You finish the 18th hole, and your legs feel heavy. You are tired but happy. You look down at your feet and wonder, “How far did I just walk?” It is a common question for anyone who loves the game. The answer is not a single number. It is a range that depends on many things. But we can find a clear and true answer.
This article will walk you through the exact distance. We will use simple math and real-world facts. We will look at what makes the distance longer or shorter. By the end, you will know how far you walk and why. You will also learn how this walk benefits your health and your game.
Let us find out how many miles are in a round of golf.
How Many Miles Will You Walk
The average golfer walks between 6 and 7 miles during an 18-hole round. That is the same as 9.5 to 11 kilometers, 13,000 to 15,000 steps, and over a thousand calories burned. It is a healthy tradition that makes golf a complete sport for the body and the mind..
In perspective, walking 6.5 miles is like walking the length of 115 football fields, one after the other. But this is an average. Your distance can be less than 6 miles or even more than 7. The rest of this article will explain what changes your personal number.
The Simple Math Behind the Distance
To understand the distance, you must first know how a golf course is measured. The scorecard tells you the course is, for example, 6,500 yards long. If you could hit every shot perfectly straight, this is the total distance from the first tee to the 18th green. It is the official yardage.
But you do not walk in a perfect, straight line. Your walk is much longer than the official yardage.
Why Yardage is Not the Same as Walking Distance
Think about your last round. You do not walk only from the tee to your ball. You walk from the green to the next tee box, which can be far away. You walk from the cart path to your ball in the fairway. You might walk back and forth to your golf bag. You might even walk into the rough to look for a lost ball. All these extra steps add up.
Because of this, you cannot just convert the course yardage to miles. A 6,500-yard course is 3.69 miles (6,500 ÷ 1,760 yards per mile). But no one walks only 3.69 miles. Your real walking path is much less direct.
The Golden Rule for Calculating Your Walk
Golf experts and players who walk a lot use a simple rule. They take the official yardage on the scorecard and multiply it. The best number to use is between 1.6 and 1.8.
Let us see how this works for a 6,500-yard course:
- Using 1.6: 6,500 yards x 1.6 = 10,400 yards (5.9 miles)
- Using 1.8: 6,500 yards x 1.8 = 11,700 yards (6.65 miles)
This is how we get our average of 6 to 7 miles. The chart below shows how this works for different course lengths.
Course Length (from Back Tees) Low-End Walking Distance High-End Walking Distance
6,000 yards 5.45 miles (8.77 km) 6.14 miles (9.88 km)
6,500 yards 5.91 miles (9.51 km) 6.65 miles (10.70 km)
7,000 yards 6.36 miles (10.24 km) 7.16 miles (11.52 km)
7,500 yards 6.82 miles (10.98 km) 7.67 miles (12.34 km)
What Changes the Distance You Walk?
Many things can change your personal walking distance. Some of these you can control, and some you cannot. Knowing them helps you understand why your friend’s distance differs from yours.
How Your Playing Style Adds Extra Steps
The way you play the game has a huge effect on how far you walk.
- Accuracy Off the Tee: A player who hits the ball straight will walk a much more direct path. A player who hits the ball left and right will walk a zig-zag pattern across the fairway. This adds a lot of extra distance over 18 holes.
- The Search for Lost Balls: This is one of the biggest factors. Walking into deep rough, bushes, or woods to look for a ball can easily add 50 to 100 yards per lost ball. If you lose a few balls in a round, you can add half a mile or more to your walk.
- Walking to the Green: You do not walk straight to the pin once near the green. You might walk to your bag to get a new club, then to the green, and then back to your bag. All these small trips add hundreds of extra steps.
How the Golf Course Design Changes Your Walk
No two golf courses are the same, and the design of the course itself is a major factor in the distance.
- The Space Between Holes: This is often the most forgotten part. On some courses, the next tee is next to the previous green. You might have to walk 100 yards or more in other classes to get to the next tee. This extra walking between holes is not on the scorecard but on your feet.
- Hills and Slopes: A course with many hills will make you walk more than the measured distance. Walking up and down a steep slope is longer than walking on flat ground. It is also more tiring.
- The Size of the Greens and Complexes: Large greens mean longer walks from one side to the other if your ball is far from the pin. Big bunkers and other features also force you to walk around them.
Walking with a Cart vs. Carrying Your Bag
Many people think that using a golf cart means you do not walk. This is not entirely true. But it does change how far you walk.
- Walking the Entire Course: If you carry your bag or use a pushcart, you will walk the full, direct path from shot to shot. You will almost always walk the most distance this way.
