If you’ve ever played more than one round of golf at two or more different courses in your life, you know that not all courses are created equally. In fact, they’re not even close.

What you may not be aware of is how important this is to placing winning golf bets. It’s important for a few reasons.

First, different courses lend themselves to different skill sets.

Golf has always been one of the most popular sports in the world. And with the rise of online betting, golf has quickly become one of the most popular sports to bet on. If you're new to sports betting and are interested in betting on golf online, the number of betting options, markets and bookmakers can seem a little overwhelming at first. The world of online golf betting revolves primarily around the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour is the primary organizer of the main professional golf tours in North America. They are in charge of the PGA Tour, the PGA Tour Champions, the Korn Ferry Tour, as well as the PGA Tour Canada, Latin America and China. For most casual golf fans, betting on golf has likely meant putting down a few dollars during a match on the golf course, or perhaps a few dollars in a pool for the majors.

If you’re accurate off the tee, you’re going to do better on a course with tight fairways and penalizing rough. If you’re a tremendous putter, you’re going to fare well at courses with challenging and fast greens.

If you’re a surgeon with your irons, you will enjoy course setups where approach shots are guarded by vicious hazards.

Most courses on the PGA Tour “place a premium” on one facet of the game. Of course, to win on the toughest tour in the world, you are going to need to bring you’re “A game” in all categories. However, knowing which courses place a premium on crisp and accurate ball-striking over the ones that require excessive length or great lag putting will help guide you in making your bets.

To make smart wagers, you need to understand what each golfer’s skill sets are and be able to translate that into what courses each should do well on.

That certainly doesn’t mean that a golfer who is short off the tee isn’t capable of winning at a long course or that a golfer who doesn’t putt well can’t win at a course with lightning quick greens.

It just means that they are going to have a tougher time and therefore it may not be as wise of a bet.

Secondly, you need to be aware of the golfer’s history and results at a particular course and tournament. Ask yourself the following questions about the golfers before a specific golf tournament.

  • Have they won or consistently finished towards the top of the leaderboard at this event?
  • Have they consistently missed the cut or underperformed at this tournament?
  • Do they turn into a machine when they get to that particular course or tournament?

You want to know these answers before you start placing golf wagers on a specific week.

Don’t just blindly go throwing your hard-earned money at the wall hoping something sticks.

Doing a little research on the course and the player’s history at that course can go a long way towards padding your wallet.

Fore! Betting on golf used to be something you’d have to head into a brick and mortar sportsbook to accomplish. But what happens if you want to place a bet while you’re out on the course? Or what happens if you want to bet on golf from the comfort of your couch? Well, you can now. The best golf betting sites offer the ultimate in flexibility for sports bettors looking to wager on things like the PGA Tour, international golf leagues, or any of The Majors. In this guide, we’ll talk about where to bet on golf online and share a few tips to make profitable wagers.

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What Makes These the Best Sites for Golf Betting?

Reputation and Trustworthiness

You have to know you can trust the online sportsbooks for golf betting you’re using. If not, how can you ever expect to have fun and relax? And if you’re someone who is betting to turn a profit, this gets even more important. Here’s the bottom line. All of the real money golf betting sites listed above are safe, secure, and have a solid track record of taking care of golf bettors for years.

Golf Betting Coverage

Golf is an expansive sport that goes beyond just the PGA Tour. The top online golf sportsbooks offer action on the PGA Tour, the LPGA, the European Tour, The Majors, the Champions Tour, and even action on some of the smaller feeder tours. Even if you don’t have plans to bet on anything other than the PGA Tour, it’s a good feeling to know these golf betting options are there in case you need them.

Bonuses and Promotions

The best sportsbooks for betting on golf offer lucrative bonuses to entice new bettors and to reward loyal patrons. If you’re not getting perks for using online golf betting sites, you’re missing out. Bonuses are a critical key to giving your online betting bankroll the boost it needs to give you the best chance of being a successful and profitable golf bettor.

Banking Options

Funding your bankroll at top golf betting sites doesn’t come with a headache. You’ll find several user-friendly options for getting money online instantly. And on that same token, getting your money offline when you win big is also quick and easy.
Some of the most popular banking options you’ll see include Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin, bank transfers, direct deposits, and more.

User Interface

It shouldn’t feel like you need a computer engineering degree to place a bet on golf online. Golf betting apps should be easy to use, have a small learning curve, and be enjoyable. Whether you’re placing a bet, signing up for an account, looking up golf betting lines, or making a deposit or withdrawal, it should be easy. Rest assured, the golf betting sites included here hit a hole in one on this.

Mobile Golf Betting

The idea behind betting on golf online is convenience. And one of the major factors contributing to that convenience is the ability to bet from anywhere at any time. This is only possible if the online golf sportsbooks you choose have sufficient mobile betting options. Our team has thoroughly tested each of the recommended options listed here on tablets, iPads, Androids, iPhones, laptops, and desktops.

