Best Golf Betting Sites

How We Review the Best Golf Betting Sites

Narrowing down the hundreds of sports betting platforms across the web can be time-consuming, but it’s important to ensure a high-quality and reliable experience. When we review the best golf betting sites, we evaluate each of these criteria to determine a site’s overall quality, trustworthiness, and user experience. We invite you to consider the following factors during your search to make more informed betting decisions. 

License

Online sports betting sites must have licenses through a valid licensing body to ensure a safe and trustworthy user experience. We always evaluate an online golf betting site’s license first; if a site is unlicensed, we won’t recommend it to any of our readers and suggest you steer clear of it. 

You can typically find licensing information at the bottom of a golf betting site’s home page. Always verify that a website’s license is through an actual licensing body and not a made-up source. If this information isn’t easy to find, you can assume a site is unlicensed and likely trying to scam you. 

Payment Methods

Golf betting sites generally let you deposit funds into your account through a few different payment methods. Top-tier golf betting sites offer all the major payment methods, including:

• Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum, plus more obscure ones like Dogecoin and Solana

• E-wallets like PayPal, Apple Wallet, Google Pay, etc. 

• Credit cards and debit cards, including Mastercard, Visa, etc. 

• Direct bank transfer

Some modern sports betting platforms only allow cryptocurrency payments, but the best sites have built-in methods for purchasing crypto with a regular debit card or credit card. This way, you don’t need to have any pre-existing cryptocurrency knowledge to deposit funds into your account and start betting on the Masters Tournament or your other favorite golf events.  

Bonuses

The top golf betting sites give you bonuses on top of your deposited funds, allowing you to place more bets or increase your winnings without spending more money. These sites have several different types of bonuses available so that you can maximize the ones you qualify for. 

The most popular golf betting bonuses are deposit bonuses, which match your initial deposit amount by a certain percentage. Some websites also give you “free” bets, but you can’t always cash out your winnings for free. You can learn more about golf betting bonuses below. 

Customer Support

Should you ever need help navigating online golf betting sites, a site with good customer support is key. The most reliable golf betting sites offer live chat and phone options, so you can speak with a customer service agent through your preferred contact method. These support teams are available at least during normal business hours and sometimes 24/7, ensuring speedy responses to your queries. 

Always review a website’s customer support features before signing up and depositing money. You want to be sure you can get ahold of someone should you have issues withdrawing your winnings or accessing your account. If a site doesn’t have customer support, you risk losing the money you’ve deposited and won. 

Security

Golf betting sites require you to provide them with sensitive information, including your name, address, and banking details. As a result, you need to feel confident that a website will keep your information safe and protected from unauthorized parties. 

Trustworthy golf betting sites use encryption to protect sensitive data from hackers. They also use Know Your Player (KYP) vetting processes to ensure everyone who joins the platform is who they say they are. If you’re unsure about a website’s security, it may be best to look elsewhere instead of risking your private data. 
 

Top Bonuses at Golf Betting Sites

The greatest golf betting sites offer bonuses to entice new users to create accounts and place their first bets. These bonuses could allow you to win more money or place bigger bets without spending more. Understanding how they work can help you use them strategically to stretch your winnings on an online golf betting site. 

Sign-Up

Sign-up bonuses reward you for signing up with a new golf betting site. They may match your initial deposit by a certain percentage, such as 150%, increasing the funds you can use to place bets on golf. While you can bet with this bonus money, you may only withdraw your winnings once you meet certain wagering requirements. 

Some sites also give free bets and other perks when you first sign up. These bonuses are only available to new users, so make the most of them when creating an account on a new site. 

Deposit Bonus

Deposit bonuses are similar to sign-up bonuses in that they match your deposit by a certain percentage. While these are often used to entice new bettors, they are sometimes available to all. Anyone can take advantage of these bonuses when they come around, either by activating them on their accounts or entering a specified promo code. 

Deposit bonuses typically come with wagering requirements as well. For instance, a deposit bonus may have a 40x wagering requirement. This means you need to bet the bonus amount 40 times before you trigger the bonus and are able to withdraw any winnings you gained from it. 

