Nothing beats a round of golf where you don't wait on a single shot. In an age where spare time and attention spans continue to dwindle, pace of play has never been more important.
A select few golf courses manage to pull this off for their clientele more often than others. Sometimes, the course is in a remote area that doesn't receive a lot of play, so fairways are wide open. In other cases, the management of the course is so good they are able to shepherd full tee sheets around without any significant backup.
Course maintenance is also a huge factor in how fast a round takes, especially on the weekends. Courses that keep an eye on how golfers move around their course can identify bottlenecks due to thick rough or sucker pins.
Lastly, the design of a course can go a long way in affecting pace of play positively. Unnecessary hazards, length or long distances between holes can all add up costly minutes.
With these factors in mind, we've looked at your Pace of Play ratings on Golf Advisor to determine which courses earned a reputation as a place for a fast round. You can click on each course to read more details.
Top 25 courses as rated by pace of play in 2017
Louisa, Ky.
What they're saying: "The staff at this course are fantastic in their expertise of course management."
Warner Springs, Calif.
What they're saying: "Overall the course has a nice layout, challenging holes and beautiful views of the mountains."
Gladstone, Mich.
What they're saying: "Call the grill on the 9th tee and you will have your lunch ready for you to take to the 10th tee. "
Waverly, Iowa
What they're saying: "Golf carts come with nice visual display GPS. Usually pace of play is pretty quick."
Quincy, Fla.
What they're saying: "Very rarely is it packed and you can usually drive out there, play, and drive back in the same time you can play most Tallahassee courses."
Saint Simons Island, Ga.
What they're saying: "Great venue....Course was manicured well and scenery was amazing."
Fort Myers, Fla.
What they're saying: "I finished in 2:40. I loved this course! You had to make shots with your irons!"
Globe, Ariz.
What they're saying: "Never seems to be too crowded because it is so far out of Phoenix so pace of play is great."
Navasota, Texas
What they're saying: "It was nice to get out of Houston and play a nice, quiet course."
Allyn, Wash.
What they're saying: "It has become my go-to course because it has been easy to get on, is a fun nice layout, and is very reasonably priced."
Muskegon, Mich.
What they're saying: "I would recommend this course for anybody looking for a well paced round at a well kept challenging golf course."
Shellman Bluff, Ga.
What they're saying: "Played by myself and finished in 2.5 hours. The scenery is awesome. Course was in great shape."
Kenansville, N.C.
What they're saying: "The golf course was pretty quiet and very relaxing."
Rocky Mount, N.C.
What they're saying: "Nice variety to hole design, fantastic layout, flows very well."
Wilmington, Ill.
What they're saying: "Course in great shape . Course has a great layout. Finished 18 holes in 3 1/2 hours."
Ocala, Fla.
What they're saying: "I only saw two other players on the course, so, naturally, the pace of play was great."
Norman, Okla.
What they're saying: "Tough course but enjoyable. Pace of play is great."
8. Agawam Hunt
Rumford, R.I.
What they're saying: "Greens roll true. Very well manicured course that does not get a ton of play."
Fairfield Bay, Ark.
What they're saying: "Indian Hills Golf Course was a great place to play. No one pushing from behind."
Guthrie, Okla.
What they're saying: "Several challenging holes and played in 3 hours. Greens were looking good and rolling good."
Flat Rock, Ala.
What they're saying: "A bit 'out there,' but worth it, good folks, nicely kept course, good pace of play, and a real value."
Scottsboro, Ala.
What they're saying: "Very peaceful and relaxing. The few times I have been here, there were very few other golfers. No waiting and no one pushing."
Annandale, Minn.
What they're saying: "Played 27 holes in 4 1/2 hours. It’s obvious that the people who own and run this course love golf. Worth the trip."
Fort Gaines, Ga.
What they're saying: "Course is well taken care of and everything seems in pretty good order."
Frankston, Texas
What they're saying: "From tee to green this course is in absolutely perfect shape. There is not a single flaw I could pick out."
