Why Golf Has 18 Holes: Real History, Myths Debunked, and What It Means for Your Game

Here’s the thing most people don’t realize: golf didn’t start with 18 holes. Some early courses had 12, some 22, and a few oddballs in between. The number we treat as sacred today came from practical decisions at one place-St Andrews-and then spread because it was tidy, playable, and easy to organize. If you only want the short answer and how it affects your own rounds, you’ll get it here without the fluff.

TL;DR

• The 18-hole standard began at St Andrews in 1764 when four short holes were combined into two, reducing the Old Course from 22 to 18.
• Other clubs copied St Andrews through the 1800s; the R&A and later the USGA standardized competition and language, which cemented 18 as the norm.
• The Rules of Golf don’t require 18 holes. A round is “18 or fewer” holes as set by the Committee. Nine-hole scores count for handicap.
• The “bottle of Scotch has 18 shots” tale is a myth. It doesn’t line up with any standard pour size.
• Play 18 when you want the full rhythm; play 9 or 12 when time is tight. Your handicap and enjoyment won’t suffer.

The real origin: how St Andrews turned 22 into 18

If you’re wondering, why is golf 18 holes, the trail leads straight to St Andrews. In the mid-1700s, the Old Course was a 22-hole layout-11 holes out to the far end of the links, then you played those same 11 back to the clubhouse. Several of those holes were very short and sat close together. In 1764, the members decided to merge four of those short holes into two longer ones. That simple housekeeping move trimmed the course from 22 to 18 holes.

Why did that change stick? Because St Andrews had gravity. Clubs across Scotland and, later, England looked to the Royal and Ancient for cues. When the Old Course ran 18, nearby clubs adopted 18 too. Over the 19th century, prestige events and printed guides spread the idea that “a full course” was 18 holes.

Two milestones helped lock it in:

• By the mid-1800s, leading clubs were either already 18 holes or moving that way. Prestwick-host of the first Open Championship in 1860-originally had 12 holes and played three loops (36 holes) for the event. They later expanded to 18, following the tide.
• When the R&A began publishing formal rules (late 19th century) and the USGA was founded (1894), the administrative weight behind 18 as the typical full round turned into the default for competition and course building.

It wasn’t a decree handed down in one moment. It was momentum. St Andrews set the pattern in 1764, others copied it for convenience and status, and governing bodies reinforced it with standardized competition formats.

One more nuance. The modern Rules of Golf-administered by The R&A and the USGA-define a “round” as playing the holes of the course in the order set by the Committee. A normal round is 18 holes, but the definition explicitly allows fewer than 18. So the rules recognize what history shows: 18 is tradition, not a law.

Myths vs. facts: what didn’t cause 18 holes

Golf folklore is great fun, but some stories are more pub banter than truth. Here are the big ones to stop repeating.

• Myth: A bottle of Scotch has 18 shots, so they made 18 holes. Reality check: A standard 750 ml bottle yields roughly 16 US 1.5-oz pours, or about 30 pours at 25 ml in the UK/Ireland. The math never matches 18. It’s a neat bar story, not history.
• Myth: 18 holes match the hours of daylight. Tempting idea, but daylight varies wildly with latitude and season. Early links in Scotland could see 17 hours of light in summer and very short winter days. No committee has ever used the sun as a fixed yardstick.
• Myth: The R&A mandated 18 holes in one rule change. Not quite. The R&A’s influence was huge, but the number settled through adoption over decades. The rules honor that reality rather than forcing it.

The boring truth is the real one: St Andrews made a sensible layout change in 1764; everyone else liked how clean and playable 18 felt; the governing bodies standardized language around the game we already played.

What 18 means for your golf: time, rhythm, course design

Knowing the “why” behind 18 helps you plan, pace, and score better. The number wasn’t chosen for mystery-just good flow.

Two nines, one loop each. Most courses are designed as two 9-hole loops that begin and end near the clubhouse. That makes life easier for busy players (you can stop after nine) and for clubs (turn restocking, tee-time flow, and starter management). The out-and-back rhythm, born on the links, still fits modern schedules.

How long should 18 take? The sweet spot is 4 to 4.5 hours for a three-ball or four-ball on a typical parkland course, quicker on quiet mornings or with two-balls. On links with wind, add a bit. Here’s a simple pacing rule of thumb for a foursome on a standard 18:

• Par 3: 10-13 minutes
• Par 4: 12-15 minutes
• Par 5: 14-17 minutes

Multiply by your course mix and you’ll be close. If your group is averaging 15 minutes on par 4s and 12 on par 3s, a par-71 layout with four par 3s, eleven par 4s, and three par 5s lands around 4 hours 15 minutes.

Scoring and handicap flow. Most modern courses sit around par 70-72. Two nines smooth out the difficulty so you aren’t hammered by five brutal holes in a row. For handicapping under the World Handicap System (run jointly by The R&A and USGA), both 9- and 18-hole scores are valid. If you only have time for nine after work, your score still updates your Index once it’s combined or adjusted by the system. No penalty for living a normal life.

Event formats. 18 holes works nicely for weekly competitions, while full championships often go 36, 54, or 72 holes because two or four rounds of 18 are easy to schedule and compare. That tidy arithmetic is a big reason 18 stuck: it scales cleanly.

Design balance. Eighteen holes give architects room to mix hole lengths, directions, and wind exposures without stretching a site too thin. It’s enough variety to feel like a journey without becoming a slog. That goes right back to linksland at St Andrews, where alternating directions share massive double greens and let the wind constantly change the ask.

