darpar That's a huge factor in play time if you are walking, when you look at an extra 20-100 steps per hole, that adds up A LOT! The course I played in high school was one of the best uses of space I have ever seen and that's after playing some truly great courses. The green to tee walks were short but guarded, the clubhouse had perfect views of each tee and the finishing holes were both nice and close to the cart return. It wasn't complex, but if all courses were as efficient, pace of play would be better by far. I have played a lot of courses where you needed a map to figure out where to go after you left the green, that sucks!
The worst there was on that course was a 30 yard walk back to a tee, which was obviously marked. Oh the good ole days. The problem is, even I can scare par on that course, it's greens are difficult in their simplicity and the break looks 3x bigger than they are, once you know it, its game on. It has areas you can get in trouble, but if you are smart, which I'm known not to be, it's easy.