Types of Bets You Can Place on Golf

Outright Tournament Winner

The most common wager you can make on a golf tournament is the outright winner. With this bet, all you have to do to win is pick out which golfer is going to win the entire tournament. These bets can be made before the tournament starts or after any of the subsequent rounds leading into the final round.

Depending on the likelihood of the golfer you’re interested in winning, you’ll see better or worse payouts. Additionally, making a bet at the beginning of a tournament versus before a later round may offer better or worse odds.

Here’s an Example

Let’s say you think that Justin Rose is going to win an upcoming golf tournament. You look online at your favorite golf betting sites, and you see that Justin is +1200 to win the tournament. If you place a $10 bet now and Justin wins the entire tournament, you’ll get a cool $120.

Now, let’s look at two scenarios after the first round of play. Let’s say that Justin comes out and hits the ball lights out in the first round and takes the lead. You can expect those odds to drop significantly. For example, they might go down to something like +800. While it’s now more likely that Justin Rose is going to win, you’re only going to make $80 on a $10 bet if you waited to bet. But anyone who bet before the tournament will still get the $120. Your odds don’t change after you place a bet.

But what happens if Justin has a bad round? Well, those odds might get better. Instead of getting +1200, you might see something like +2000. Now, a $10 bet on Justin Rose to win the tournament will net you $200. Again, this doesn’t affect anyone who wagered at any other point in time. Once you bet, your odds are locked in.

Round Winner

A golf bet you’ll see at most sites for golf betting online similar to the outright winner bet is the round winner bet. The only difference with this wager is that instead of betting on which golfer is going to win the entire tournament, you’re only betting on which golfer has the best score for that particular round.

While they won’t be handing out any trophies on TV for winning the round, you can still collect a nice little paycheck when you’re right.

Head to Head Winner

A very popular wager you’ll see at many real money golf betting apps and online sportsbooks is a head-to-head bet. Sometimes referred to as a matchup bet, this is a player vs. player wager for the round or for the tournament. All you need to do in order to win this wager is pick which of the two golfers listed will have a better score.

Which golfers will you get matchup bets on? It all depends on what golf betting odds the site wants to put out. Generally, though, you’ll see a lot more of these in later rounds when there are more famous golfers playing in the same pairing.

For example, let’s say that Justin Rose and Dustin Johnson are paired up for the final round of a tournament. You might see a head to head round bet like:

Head to Head
+120
-130

In this bet offered by PGA betting sites, Dustin Johnson is a slight moneyline betting favorite. If you bet on Dustin and he wins the round, you win your bet. If you bet on Justin and he wins the round, you win your bet. You’d get a slightly better payout if Justin won, though, because, in this scenario, the oddsmakers think he’s a slight underdog.

Golf Futures

A futures bet is a wager on something that is going to happen far out in the future. Technically, a tournament winner bet made before the tournament or before any round other than the last one is a futures bet. The most popular golf futures bet you can make is on which golfer is going to be crowned the PGA Champion at the end of the year. PGA betting is a great option for golf enthusiasts.

Golf Prop Bets

A very fun side of betting on golf online are prop bets. These are wagers where you get the chance to bet on whether or not something is going to happen in a golf tournament. Your job is to pick whether or not the event or thing will happen. Here are a few examples:

  • Will there be a hole in one?
  • Will a golfer from the US win the tournament?
  • Will Tiger Woods hit a ball into the water on hole 17 in any round?

You’ll see different golf betting odds on each side of the bet depending on the likelihood of the wager happening and how the public is betting.

Live Betting on Golf

The last type of bet we want to touch on you’ll see at the top online golf sportsbooks is live betting. Live betting is the ability to wager on a round of golf after it has started. Often, you’ll see the ability to bet on the score of an upcoming hole or who is going to win the tournament or round with odds updated in real-time. It’s a great way to turn a relaxing game into a big bundle of excitement.

Biggest Golf Events to Bet On

While you’re going to get action and golf betting lines on most golf tournaments, there are some special events where you can expect to see more options and more action. Here are the four biggest golf tournaments and events that you can bet on for real money.

  • When: First week of April
  • Where: Augusta National Golf Club
The Masters is one of the most iconic golf tournaments in the world. Famed for awarding the coveted green jacket to the winners, the best golfers in the world compete annually for a chance at making golf history. For sports bettors, The Masters is known for providing a lot of action, including a higher than normal number of prop bet wagers.

Last 5 Masters Winners

  • 2020 – Dustin Johnson
  • 2019 – Tiger Woods
  • 2018 – Patrick Reed
  • 2017 – Sergio Garcia
  • 2016 – Danny Willett
  • When: May, the weekend before Labor Day (as of 2019)
  • Where: Rotating courses in the US
As the only one of the majors exclusively for professional players, the PGA Championship is one of the most prestigious golf events in the world. The venue rotates in the United States on an annual basis. The winner of the event gets the Wanamaker Trophy, as well as an automatic invite to all of the other major tournaments for the next five years. Betting on the PGA online is far more convenient than betting at a sportsbook in person.

