the 67.54 average by Steve Stricker in 2023.
Can Korda Top The Field at The Club at Carlton Woods For Five In ...
The Club at Carlton Woods plays host to The Chevron Championship. The 132-player field, highlighted by 10 of the top 10 in the Rolex Women's World Rankings, will compete for a $7.9 million purse.
Golf Stat and Records
PGA TOUR Stats
RBC Heritage expert picks and predictions: Our PGA Pro's best bets for
So much so, the field driving distance average is 15 yards less than the PGA TOUR average. Accuracy off the tee exceeds the TOUR standard and GIRs are hard to come by.
2024 RBC Heritage prop bet picks and PGA Tour predictions
Cantlay ranks 2nd only to Scheffler in Round 1 scoring average this season (67.5) and he's now coming to a course where he's finished 7th or better in 5 of his last 6 starts. Xander Schauffele (+1600)
PGA Championship 101: History, qualifications and this year at Valhalla
The top 70 players who are eligible and have earned the most PGA Championship points from the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson through the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship (ending May 7, 2023) Playing members of the last named U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams (2021), provided they remain in the top 100 on the Official World Golf Rankings as of May 7, 2023
PGA TOUR's TOURCAST launching real-time ShotLink Select data for Korn
The TOUR's long-standing ShotLink application maps golf courses within an inch on the green and a foot on the fairways but requires a team of ShotLink-specific volunteers, cameras, lasers and radar.