Golf Course Measurements and Types – A Beginner’s Guide

Did you know that most golf courses are located on the outskirts of urban centres? That is, to some extent, because of their imperative need to cover huge areas of land. Another reason is because no one would like to hit a passer-by with a ball. Also, there is a need for quiet spaces where players themselves can concentrate on their game. Typically, a golf course is home to an average of 70 hectares of land, thus ensuring both a healthy, fun and safe competition.

 

In other respects, as a good golfer, you should know that no two golf courses are the same. Not only because of its dimensions, which we are going to detail, but also because of its features and the events that can happen on each course. Factors such as wind, rain, choice of clubs, balls, state of mind, physical state of the day you are about to play and so on, can make each round unique and unequalled. We are to explain the basics here and the rest only takes practice and technique.

Measurements of a golf course

Believe it or not, there are several types of golf courses. Therefore, the dimensions of each of them will depend on their specification of use. However, usually, and if we are to be guided by the measurements of a standard 18 holes golf course, greens and fairways, the number of metres varies between 4,500 and 6,500 metres. Also, we should bear in mind that the more extensive the course, the more difficult will be to complete, encouraging players to improve and improve at each start and finish of the game.

Number of holes on a golf course

You may already know this, but for those who are not very much on it, a golf course has a set number of holes. Specifically, the two most common types of golf courses by number of holes are the nine-hole golf course and the eighteen-hole golf course. Professional and championship courses usually have the full eighteen holes. However, nine-hole courses can also be used for tournaments and competitions.

 

The difference between the two is that on the smaller course, the nine-flag course will be played twice to complete the full number of holes set by the competition, which is eighteen. Remember that each hole in each circumstance, even if it has the same characteristics, will never be the same due to the factors mentioned above.

Types of golf courses

Depending on its dimensions, the number of fairways, the difficulties posed or the weather forecast, your round in a tournament or competition on a golf course may vary. Therefore, we recommend that you make sure what kind of obstacles you will be facing in each one of them starting with their dimensions and difficulties.

Driving range

Players come to this area to improve their swing or to warm up before a competition or a round. It is a space where no points are scored and the main activity is to throw balls, in order to achieve the necessary techniques by practising all types of strokes. Normally this space needs an area of 30,000 m2, that is, about 300 metres long by 100 metres wide.

Pitch and putt course

After having properly warmed up a little on the driving range, we can point out the pitch and putt courses. These are the ideal areas for those who are just starting out in the world of golf, as they are the ideal courses for having  lessons. It is a small course with a maximum distance of 1 kilometre or 1.2 km. In addition, it should be considered that the holes cannot be more than 120 metres long.

It should be noted that, unlike the fourteen clubs that can be carried in the bag on an eighteen-hole course, on this type of course on a regular basis you are going to use only  three clubs. One of them must be a putt. This type of course can be either a nine or an eighteen hole course, but the par will never be more than three strokes and the tee is usually made of artificial grass.

3 par course

The first thing to bear in mind with this type of course is that it is usually a course with a different number of holes, and there are even some courses with six holes. It all depends on both the budget available and on the space. On the other hand, although it specifies the number par 3, there may be holes of par 4 or 5. In addition, the distances of the fairways of each hole should not exceed 160 metres, with a complete course of approximately 1,600 metres.

9-hole course

The nine-hole course is a step up to the next level where you can compete against your own abilities once you have passed the practice and improved your technique on a pitch and putt. The distance of the course is between 2,000 and 3,500 metres. It also has par 3, 4 and 5

strokes. This type of course is the ideal place to define what we are and what we can become in golf, it will test our limits and technical capabilities with the aim of broadening our experience in the sport.

Executive Courses

This type of course is ideal for those who want to get started in the larger spaces, with eighteen holes. In addition, they are made for those who have improved their physical qualities, due to the length of the course, and have improved their technique, due to the difficulties they usually have.

An executive course of 9 holes can have, for example, about 2.100 metres. On the other hand, we can calculate about 4.200 m. in the 18 holes. These metres may vary depending on the characteristics of the course. When we refer to long 18-hole courses, these have a par of play on the course between 55 and 69 strokes, with less obstacles to reach the green.

Regulation Courses

These are the most widespread courses in the world. Their course distance is the longest, reaching up to 7 kilometres. This means that the delivery of your card at the end of the game can take about three hours or more, depending on the circumstances in general.

All the difficulties you can think of will be present, which is why the par of the course is between 71 and 73 strokes. This type of course fulfils one hundred per cent of what was mentioned at the beginning, no matter how well we can do it once, every time you play this type of course it will be different. Each hole will be the opposite of the previous one and vice versa. Remember, your technique and golfing heart will be the only thing that gets you where you deserve to be.

Lanzarote Golf Course

Now that you are aware of the different types of golf courses that exist, you should be able to work out which category our golf course belongs to. Lanzarote Golf was designed by the American Ron Kirby in 2008. His main objective was to create a place for sportsmen and women where landscape, sportsmanship and fun  could be easily combined. Based on this idea  a course of 6.133 meters long, par 72, 18 holes was created. Are you ready to test your skills with us? We are waiting for you!