These Sites Are a Hole-In-One!
Even though it’s been in existence for hundreds of years, golf still holds onto its immense popularity here in the modern era. While the equipment and courses might have changed, the challenge of the game persists. Fan interest persists as well, which is why it’s a good thing that golf betting sites exist to accept your real money wagers on the sport.
Up until the advent of the internet, betting on golf was an impossibility for many folks. There weren’t legal avenues to bet on the top events in the world, and local bookies often didn’t accept bets on it because of the unique scoring system. That’s all changed with the proliferation of top online gambling sites, with golf being one of the more popular sports among bettors from all over the world.
In the following article, we’ll tell you all you need to know when you prepare to wager at the best golf betting sites. We’ll get into the different bets you can make as well as the top events in the sport each year. And we’ll also provide you with the tips that you need to win big with your golf betting.
Popular Wagers for Golf Betting
Sports such as football and basketball often have similar betting options, but the hole-by-hole format of golf opens up a world of exciting new possibilities for bettors. While these wagers are sure to differ from one sportsbook to another, they comprise the most popular golf betting options.
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Outright Winner:
All participants in an event are listed, and it’s up to the bettor to choose the tournament winners. Money line odds are often used, which means a player is given a number with either a plus or minus sign in front of it. If it’s a plus sign, then the player is considered an underdog, and their number indicates how much money the bettor can win with a $100 wager. If it’s a negative sign, the player is a favorite and the number is how much must be wagered in order to win $100. -
Golf Futures:
This form of wager is similar to the outright winner option, but it’s often offered months in advance. This bet can be placed until the tournament begins, but odds may change as the event date gets closer. -
Top 10 Finish:
Similar to the outright winner wager, except the bettor receives a payout if his chosen player finishes in the top 10. Other versions of this wager exist for a top 5 finish and the first-round leader. -
Prop Bets:
The bettor tries to correctly predict a specific outcome. Examples include the number of strokes required to win the tournament and the European player with the best final score. -
Matchups:
Two players in a tournament are matched up against one another, and the bettor must predict who’ll finish with the better score. This match-up can take place over 18 holes, 72 holes, and some other variations. -
Group Play:
The oddsmaker lists assorted golfers who aren’t playing together in a group, and the bettor tries to predict which one will have the best score at the end of the designated number of holes. -
3 Ball Betting:
In the first couple of days during tournaments, golfers play in groups of three. In 3 Ball Betting, the gambler must choose the group player with the lowest score after a certain number of holes (usually 18). -
2 Ball Betting:
Later in tournaments, players hit the course in groups of two. This wager challenges the bettor to choose which group member will finish with the better score.
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Outright Winner:
Popular Golf Betting Events

Throughout the year, golf events can be found just about every single weekend. In fact, when you consider all the different tours throughout the world and take into account men’s, women’s, and seniors’ play, most weekends host several tournaments or competitions. It can be hard to choose between all of them.
But there are certain events that stand out on the calendar and draw the most interest from fans at golf betting sites. When you bet on these tournaments and competitions, you’ll usually have the biggest choice of markets. These are also the events that are most popular among futures bettors who take stabs at them well in advance of them taking place.
Check out our list of the top golf events on the calendar. Circle them on the calendar now so that you can be prepared to do some golf betting online when they arrive.