Bet and Get Bonus

“Bet and get” bonuses grant you bonus funds just for betting a certain amount on your favorite golfer. For example, a “bet and get” bonus may read “Bet $5, Get $50 in Bonus Bets.” In that case, you’d need to bet at least $5 on the site to activate the bonus. In turn, it would deposit $50 into your account. 

Some sites have strict terms for “bet and get” bonuses. You may have to win your bet for the bonus to take effect. Other times, you’ll need to meet wagering requirements to withdraw the bonus money. As always, read the terms to understand how a “bet and get” bonus works before placing your bet. 

Free Bets

Free bets are just what they sound like — bets you can place on a golf round or tournament without wagering any money. Different golf betting sites approach these bonuses differently. Some have no-risk free bets, meaning you won’t lose anything if the bet loses, but you’ll win real money if it hits. Others only allow you to cash out your winnings from a free bet if you bet a certain amount of real money afterward. 

Golf betting websites may offer free bets as part of a holiday promotion or to entice you to return after a period of absence from the site. When you find these offers, be sure to read the terms and conditions to understand whether the bet is actually “free.” If it is, use it before you lose it.

Cashback Bonus

Cashback bonuses help make up for lost bets on golf betting platforms. When these bonuses are active, you can get a certain percentage of your lost funds back, helping to soften the blow after you wrongly bet that Xander Schauffele would win the 2023 Masters. 

For example, a platform may offer 5% cashback on losses. If you lose a $200 bet, you’ll get $10 back through this promo. 

Other times, golf betting websites provide a flat cashback amount, such as $10, with a cashback rate percentage, such as 5%. This means you’d need to wager $200 before you could trigger the $10 cashback. 

Rewards and Loyalty Bonuses

While shopping around for the best golf betting odds on several platforms is wise, it also makes sense to stick to the same betting platform at times. Many golf betting sites offer loyalty bonuses that accumulate over time. The more bets you place, the better rewards you can unlock. 

Once you sign up for a platform’s VIP or loyalty program, you can earn credits or points for every bet you place. Then, you can redeem those points for bonuses and rewards.

Be sure to join a website’s loyalty program as soon as you create an account so you can begin accumulating points immediately. 
 

How To Bet on Golf

Betting on golf doesn’t only involve predicting the winner of a tournament. The top golf betting sites let you put your expertise and passion for the sport to work to place highly specific bets on niche outcomes. With the right betting strategy in place, you can win big on your next golf bet while feeling confident throughout the process. Here are the most common golf bets you must understand:

• 3-ball betting: A 3-ball bet predicts which golfer will come away with the lowest score in a threesome matchup. For example, in a matchup between Chris DiMarco, Gene Sauers, and Y.E. Yang, you bet on DiMarco to win the round. Sportsbooks assign golf odds to each player; if you bet on the underdog, your potential winnings are higher, but so is the risk. 

• 2-ball betting: In 2-ball betting, you predict the winner in a head-to-head matchup. These bets are more beginner friendly and may be a good place to start your golf betting journey. For example, imagine a matchup between David Frost (-105) and Kirk Triplett (-115). You bet on the slight underdog, Frost. If you place a $105 wager on Frost and it hits, you’d win an additional $100, walking away with $205. 

• 6-shooter betting: Currently rising in popularity, the 6-shooter bet pits six golfers against each other. You choose one golfer from the six to win the group. If you’re correct, you serve to gain sizable profits, but the odds of doing so are relatively low. 

• First-round leader: Placing a first-round leader bet means betting on the golfer to win the first round in a tournament. These bets offer consistent value because you can learn golfers’ first-round trends. Some do quite well right out of the gates, while others take a round or two to warm up. Knowing this data can inform your bets and potentially increase your chances of winning. 

• Round leader: You can bet on the golfer who will lead any round in a tournament, whether it’s the first, third, or fifth round. These bets are more challenging because you can’t always predict a golfer’s performance later in a tournament without getting a sense of how they are in the early rounds. The earlier you place a round leader bet, the greater your payout.

• Against the field: Sometimes, a golfer has a clear advantage over the rest of the contenders in their group. Betting “against the field” means you bet either on the favorite or on everyone else. These bets only make sense when the leader has an obvious advantage, as they must beat everyone else in the tournament for the bet to hit. 

• Outright winner: A bet on the outright winner of a tournament can be difficult to hit, as many variables may impact the overall winner. These bets also have great odds and are typically pretty affordable, so they’re worth a try every now and then. 

