How crowded the course gets depends on how long a round takes and how often you start a new group. Round time divided by the start interval gives groups on the course.
18 holes at 4 minutes is a 72-minute round; starting a group every 6 minutes puts 48 players on the course.
The example
Three courses with different holes, pace and group size.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Case | Holes | Min/hole | Interval | Group size | Round min | Players |
| 2 | 18 holes | 18 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 72 | 48 |
| 3 | 9 holes | 9 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 27 | 18 |
| 4 | Kid course | 12 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 60 | 24 |
The formula
Round minutes first, then groups times group size:
How it works
Here is the logic, one piece at a time:
B2*C2is minutes per round.F2/D2is groups on the course.ROUNDUProunds up so a partial group counts.- Multiplying by group size
E2gives players.
Use the pace of your slowest groups at peak, not the average.
Try it: interactive demo
Enter holes, minutes per hole, interval and group size.
Variations
Staff ratio
One marshal per 30 players.
Groups per day
Open minutes divided by interval.
Pitfalls & errors
Round time includes waiting at busy holes.
Using INT instead of ROUNDUP understates crowding.
Widen the start interval during busy hours to keep pace.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
Is this max capacity?
How do I lower crowding?
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