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The Masters
No tournament holds as much tradition in the United States as this one, held every spring at the Augusta Country Club in Georgia. The course is known for its tricky greens and a famous stretch of holes known as “Amen Corner.” For US players, winning a Masters is one of the ultimate goals. -
The US Open
Unlike the Masters, the US Open takes place in a different location every summer. It’s staged by an organization known as the USGA, which prides itself in choosing only the most difficult courses. As an Open event, it also stands out in that anyone who plays golf can technically play if they play well enough in one of the qualifying tournaments, which are open to all. -
The British Open
Courses chosen for the British Open come from all across the United Kingdom and are often among the oldest courses in the world. Their quaint setups combine with the erratic weather to make this tournament extremely tough to win. In Europe, no tournament is held in higher esteem. -
The PGA Championship
This is the fourth of the so-called “major” tournaments, which also include the Masters, US Open, and British Open. It’s held on different courses and is now the second major tournament held each year (it used to be the last.) Any player winning all four tournaments in a single season would complete “The Grand Slam,” but that’s only been accomplished one time in history (by Bobby Jones in 1930.) -
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup gives players a chance to play as a team, which is unusual in the world of golf. Teams from the United States and Europe go at it every two years for golf supremacy. Using the team format allows for unique matches like foursomes and fourballs that test players in different ways than the typical tournament. -
The Presidents’ Cup
This event is held in the years when the Ryder Cup is idle. Once again, it’s the best of the US involved, but in the Presidents’ Cup they take on players from the World (all other non-US regions besides Europe.) The Presidents’ Cup and the Ryder Cup both allow for interesting betting opportunities that can’t be found in average tournaments. -
The Players Championship
Many golf fans consider the Players to be the unofficial fifth major. The field that it draws can certainly compare to any of the top golf tournaments around the world. It’s played every year in Ponte Vedra, California in a kind of stadium environment that’s different than anything the Majors can provide. -
World Golf Championships Match Play
Most golf tournaments pit individual players against the entire field, with the best score winning after four rounds. The WGC-Match Play switches that up by having players play one-on-one in a Match Play format. Brackets like you might find during March Madness are created to determine the matchups from round to round. -
The U.S. Women’s Open
In the women’s game, some tournaments have risen in importance over the years while others have faded. But the U.S. Women’s Open has remained as the pinnacle of the sport since it first was held in 1946. The very best in Women’s Golf go at it on the top course every year for the most prized trophy of all.
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The Masters
Online Golf Betting Bonuses and Promotions
When you bet golf online at the best golf betting sites, you’ll be offered a range of bonuses that can help out your bottom line. These promotions can occasionally be tied into specific golf events like the ones we mentioned above as the best in the sport. Or they can be general perks that can be used for betting on any sports.
It’s important to realize that these bonuses can only be realized if you make a certain amount of bets. In other words, you can’t just take the bonuses and run, or else the golf betting sites would go out of business quickly. Instead, you have to meet “rollover” requirements before you can take home any winnings associated with the bonus.
That’s why it’s important that you check out the terms and conditions for any bonus or promotion that you receive for betting on golf. If you can meet those requirements, you can benefit in many different ways. Read on to find out about some of the top golf betting promotions you can receive.
Deposit Bonuses
Deposit bonuses are the main way that golf betting sites perk up your wagering. You’ll get a certain percentage of your deposit added to your account as free bets. When you meet the rollover, you can withdraw whatever is left in the bonus account after all of the bets that you’ve made.
Free Bets
Some betting sites will let you make no-risk bets in an effort to draw you into signing up for an account with them. In most cases, you won’t be able to accept any winnings from these bets until you then wager a certain amount with the site. But these “free bet” offers are getting more liberal as competition for online gambling dollars gets more and more intense, so be on the lookout for the ones that come with small rollovers at golf betting sites.
Odds Boosts
Imagine that you’re focused on a certain golfer winning the Masters. A top gambling site might offer you the chance to bet on that golfer at odds that are much more lucrative to you. Many of these types of bets are attached to major events such as the most popular golf tournaments.
Rebates
Even the most adept golf bettors go on a losing streak every now and then. But some betting sites will give you rebates on your losses if they exceed a certain amount in a set period of time. That can soften the blow of a slump and give you the momentum to keep up your golf betting online until you get hot again.
Betting sites have been getting creative in recent years coming up with new ways to boost your golf wagering. In most cases, the biggest bonuses come when you first join up for a site. That’s because these sites know how important it is to draw new customers so that they don’t fall behind.
In addition, you should look for sites that give you bonuses for other occasions as well. For example, if you reload your account with a new deposit, you might be able to get a percentage bonus as well. Bonuses for special dates like birthdays and holidays can also help out a lot.
If you take the time to seek out sites with top bonuses, it can make a big difference to your results. Always read the fine print to find out everything you can about how these promotions are administered and what requirements you have. But don’t be afraid to opt in if you’re planning on betting golf regularly online.
Golf Betting Tips

Maybe you know the game of golf quite well but aren’t so sure about getting started with online betting. Or maybe you know the betting side of it but aren’t too clear about the sport itself. In either case, it’s a good idea to go into your golf betting with a solid game plan.