• Finishing position: You can also bet on who will finish in the top five, 10, or 20 spots in a tournament. These are called finishing position or “place” bets. You can bet that a golfer like Glen Day will place “within the top five,” or you can bet on the specific position in which they will place. The latter has greater odds. 

• Cuts: In golf tournaments, organizers must cut down the number of golfers after a certain midpoint. You can bet on a golfer to make/miss the cut. If you bet on an underdog to make the cut, your odds will be greater — the same as if you bet on a leader to miss the cut. 

• Heads-up matchups: In a heads-up or head-to-head matchup, you pin two golfers against each other. Whoever ranks higher on the tournament leaderboard wins. If one of the players in a head-to-head matchup misses the cut, the opponent is the automatic winner. If both players miss the cut, the player with the lower score until that point wins. 

• Hole scores/hole winners: You can also bet on more niche events in golfing, such as who will score in the least number of hits for a specific hole. Perhaps you know a golfer tends to do well on a specific hole at the Pebble Beach Golf Links. Reviewing past performance is key to placing a successful hole scores bet. 

• Parlays: A parlay bet is a combination bet. Rather than betting on one outcome, such as Scottie Scheffler to beat Ludvig Åberg, you bet on several different outcomes all taking place. Perhaps you bet that Scheffler will beat Åberg, Wyndham Clark will make the cut, and Collin Morikawa will finish in the top five. All of these events must come true for your bet to hit. 

• Nassau bet: A Nassau bet in golf is technically three different bets. You’re betting on the best score in the front nine holes, the back nine holes, and the total 18 holes. This is one of the best-known wagers in golf. You may also see it referred to as “2-2-2” on golf betting sites.  

• Live golf betting: In live golf betting, you can place bets and adjust your wagers as a golf tournament is happening in real time. This type of betting lets you use current data, weather conditions, and golfer performance to inform your bets. Still, the odds are not as high as they are for futures bets, which you place well in advance. 
   

Top Golf Events for Betting

Knowing about the biggest events and tournaments in golf each year can help you nail down your betting strategy. These events represent some of the most popular golf tournaments — and the ones with the most online betting activity. 

PGA Tour

The PGA Tour, originally established by the Professional Golfers Association of America, organizes professional golf tours in North America. These tours are played primarily by men in the United States. The PGA Tour consists of several different tournaments, such as:

• Memorial Tournament: Taking place at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, this tournament was founded by Jack Nicklaus in 1976. The course features a bronze sculpture of Nicklaus. This tournament is one of only five given “invitational” status by the PGA Tour, meaning it has a smaller field and more freedom in determining players than a full-field open tournament. The tournament features 120 players. 

• Players Championship: The Players Championship is an annual tournament in the PGA Tour that began in 1974. It features a purse of over $25 million and includes the top 50 players in world rankings. However, it is not an official championship, as it is owned by the PGA Tour. The Players Championship takes place at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. 

• Arnold Palmer Invitational: The Arnold Palmer Invitational takes place at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, a private golf resort in Orlando owned by Arnold Palmer’s daughter and son-in-law. The tournament happens each March and is among the only PGA Tour events of “invitational” status. The field has only 69 players. Since 2017, the winner of the tournament has received a red cardigan in memory of Arnold Palmer.

• Tour Championship: The PGA Tour Championship is a men’s professional senior golf tour open to players who are 50 or older. Most of these championships consist of only three rounds and have small fields of around 80 golfers. 

Masters Tournament

The Masters Tournament is one of four major tournaments in men’s professional golf. It typically takes place during the first week of April and is held at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. 

This tournament was established in 1934 and has incorporated several traditions since then. For example, the champion must return the awarded green jacket to the clubhouse one year after victory. There is also a Champions Dinner that takes place on the Tuesday before the tournament each year. 

The total prize money for the Masters Tournament fluctuates each year but was $20 million in 2024, with $3.6 million going to the winner. The number of participants also fluctuates each year. In 2024, 106 golfers were invited, and 89 participated. 

U.S. Open Golf

The U.S. Open Golf Championship is the national open golf championship that takes place each year. It is also one of the four major golf championships. This championship has a rich history dating back to 1895 when it was first played on a nine-hole course in Newport, Rhode Island. Today, it may take place on one of several courses and has a field of 156 players, including men and women. 

