Why Golf Has 18 Holes?

A full round of golf has 18 holes, and for golfers, this number feels standard or common. However, from the outside, looking in the number 18 may not seem like a standard choice. Why is it not 20 holes of golf or 15? The answer dates back to Scottish history, and we have all the answers you need about why golf has 18 holes.

Why does a modern golf course have 18 holes?

Golf was invented in Scotland, and after people started enjoying it, the popularity of the game spread rather quickly. At the time, however, most golf courses had about five or seven holes. At some point, the idea of playing these holes twice came into play, and golf courses had somewhere around 14 holes.

In 1764 at St. Andrews Old Course, a golf club that is still played today, there were a total of 22 holes. This really consisted of 10 greens total, 8 of which were double greens. The way the course worked golfers would play 11 holes out and 11 holes back in for a total of 22 holes. The same large green was used 16 times.

So how come has golf 18 holes?

This system was working, but the rounds of golf got a little long. Therefore in 1764, the golfers that played St.Andrews decided that they would combine the first four short holes into just two holes.

When they made this combination, there were now a total of 18 holes. Still, this was just 10 holes total, and eight of them were played twice. As golf has continued to develop, all golf courses stick with this 18-hole round, even though it took until the mid-1800s before golf courses were designed with 18 individual holes like they are today.

Do some golf courses only have nine holes?

It is most common for a golf course to have eighteen holes, but there are also some nine hole courses that players can enjoy. If you play golf, you know that 18 holes can sometimes take too long. Luckily the nine hole golf courses can be a good option to consider as they will cut your time on the course in half. Here's also a quick article about: how long does it take to golf 9 holes with a cart.

I sometimes play at two different 9-hole golf courses. When you play 18 holes you need to do two rounds and the biggest challenge is to play the same 9 holes better that the previous rounds 2 hours ago :)

On the other hand if you miss in the same direction you already know where to look for the ball😁

What about six hole golf courses?

A new concept in golf is the six hole golf course. This allows current 18 hole golf courses to split the course into three smaller loops, and players can enjoy a round of golf in about an hour. Although this concept is unique and not taking off all that quickly, there are some golf clubs that are giving it a try.

In addition, the golf courses can be set up like this at times throughout the day to accommodate more players. One of the biggest issues with the 18 holes of golf is the time it takes people to complete.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now feel as though you have a better idea as to how 18 holes of golf were developed. This could technically change again, but the sport is much more established at this point than it was in 1764. I know I would feel pretty thrown off if all of a sudden golf courses were 17 or 19 holes!