- Using a Golf Cart: When you use a cart, you often drive to your partner’s ball first, then to your own. This can create a less direct path. However, many courses have “cart path only” rules, especially when the ground is wet. These days, you might walk even more than someone carrying their bag. You park the cart on the path, walk to your ball, hit it, and walk back. This back-and-forth can add a huge amount of distance.
The Real-World Numbers: Steps and Calories
Now that we know the distance, let’s consider what it means for your body. Walking is a fantastic form of exercise.
How Many Steps Are in 18 Holes of Golf?
The number of steps you take is directly related to the distance. An average person’s step is about 2.5 feet long. This means it takes just over 2,000 steps to walk a mile.
If you walk 6.5 miles on the golf course, you are taking approximately 13,000 to 15,000 steps. Health experts often recommend taking 10,000 steps per day for good health. A single round of golf puts you well over that goal. It is a powerful way to stay active without feeling like you are exercising.
The Health Benefits of Walking the Course
Walking 6 to 7 miles while playing a sport is a major health benefit. Let us look at what you burn.
- Calories Burned: A person who weighs around 180 pounds (82 kilograms) can burn between 1,200 and 1,500 calories by walking 18 holes while carrying their clubs. This is a significant amount of energy. It is more than you would burn in an hour of running.
- Comparing Walking to Riding: The difference is massive. The same person using a golf cart might only burn 400 to 600 calories. By choosing to walk, you are getting a real, full-body workout. You are strengthening your heart, your legs, and your back.
Walking vs. Riding a Golf Cart
Many golfers face this big choice: Is it better to walk or ride? The answer depends on your goals.
The Health and Fitness Choice
For pure health and fitness, walking is the clear winner. As we saw with the calories, walking the course is a serious workout. Riding in a cart is a much more passive activity. Walking the course is one of the best things you can do if you want to improve your health, lose weight, or get stronger.
The Effect on Your Golf Game
Some players think riding in a cart helps their score. They believe it saves energy. Other players think walking helps their score. They say it helps them get into the rhythm of the game.
The truth is, it depends on the player. Walking keeps your body warm and your mind focused on the next shot. But walking can make you too tired for the last few holes on a hot day or a very hilly course. The best players in the world almost always walk. They are also very fit. For most golfers, being in better physical shape will always help their game on the final holes, whether you walk or ride.
The Pace of Play Myth
Many people believe that using a cart makes the game faster. This is not always true. A four-person group where two people walk and two ride in a cart can be very slow.
However, two four-person groups where everyone is walking can often play as fast as two groups where everyone is riding. Walkers go directly to their own ball. Carts usually have to drive back and forth between balls. On a busy course, a group of fit walkers can easily keep pace with a group in carts.
How to Track Your Own Golf Walk
You do not have to guess how far you walk. Modern technology makes it easy to know your exact distance.
Using Technology to Measure Your Walk
- GPS Smartwatches and Smartphones: Devices like a Garmin, Apple Watch, or Fitbit are perfect for this. When you begin your round, you can start an “Outdoor Walk” activity. Ultimately, it will tell you the exact distance, the number of steps, and the calories you burned. The GPS in these devices is very accurate.
- Golf GPS Apps: Many apps on your phone, like 18Birdies or The Grint, have built-in shot tracking. They also track how far you walk during the round. They use your phone’s GPS to map your path from the first tee to the 18th green.
Why You Should Track Your Rounds
Tracking your walks does two great things for you. First, it gives you a true number. You can see for yourself how far you go. Second, it can be a great motivation. Seeing that you walked 15,000 steps and burned 1,400 calories feels amazing. It can encourage you to walk more often and get even more health benefits from the game you love.
Answers to Common Golf Walking Questions
Many golfers have the same questions about walking. Here are clear and simple answers to the most common ones.
How many miles do you walk if you use a golf cart?
You still walk a good amount. Even with a cart, you will walk from the cart to your ball, to the green, and back. On a “cart path only” day, you might walk 3 to 4 miles. On a normal day, you might walk 2 to 3 miles.
Is walking 18 holes of golf good exercise?
Yes, it is excellent exercise. It is a long, steady workout for your heart. It strengthens your legs and core. It burns a large number of calories. It is one of the healthiest things an adult can do for fun.
Does walking make you more tired and hurt your score?
It can if you are not used to it. If you are new to walking, you might feel tired near the end. But as you get fitter, walking will help you stay loose and focused. Many golfers find they play better when they walk because they have more time to think about their next shot.
How can I make walking the course easier?
- Use a Pushcart: Do not carry your bag on your shoulders. A pushcart (also called a trolley) makes the walk much easier.
- Wear Good Shoes: Comfortable, waterproof golf shoes are the most important equipment for a walker.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink water throughout the round, not just when thirsty.
- Get Fit: The more you walk, the easier it becomes.