Halfway House
The halfway house is a refreshment stop at the halfway point of the golf round, usually between holes 9 and 10.
The halfway house is the half-time station of the round. A round over 18 holes takes four hours or more, and your body needs fluids and a snack. Depending on the facility it is a staffed hut, a kiosk or just a drinks machine along the way. On some courses it sits right by the clubhouse, on others in the middle of the countryside. The name comes from English and has become firmly established in German golf operations.
In practice the stop goes like this: after the last putt on hole 9, the end of the Front Nine, you take a short break. You grab a bottle of water and an apple or a bar, quickly check the scorecard and head to the tee of the 10. The rule here: the break is not a stoppage of play, the pace of play of your group remains obligatory. Five minutes are usual; a half-hour coffee break annoys the following group.
An everyday mistake is relying on the halfway house. Not every facility has one, and some huts are closed outside the season. In heat or on a long round, water and a small snack always belong in your own bag. Anyone who only notices on the Back Nine that their concentration is fading has failed to plan supplies. Thirst and hunger cost more strokes than many a slice.
FAQ
How long may the break at the halfway house last?
Five minutes are usual: take a drink and a snack, quickly check the scorecard, then on to the tee of the 10. The break is not a stoppage of play; your group's pace of play remains obligatory. A half-hour coffee break annoys the following group and can lead to you being waved through.
Is there a halfway house on every course?
No, not every facility has a refreshment stop at the halfway point, and some huts are closed outside the season. Don't rely on it — in heat or on long rounds, pack water and a small snack in your own bag. Thirst and hunger on the Back Nine cost more strokes than many a slice.
When is the right moment for the stop at the halfway house?
After the last putt on hole 9, i.e. at the end of the Front Nine. At some facilities the hut sits right by the clubhouse, at others in the middle of the countryside on the way to the 10. Use the stop to take on fluids too, before your energy dips on the second nine holes.