There is no single golf betting strategy that can guarantee you success wagering on the sport. But if you just go in without a clue and start picking at random, your results likely won’t be too good. Maybe you’ll have some beginner’s luck at golf betting sites, but when that luck evens out, you’re going to wish you had some sort of strategy.
Take a look at some of the tips below that apply specifically to golf wagering. These will give you a nice foundation for wagering on any golf event with a bit more confidence than you might have had before.
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Know the Courses:
The courses might all look the same to the untrained eye, but in fact, they all have their quirks and idiosyncrasies. You should learn about key factors like length, green speed, bunkers and hazards, and anything else that sets a course apart from others like it. Information is easily found online, and don’t forget to see if any changes have been made in a course’s layout from past events. -
Know the Strengths of Players:
Some players can drive the ball a long distance, while others excel on the green. Once you’ve learned a player’s strengths and weaknesses, you can compare them to the course to try and predict their performance. You can also check how the player has done in past events at specific courses as a shorthand way of checking how they might do in an upcoming event there. -
Study the Stats:
There are tons of stats to analyze, including driving accuracy, putting average, and scrambling. You’d be wise to find the ones that seem to be relevant to which players end up winning or performing well each week. Trial and error with projecting these stats can lead you to an excellent golf betting strategy. -
Watch the Skies:
Weather, especially wind speed, can play a major factor. This is especially true for tournaments played in colder-weather months or in locations where wind can be a major issue (see The British Open above.) Once you know the weather forecast, you can compare it to the strengths of players to see who should excel under those conditions. -
Recency Bias:
If you’ve ever played golf before, you know how much success has to do with muscle memory, the ability to repeat successful strokes again and again. Golf is thus a game all about hot and cold streaks. When you’re betting on an upcoming event, you should take a deep dive into how players have been performing in recent events to see what kind of form they currently possess. -
Experience in Big Tournaments:
This is a harder factor to measure, but you should get a feel for it after watching enough golf. Some players have the ability to step up and rise to the occasion when the pressure is at its highest. That’s why you’ll find some players who win a lot of minor tournaments but can’t win a major, and, conversely, some who struggle all year long but always play well when the brightest lights are on them.
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Know the Courses:
The above tips are ideal for wagering at golf betting sites in particular. But there are certain tips that can be utilized, when betting on golf, that are also relevant for any kind of sports wagering you might want to do. These general strategies are an excellent basis for when you’re just getting into betting on sports like golf:
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Stick to a Budget:
It can be tempting when you first begin betting on golf to wager on every event that comes down the pike. But unless you hit on a high percentage of your wagers, you might find yourself without any money left in your account. Determine a budget and stick to it so that you don’t end up way too far in the red. -
Determine Your Betting Goals:
If you figure out what kind of bettor you want to be, you’ll be drawn to golf betting online that delivers the best results. For example, if you desire a low-volatility bet that has a good chance of winning, you should gravitate to matchup wagers. But if you want to win big on a small wager, a futures bet on a big tournament will give you a shot at that. -
Bet for Value:
Check out the odds when you can’t decide between a few possibilities. For example, if you’re stuck between one player whose odds are 20 to 1 to win and one whose odds are 5 to 1, the first player gives you more bang for your buck. Learn how to spot value that actually gives you a chance of winning. -
Stick to your Strategy:
Don’t be discouraged by bad results in the short term. If you believe in your strategy, chances are it will start to provide winners for you. But jumping around from strategy to strategy is a sure way to become frustrated and end up with consistent losses.
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Stick to a Budget:
Golf Betting FAQ
Is it legal to bet on golf online?
As long as golf betting sites accept your wager, you don’t have to worry about legality. Even if there are laws against online gambling in your location, they are mostly symbolic for individual bettors. Besides, the sites we recommend are located overseas in areas where golf betting is legal.Is live betting on golf possible?
Top betting sites do indeed allow live betting on the top golf events. This means that you can make wagers after the events have begun and while play is happening. Live golf betting opens up many wagering opportunities to those who partake in it.What is the best golf betting site?
We feel any one of the recommended sites will be ideal for your golf wagering. We suggest that you research them a bit on your own. If you do that, you might find one or two that are closer to what you want out of a betting site than the others. -