# Golf **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 24, 2000, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/golf/26622 "2000-07-24T06:43:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mikedog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@Mikedog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikedog)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/golf/26622/1 "2000-07-24T06:43:55Z")
Hello… I was wondering how it was decided that there would be 18 holes in golf? I’m assuming it is based on the amount of land that was available at the time. Mike ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/golf/26622/2 "2000-07-24T11:50:11Z")
I like the answer I found. I don’t believe it, but I sure do like it. From [http://www.pbsco.org/page0012.htm](http://www.pbsco.org/page0012.htm) > [@](#): > > Do you know why there are 18 holes on a golf course? > The Saint Andrew’s Society of Baltimore tells us the reason for 18 holes of golf is that the canny Scots figured out that a fifth of Scotch would last exactly 18 holes. Since the size of a “wee one” is an average 1.4 ounces, a fifth of whisky containing 25.6 ounces would produce 18 complete servings. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/golf/26622/3 "2000-07-24T15:01:19Z")
The answer was mentioned in the telecast of the British Open this weekend. St. Andrew’s Golf Course needed to consolidate itself many years ago. They reduced themselves to 18 holes, because that was as many as they could fit on their remaining land. Eighteen’s been the rule ever since.