What is an Executive Course?

An executive course is a blend of a Par-3 course and a full-length course. Executive golf courses are shorter and feature more par-3 holes than a full length course, yet mix in some par 4 and 5 holes to allow golfers the opportunity to hit the longer clubs in their bag, including driver.

A 9-hole executive course might measure between 1,500 and 2,500 yards with a par between 29-33. Not all executive courses are just nine holes, and an 18-hole executive course would likely play between 3,000-5,000 yards with a par between 60-66.

By comparison, the standard full-length 18-hole golf course typically has a par of 70-72 and measures 5,500-7,000 yards. Meanwhile, a 9-hole par-3 course has a par of 27 and typically measures somewhere between 90-1,250 yards.

Here’s a quick comparison of how the length, par, and time it takes to play a nine and 18-hole executive course compares to a typical par-3 course and a regulation 18-hole course.

Executive golf courses got their name from the executives who crave a round of golf, but can’t find the time to fit in a 4-5 hour round during a busy week. Given that executive courses are much shorter than regulation golf courses, they make it easy to play a round of golf in an hour and a half, or even less.

That also makes an executive course a reasonable place to conduct a business meeting, another perk that helped the executive course get its name.

You can easily find an executive golf course near you using GolfLink’s golf course directory. Visit the Courses Near Me page and enter your zip code or city. Look at the yardage and par of the courses on the results page to find the executive courses near you.

If you live in The Villiages, Florida, you can enjoy the well-maintained 40-course Executive Golf trail. But even outside of The Villages, you can find executive golf courses as standalone venues, are as part of a larger golf facility that also has a regulation course on its property.

Two of the biggest barriers to playing golf are the time commitment required for an 18-hole round of golf, and the difficulty of the sport, particularly for beginners.

Executive golf courses are a great way to combat both dilemmas. If you’re an experienced golfer but just wish you had more time to play golf, you could probably add more golf to your routine by playing executive golf courses more often, and making a 9-hole loop in an hour and a half or less.

If you’re a beginning golfer, playing an executive golf course reduces the intimidation factor of spending a long day on a long golf course. Playing primarily par-3 holes, with couple par-4 or par-5s mixed in, makes the experience much more welcoming.

Despite the fact that many recreational golfers gravitate towards regulation, 18-hole courses, executive courses are a great option for golfers who don’t have the time to spend 4-5 hours on a golf course at a time. They’re a great avenue for beginning golfers to get experience with the game without feeling the pressure and intimidation that typically comes with picking up this game.

If you’re up for a different, faster, golf experience, try teeing it up an an executive course near you.