How long does it take to play 18 holes on a golf simulator?
During the pandemic lockdown period, we’ve witnessed a spike in popularity for the golfing simulator – and we can’t say that we’re surprised.
Whether you wanted to work on your game whilst courses worldwide were out of action due to COVID-19 restrictions, or you simply preferred the opportunity to swing at your leisure at a time that suits you, these handy devices now grace more buildings than ever before.
What we can say is that they’re definitely here to stay. More and more people are realising the benefits of golf simulators as excellent alternatives to outdoor golf. This sharp rise in popularity has allowed lots of people able to work on their golf game whenever they feel like it, becoming better players as a result.
The restrictions placed on playing golf outdoors in 2020 almost brought the game to a standstill. People were left looking for other ways to get their golfing fix, as we were told to stay at home as much as possible until further notice. Although golfing in Spain is famous for its warm weather and terrific scenery, we were confined to the four walls of our own homes for the majority of the year.
This is where fantastic indoor golf machines have come into their own, allowing you to play a round of golf in your own time in a no-pressure environment. You could then – and still can now – develop your skills for when you get to play on a real course.
Although the initial rise in demand for an indoor golf simulator was from necessity and solemn circumstances, many people now benefit from a home addition that they can be happy with for years to come.
Before you try one for yourself, you might be wondering: how long does it take to play a full 18 on a golf simulator? We get this question a lot here at Black Box Golf, so we’ve provided this blog with all the answers you need about playing on an indoor golf machine.
The pace outdoors
The first thing you need to think about is how long a regular round of golf takes on a traditional outdoor course, so you can make a clearer comparison.
There’s no doubt that many of you reading this blog will already be keen golfers, with a good idea of how long a round can take on a physical course.
It’s also likely that you started out as a golfer on an outdoor course, since this is still the primary entry point for beginners getting into the sport, as opposed to investing in a golfing simulator in your home right away.
In this case, you probably know that the time it takes depends on a variety of factors, including:
The day of the week and the time of day
Number of players in your group
Speed and skill level of each player
Length and difficulty of holes
Travel time between holes
Weather conditions on the course
The busier the location, the more players, and the more novices in your group, the course difficulty, your method of travel between holes, and poor weather can all drag the game out for longer.
Even in favourable conditions, it generally takes an average of 4.5 hours to play a full 18-hole game.
If you already have a busy day-to-day life, the time it takes to complete just one course can be off-putting, forcing you to limit golf to a luxury hobby that you can only indulge in every once in a while. This is before we factor in the organisational difficulties of finding a free morning or afternoon that suits the schedule of your golf mates.
The slow pace of outdoor golf is one of the many driving forces behind golfers converting to a golf simulator solution in their own homes.
No waiting around
One of the inevitable issues of playing on a popular outdoor golf course is the waiting around between holes. Let’s face it, nobody is a fan of golf course traffic, but it’s unavoidable – especially if someone is on their way to a triple bogey!
As a result, golfers can become understandably frustrated that their time on the course is being extended by waiting for the players ahead to vacate the hole.
If it takes around an hour per player to complete 18 holes, and the course is busy with multiple groups containing poor to middling players, you’ll no doubt be spending longer than you’d like waiting around. Facilities can also have varying tee time intervals – the quicker the intervals, the more people will be on the course at any one time, leading to longer games for everyone playing.
Of course, the difficulty levels and set-up of the course will also affect the duration of each game. As the green is outdoors, you’ll also have the elements to contend with – wind, rain, and cold or heat will all impact the quality and the pace of play. When multiple factors aren’t in your favour, you could be standing around as often as swinging – leaving you looking at a 6-hour game or longer.
Is it any wonder players have welcomed a much faster alternative?
When you play a course on an indoor golf simulator, it eliminates all of these issues. You can simply proceed straight to the next hole immediately after completing the current one, without even having to waste time walking or driving between them.
This is great if you’re playing alone, as the only person you’ll be waiting on is yourself – so you can play as quickly or slowly as you like!
Group players will also find that it is much faster than being out on the green. Once all of your players have taken their shot, you all move on, without waiting for slower teams that may be ahead of you to finish with the next hole!
Cut out the travel time
Time is precious when partaking in such a long activity.