The Open Championship

The Open Championship, also known as the British Open, was established in 1860 and is the oldest golf tournament in the world. Today, it is still one of the most prestigious tournaments. It is called The Open because it is “open” to both professional and amateur golfers. Still, only a small number of amateurs are invited each year. 

The Open Championship takes place each July and is one of the four men’s major golf championships. The winner of the Open Championship is deemed the “Champion Golfer of the Year.” 

The Ryder Cup

The Ryder Cup takes place every other year in either the U.S. or Europe. The tournament consists of two teams of twelve players — one from the U.S. and one from Europe. Participants play a total of 28 matches, each lasting 18 holes. Players qualify based on performance or are chosen by the team’s captain. 

Golf at the Olympics

Golf is an official event at the Summer Olympics, which takes place every four years. Qualification for a country’s Olympic golf team is based primarily on the Official World Golf Ranking for men and the Women’s World Golf Rankings. The top 15 players of each gender automatically qualify. 

The Olympics has men’s and women’s golf events. Tournaments consist of individual stroke play, which counts the total number of strokes over 18 holes. Olympic organizers have considered adding match-play and team tournaments to the event. In the future, they may also use a different qualifying system to allow more golfers to enter. 
 

Golf Betting Tips and Strategies

Golf betting is a form of gambling, which means you’ll never be able to place a bet with 100% confidence. But learning a few betting tips and strategies can help you place bets that are more likely to hit — or less likely to drain your funds. 

• Review current form: Current form refers to a golfer’s current performance over the previous weeks and months. Is your chosen golfer in a hot streak or a cold streak? How did they perform in the last tournament? What factors are driving their performance? All of these factors can affect how a golfer performs in a tournament and should shape your betting strategy. 

• Don’t be tempted by the popular names: If you’re not big into the professional golf scene, you may be tempted to bet on the names you know, like Tiger Woods. Instead, consider the performance of all players in a tournament, review the odds, and make an informed bet. Avoid only betting on your favorites, and remain objective while placing bets. 

• Spread out your stake: As you become more familiar with betting on golf, consider spreading out your stake across multiple players in a tournament rather than putting all your eggs in one basket. For example, maybe bet $25 on four golfers rather than $100 on one. Your chances of one bet hitting will improve. 

• Evaluate the course layout: Take the popular golf betting adage “horse for course” to heart. Match players with the courses they’ve previously performed well on. Consider all the variables affecting a course, such as the average length per hole and the number of hazards, before choosing a golfer to bet on. 

• Check the weather: Weather conditions significantly impact golfers’ performance. Check wind speeds, rain forecasts, temperatures, and other weather conditions to inform your bet. Also, be sure to check the tee time for the golfer you’re betting on, as weather changes throughout the day can also affect performance. 
   

History of Betting on Golf

Betting on golf has been a popular pastime for centuries, beginning as early as 1681 in Scotland. James VII of Scotland, the Duke of Albany, participated in the first international golf contest that year as part of a bet to claim the game for Scotland. His teammate John Paterson won enough money in the bet to build a mansion in what is now known as “Golfers Land” in Edinburgh. 

In the centuries following, golf betting was mainly a social activity for wealthy individuals who placed bets among friends or within golf clubs. Over time, more golf clubs formed across the United Kingdom, establishing a formalized betting system that anyone could partake in. 

When golf became popular in North America in the late 1800s, betting on golf naturally became popular as well. The practice became even more common with the introduction of major golf tournaments, such as the Masters, which entered the scene in 1934. 

The advancement of betting technology in recent years, along with the legalization of sports betting in 38 states across the U.S., has further increased the popularity of the practice. Now, betting on golf is as easy as visiting one of the onlinegolf betting sites on our list, creating an account, and placing your first bet. 
 

Final Thoughts

Are you ready to start betting on golf? Legal golf betting sites with user-friendly interfaces, safe practices, and excellent golf betting odds abound. Now, it’s up to you to find the best golf betting site for your needs. 

Sign up for one of the sites on our list today to start placing bets on the Masters and all your favorite tournaments. 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions about betting on golf or using one of the most trustworthy golf betting sites on the list above? Find answers below.