Practical tips you can use this week:

• Pressed for time? Book 9 and play fast. Tell the shop you’re posting a 9-hole score so they point you to the right nine for pace.
• Playing 18 on a busy Saturday? Aim to be on the 1st tee 10 minutes early, agree on ready-golf with your group, and pick a tee box you can handle. Time saved early sticks.
• New to the game? Start with 6-9 holes. Your focus will last longer, and you’ll learn course flow without fatigue wrecking the last few holes.

Alternatives you’ll see: 9, 12, 27, and 36 holes

Even with 18 as the norm, plenty of good golf lives outside it. Here’s a quick comparison to help you choose based on time, fitness, and goals.

Choosing the right option-quick checklist:

• Have under 2.5 hours? Pick nine. Post the score for handicap and call it a win.
• Want a proper test? Go 18, but play tees that let you reach most greens in regulation with your usual clubs.
• Playing with kids or new golfers? Nine holes, later tee time, relaxed pace. Bring snacks.
• Tuning wedges or putter? Try a 6-hole loop or split-tee 9-holer to repeat short-game shots while you’re fresh.
• On a 27-hole facility? Ask which two nines are faster that day. Starters know.

One more angle: some modern architects are embracing 12-hole courses to fit tight land and busy lives. Twelve is not a downgrade; it’s a smart fit for the way people actually play.

Timeline, quick facts, FAQs, and next steps

Key timeline in a nutshell:

• 1744: Edinburgh golfers publish early rules, but hole counts vary across clubs.
• 1764: St Andrews merges four short holes into two, shifting from 22 to 18 holes.
• Mid-late 1800s: Prestwick (host of the first Open) moves from 12 to 18; other leading clubs follow.
• 1890s: The R&A formalizes widely adopted rules; the USGA is founded. Eighteen-hole rounds become the competition default.
• 20th-21st century: 18 holes remains the standard; 9-hole and short-course formats grow for pace and access. The World Handicap System (since 2020) embraces both.

Mini‑FAQ

• Is 18 holes required by the Rules of Golf? No. The rules define a round as 18 or fewer holes in the order set by the Committee. Eighteen is tradition, not a rule.
• Can 9-hole scores count for handicap? Yes. Under the World Handicap System, 9-hole scores are acceptable and are combined or adjusted into your Handicap Index calculation.
• Why are courses split into front nine and back nine? It’s practical. Two loops let players stop after nine, help shops manage tee sheets, and cut walking distances around the clubhouse.
• Did St Andrews invent every rule? No. But its changes-like the 1764 shift to 18 holes-carried huge influence. The R&A later formalized rules used widely across the game.
• Why do some famous events play 36, 54, or 72 holes? Because multiples of 18 are easy to schedule and compare. Two rounds (36) for a qualifier, four rounds (72) for a major-clean math.
• Does 18 make golf too long for busy people? It can. That’s why 9-hole options, twilight leagues, and short courses matter. You still get real golf and a valid score.
• What about ancient courses with weird numbers like 12 or 14? They existed, and a few still do in some form, but almost all modern clubs either built out to 18 or operate 9-hole loops.

Next steps based on who you are:

• New golfer: Book 9 holes at a calm time (late afternoon midweek). Play ready golf, pick up after triple bogey, and post your 9-hole score to start your Handicap Index.
• Busy regular: Plan 12 holes where offered, or alternate 9 on weekdays and 18 on weekends. Treat 9 as “mini-competitions” against your last nine to keep motivation high.
• Parent or youth coach: Choose 6-9 holes with a stop at the turn for food. Make putting a points game on two or three holes to keep focus up.
• Club committee: If tee sheets are crammed, test a 12-hole league night. Stagger starts every 10 minutes and track pace-your members will thank you.
• Traveler: Ask the pro shop which nine is windier or more scenic. On many links, the back nine shows the course’s teeth; on parkland, the front nine may ease you in.

Troubleshooting common snags:

• Slow play fears for 18: Book the first hour of daylight, play from one tee up, and agree on ready golf and continuous putting before you tee off. You’ll save 30-40 minutes.
• Unsure if your 9-hole course “counts”: It does. Confirm the course rating for each nine with the shop. Post the score. The WHS uses those ratings to treat your nine exactly as intended.
• Course on temporary greens or fewer holes: The Committee can set a shorter round. Play the holes in the posted order and post the score under temporary ratings if provided. If not, keep the card; your committee or national body can advise how to handle it.
• Fitness concerns: Start with 9 and carry fewer clubs (driver, 5‑wood, 7‑iron, 9‑iron, wedge, putter). You’ll walk lighter and focus better.

Credibility notes: The St Andrews 1764 change from 22 to 18 holes is recorded in the club’s historical notes and referenced by The R&A in its own materials. The Rules of Golf definition of a round-“18 or fewer holes” in the set order-comes straight from the current Rules published jointly by The R&A and the USGA. Prestwick’s 12‑hole history and the first Open being 36 holes over three loops are documented by Prestwick and Open Championship records. If you want to go deeper, those organizations’ archives are the primary sources.

Bottom line? Eighteen holes stuck because it was tidy, playable, and easy to organize-not because of some mystical formula. Use the number when it suits you. When life’s busy, nine or twelve is still proper golf-and your scorecard, handicap, and smile will prove it.