Golf: How Many Calories Will You Burn After Playing 18-Holes?

A sport is any competitive activity that involves physical exertion and demands your grit, determination, and 100% dedication. Given its slow pace, some say golf is not a sport; however, it fits right into this category. There is no physical exertion, one might contradict. But, did you know a round of golf burns more calories than an hour’s worth of running?

This sport is older than most modern games, having originated in 16th century Scotland. While debatable, some historians trace its origins back to the first century BC. However, looking at the game as it is now, a regulation 18-hole golf course is typically between 6200 to 7000 yards. So, to cover this basic distance, a golfer would walk at least 5 miles per round.

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Is golf exercise? A detailed calorie loss

A round of golf with 18-holes burns approximately 1,400 or 1,500 calories. This is, of course, assuming one is walking the course and not riding on a golf cart. Even though golf carts are banned in most professional tournaments, recreational golf still majorly uses carts. In fact, almost two-thirds of the golf that is played in the US is played on carts. And golf is the sport which is most popularly played by adults in America.

So, while a typical round will burn anywhere from 1,400-1,500, it also depends on the course. A course with undulations and a hilly terrain will naturally burn more calories than one on a flat surface. Moreover, one would think that lugging one’s golf bag would mean more calorie loss. However, while it is true, the difference is not significant.

20 Jun 1998: Casey Martin driving a golf cart carrying his putter during the 1998 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California. Mandatory Credit: Harry How /Allsport

In addition to the walking involved on the course, it is accompanied by the regular arm workout involved. So, to put into comparison, a typical round equates to a 30-minute gym session. On the other hand, a person weighing 185 pounds will burn 355 calories if they jog for half an hour at 5 mph. Sounds crazy, right?

So, the next time someone says golf is not exercise and just a leisurely activity, enlighten them with these facts.

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