Lost time on the golf course usually comes from travelling between one hole and the next- as well as trying to recover any rogue balls you might have hit!
Even if you’re riding in a golf cart rather than walking from one hole to another, you’re still wasting time that you could be spending on perfecting your swing.
With this in mind, the ideal way to dramatically reduce the time needed to complete a full 18 holes is one of our indoor golf simulators. This technology allows you to get the most out of your golfing experience, without the hassles of travel time and waiting for other people to catch up.
When you play a full round of 18 holes on a golf simulator, you can expect to take approximately 1 hour – less than a quarter of the average time it would take you on a physical course. The more familiar you become with the course you’re playing on your simulator, the faster your game will get, so you could soon be completing 18 holes in as little as 40 minutes.
Of course, if you play 18 holes on an indoor golf simulator with a group of friends, it will take much longer than that! You should expect to add an hour or so for each additional player to complete their own rounds. However, when you play alone, you can easily fit in a round of golf before or after work, and at any time on the weekend – playing as many games as you like, come rain or shine.
Visit famous greens across the world
Travel time to specific courses will also be completely removed, making golfing at famous locations across the country an actual possibility.
You can play virtually at famed locations such as the spiritual home of golf, St Andrews Links, where the 2022 Open Championship was held, and then switch over to Royal Portrush golf club and experience the sand hills of the North Antrim Causeway Coast- without the 7-hour drivetime!
Or you can go international and take your golfing buddies on virtual games to courses all over the world, including:
· Quail Hollow Club, South Carolina
· Medinah Country Club, Illinois
· Ke'olu Golf Course, Hawaii
· GC München Eichenried, Germany
· Reykjavik Grafarholt, Iceland
With over 201 worldwide courses in the library, and 3 new courses added on average every month, playing on golf simulators such as the Trackman, gives you options you may not get playing out on the green.
Since it takes a lot less time to play 18 holes on a golf simulator and famous locations across the country are now available to you at the touch of a button, you’ll have more time to perfect your game and focus on other things.
What’s not to love?
Play to your heart’s content
Golf seems like the perfect sport to play in your free time as a relaxing activity.
But not everyone has the same amount of time available to play, especially compared to athletes who dedicate their lives to their careers as professional golfers.
For those with fewer opportunities to play, golf is often seen as a hobby more than an actual sport. People have work and family obligations and other responsibilities that detract from the spare time they have to play golf – and you wouldn’t want to miss important engagements after misjudging how long it would take you to finish your round.
That would not go down well with the in-laws!
The great thing about home golf simulators is the easy access. You can play by your own rules, on your own time. Just pick up your clubs and play a few holes whenever you’re free, without worrying about the conditions on a physical course or running out of time before another engagement.
This flexibility and convenience are what make indoor golf solutions like the ones we offer at Black Box Golf such a big draw for casual golfers wanting to get more serious about their game.
Whether you’re looking for an escape from the stresses of daily life or want to find a way to limber up before work, a golf simulator can be a godsend.
If you work awkward shifts that don’t align with the opening times of your local outdoor courses, or the weather is rarely nice enough to dedicate a whole afternoon to 18 holes, you can still play the game that you love so much.
Perfect for busy parents who want to squeeze in a few holes after the kids have gone to bed, or golf-mad couples looking to spend more time together pursuing their passions- indoor golf simulators really are for everyone.
Gone are the days of taking up an entire day with golf plans. Now you can do the opposite and spend as much or as little time practising and winding down as possible. With one of the simulador de golf solutions available from Black Box Golf, you can play on your favourite courses from around the world at any time – all while receiving expert feedback and training tips to improve your game.
Get in touch to order your golf simulator today
Now you know how long it takes to play 18 holes on a golf simulator, and just how helpful this home technology can be for improving your skills and saving you time on the course, are you even more interested in ordering an indoor golf simulator of your own?
If so, take a look through our range of simulador de golf products today to find the ideal solution for your needs. These exciting devices are excellent for learning more about the game and developing your skills through regular practice – not to mention being amazing for stress relief!
We believe that golf simulators are definitely worth the investment, but if you have any further enquiries about the products we supply, please get in touch with our team. Give us a call on +34 689 647 555, fill out our online enquiry form, or email us at info@blackboxgolf.es for assistance.