The 2025 PGA Tour season will take place across 47 courses, each presenting its unique test for the world’s best players. Every venue challenges players differently, from tree-lined parkland courses to rugged coastal links. However, one of the most significant factors in course difficulty is length—and the yardages of PGA Tour courses can vary dramatically.
While the average golf course for amateurs measures around 6,100 yards, most PGA Tour courses exceed 7,000 yards, demanding long carries off the tee and precise iron play into well-protected greens. In fact, of the 47 venues used in 2025, 43 measure over 7,000 yards, proving just how much distance plays a role at the highest level of the game.
With that in mind, let’s break down the longest and shortest courses on the 2025 PGA Tour calendar and how the Tour determines official course yardages during tournaments.
What Is the Longest Course on the 2025 PGA Tour Schedule?
The longest course on the PGA Tour in 2025 is Torrey Pines’ South Course, which measures an average of 7,765 yards. Under certain conditions, the iconic San Diego layout can stretch to over 7,800 yards, making it one of the most demanding courses in professional golf.
Torrey Pines South is hosting both the Farmers Insurance Open and Genesis Invitational this season, stepping in for Riviera Country Club, which was unable to host due to wildfires in Los Angeles.
Despite its massive length, distance alone doesn’t always dictate scoring. Take the Plantation Course at Kapalua, for example—while it ranks as the fourth-longest course of the season, Hideki Matsuyama shattered records there with a 35-under-par total, proving that wide fairways, elevation changes, and course setup can also play a massive role in scoring.
What Is the Shortest Course on the 2025 PGA Tour Schedule?
At the other end of the spectrum, the shortest course on the schedule is Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda, which measures just 6,828 yards and hosts the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
While short by professional standards, Port Royal still presents a stern test thanks to:
✔️ Strong coastal winds that influence ball flight.
✔️ Strategically placed bunkers and water hazards.
✔️ Significant elevation changes that require precise club selection.
Interestingly, while longer courses often result in lower scores, shorter courses have produced some of the lowest rounds in PGA Tour history. For instance, TPC River Highlands, which measures just 6,835 yards, is where:
- Cameron Young shot an 11-under 59 in 2024 at the Travelers Championship.
- Jim Furyk recorded the only 58 in PGA Tour history (2016) at the same event.
This highlights that length isn’t the only factor in scoring—course design, green speeds, rough conditions, and pin placements all play key roles.
How Are PGA Tour Course Yardages Determined?
The official yardages of the PGA Tour lists often fluctuate based on tournament setup. While a course might have an official length, factors like tee placements, pin positions, and course conditions can alter the distance played during a tournament.
The PGA Tour uses a system called ‘Shotlink’ to precisely measure yardages:
- Shotlink technology records the actual playing length of each hole throughout a tournament.
- This accounts for pin positions, which can alter hole yardages by 10-30 yards per round.
- Adjustments to tee boxes can shorten or lengthen sure holes to fit strategy and conditions.
- Major championships, such as The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open, and PGA Championship, do not reveal finalized yardages until the week of the event, allowing tournament officials to adjust for weather and player feedback.
Ultimately, course length is just one piece of the puzzle regarding scoring difficulty, with rough length, course firmness, and green speeds playing equally important roles.
How Do PGA Tour Courses Compare?
While Torrey Pines South and Port Royal represent the two extremes, most PGA Tour courses fall between 7,000 and 7,600 yards.
Some of the notable course lengths in 2025 include:
- Caves Valley Golf Club (7,631 yards) – Hosting the BMW Championship, this venue challenges players with long par 4s and demanding approach shots.
- Augusta National Golf Club (7,555 yards) – The Masters’ home continues to evolve, lengthening holes to combat modern driving distances.
- Bay Hill Club & Lodge (7,466 yards) – A staple on Tour, hosting the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where power and precision are equally rewarded.
- Royal Portrush (7,344 yards) – The 2025 Open Championship venue, featuring classic links-style challenges.
- TPC Sawgrass (7,275 yards) – The host of The Players Championship, famous for its island green at the 17th.
These courses offer a variety of challenges, from firm link conditions to tree-lined shot-making tests, ensuring that only the most complete players can succeed throughout the season.
Why Does Course Length Matter?
In recent years, the distance debate in golf has become a significant topic, with governing bodies considering equipment rollbacks to limit driving distances. With PGA Tour courses continuing to push past 7,500 yards, some argue that:
- Longer courses favour power hitters, leaving shorter hitters at a disadvantage.
- Course setups must balance length with strategy-based design (such as narrower fairways or smaller greens).
- The focus should be accuracy and shot-making rather than simply bombing drives.
Regardless of the ongoing debate, course length remains a key factor in tournament preparation, and players must adapt their strategy depending on course conditions.
For amateur golfers, understanding how course length impacts scoring can help inform club selection, course management, and playing strategy.
Final Thoughts: Distance Alone Doesn’t Define Difficulty
While Torrey Pines South is the longest course on the PGA Tour in 2025 and Port Royal is the shortest, neither guarantees low or high scores.
History has shown that long courses can yield record-low scores, while shorter venues can still present brutal challenges. Course design, weather conditions, green speed, rough length, and strategic layouts all influence scoring as much as raw distance.
Whether playing a long championship course or a shorter, more strategic layout, having the right gear can enhance your performance. Function18 offers a wide selection of premium golf apparel and footwear, helping golfers stay comfortable, stylish, and ready for any course conditions.
Explore the latest performance golf wear at Function18 and prepare for any challenge the course presents!
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