Executive Golf Course: A Beginner's Guide
An executive golf course is a shorter version of a regular golf course. There are still 9-hole and 18-hole courses, however, an executive course requires fewer shots to be hit and less distance to be traveled than a regular course does.
Executive golf courses have a lower par which is what makes them less time consuming. They are comprised of many par 3 holes, with a shorter par 4 or par 5 hole thrown in depending on where you go. Often times these courses are part of a larger golf club.
Why Is It Called An Executive Golf Course?
If you are new to golf, you probably haven’t mastered all of the golf terminologies out there. An executive course gets its name from the idea that business executives will have enough time to fit in a round of golf on an extended lunch break or on their way home from work.
Here are a few interesting statistics:
Executives who play golf make 17% more than those who don’t
54% of business professionals see golf as the perfect networking tool, and only 8% selected football
An estimated 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs play golf
Source: PGA
How Big Is An Executive Golf Course?
While all courses are different, executive golf courses are definitely all shorter than regular courses. If you are looking for an idea of how many yards a hole can be, here is one example in Nassau County:
The dimensions on the par 30 course range from the 300-yard seventh hole to the 97-yard eighth hole. The course at Cantiague Park is flat, open, and easy to walk, with five holes of 200 yards or more.
How Long Does It Take To Play An Executive Course?
While a regulation golf course can take half the business day to complete, an executive course goes much faster than that. It really depends on how many players are golfing and how well they play.
If you are golfing alone or with one partner you might finish a round in an hour and a half. If you have three or four players in your group, you could double that amount of time.
Benefits Of Playing Executive Courses
Here are some benefits for golfers playing on an executive course:
They take less time to finish
Many opportunities to practice your short game
Great place to meet other executives and form new business relationships
Shorter walking distances
Easier for beginners who are golfing solo
More challenging than a driving range to teach yourself golf
Executive golf courses are usually much cheaper to play than normal golf courses
You can play a round without needing all of your golf clubs
Executive Golf Course Scoring
If you’re new to golf, check out these common terms for keeping score on an executive-sized course.
A Score Of:
1 = Hole-In-One (Ace)
2 = Birdie
3 = Par
4 = Bogey
5 = Double Bogey
6 = Triple Bogey
What Do You Wear To An Executive Golf Course?
It’s best to check with the specific golf course by either going on their website or calling first, but many executive courses might have more of a casual golf attire dress code.
Take Creekside Golf Course, for example. Here is what their website says:
Dress Code
Shirts with sleeves or a collar are preferable
No shirts with inappropriate content
No gym shorts, cut-offs, or ripped jeans
Shorts must be an appropriate length
Golf or running shoes required
No Flip Flops allowed
What Is The Difference Between An Executive Golf Course And A Par 3 Golf Course?
Similar to a par 3 course, an executive course is shorter than most regular courses and has many par 3 holes. The difference is that it can also have a few longer holes, such as a par 4 or even par 5, for example. A par 3 course earns its name due to it consisting of only par 3 holes.