Last 5 PGA Championship Winners

  • 2020 – Collin Morikawa
  • 2019 – Brooks Koepka
  • 2018 – Brooks Koepka
  • 2017 – Justin Thomas
  • 2016 – Jimmy Walker
  • When: Mid-June
  • Where: Variety of Courses
As the third of the four majors in golf, the US Open is played in mid-June at a variety of different courses. Generally, this is regarded as one of the toughest tournaments on the schedule, as difficult courses are selected, and pin placements are always challenging. The fact that the courses are challenging makes the US Open one of the most exciting golf tournaments to bet on.

Last 5 US Open Winners

  • 2020 – Bryson DeChambeau
  • 2019 – Gary Woodland
  • 2018 – Brooks Koepka
  • 2017 – Brooks Koepka
  • 2016 – Dustin Johnson
  • When: July
  • Where: Rotating courses in the UK
Sometimes known as the British Open, the Open Championship is the fourth and final major. The tournament was originally held at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Over the years, though, this was changed to a revolving list of courses across the United Kingdom.

Last 5 The Open Winners

  • 2019 – Shane Lowry
  • 2018 – Francesco Molinari
  • 2017 – Jordan Spieth
  • 2016 – Henrik Stenson
  • 2015 – Zach Johnson

Tips for Betting on Golf

Use a Variety of Bets to Get Ahead of Variance

Technically, as long as you continually make bets that have value, you’ll win money, in the long run, betting on golf. However, if you’re only betting on tournament winners, that long term could be months or years until you see a profit (depending on how often you bet).

To combat this, mix in lower variance bets like prop bets, matchup bets, and individual round bets. It doesn’t make your odds any better, but it can limit the variance timeline.

Gambling On Golf

Be Careful of Media Stories

Golf appeals to an audience that enjoys feel-good stories and comeback tales. And while we enjoy these as well, they are stories that can cloud your judgment when it comes to placing winning golf bets. Remember why the news, commentators, and announcers exist. They aren’t there to help you win bets. Their job is to entertain. When you hear their picks and predictions, make sure you listen with that lens so you don’t end up betting with your heart and not your head.

Realize Each Course Is Different

Every golf course out there is a little bit different. Different courses favor different kinds of golfers. And while it’s important to pay attention to someone who is on a hot streak playing great golf, be careful not to put too much weight on past performances when they’re going to a course that doesn’t favor their style. Focus more on their past performances at the upcoming course or at similar courses.

Use the Data

There are incredible sources of data on golfers, especially on PGA Tour players. Use these data sources to your advantage. While there is still an emotional element to the game, the numbers never lie. Take advantage of the resources you have at your disposal to make the most educated picks possible.

Don’t Forget About Injuries

Golf isn’t as hard-hitting of a game as, say, football, but it can still take a toll on a player’s body from time to time. Make sure you stay up on any injury reports that come out, including rumors. If you see a line on a golfer that you think is too good to be true, make sure it’s not because they’re injured.

Online golf games 18 holes

How to Get Started Online Golf Betting

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Choose the Best Golf Online Sportsbooks
Head back to the top of this guide and pick out the best betting option for you. Each option offers a top-tier experience, but it’s important you take a minute and find the best fit for you.
Create an Account
Once you’ve settled on an option, go ahead and use the provided links to create your account. This shouldn’t take more than about two minutes.
Make a Deposit
After you have an account, head to the banking section of the website or golf betting app. Follow the on-screen prompts and make your first real money deposit.
Collect Welcome Bonuses
Promo codes and different bonuses will be offered by golf betting sites online, and you don’t want to miss out on these opportunities since they can add to your betting bankroll.
Make Your First Golf Bet
At this point, you’re all ready to tee off. Head over to the list of golf betting odds, and find a wager that you want to make. Complete the process, and you’re ready to start trying to win!

Golf Betting Sites FAQ

Is It Legal to Bet on Golf Online?

Yes, betting on golf online is legal in most states and most countries in the world. We do encourage you to check local and state laws in your specific area to confirm before placing a wager.

How Does Golf Betting Work?

Betting on golf online is super easy! You have the ability to bet on who is going to win a tournament, who is going to win a head-to-head matchup, prop bets from each tournament or round, or a whole host of other interesting and potentially lucrative wagers. All you need to do is create an account at one of the real money golf betting sites listed in this guide and choose what you want to wager on.

Golf Online Betting Sites

How Do I Bet Golf Matchups?

Betting on golf matchups is a great way to lower your variance and cash in on your expert knowledge. The matchups you’re able to bet on depends on what the online golf betting sites are offering. Expect to see more action in later rounds, and expect to see more action when iconic golfers are paired up. All of the golf online sportsbooks listed in this guide offer plenty of golf matchup wagers for each tournament of the year.

What Are the Best Sites to Bet on Golf?

Online Golf Betting

The list of the best online sportsbooks for golf betting changes from time to time, but our team is on top of it. At the top of this guide, we’ve included a list of the current best golf betting sites athat offer the safest and best action. If you are looking for the best sites to bet on golf, this is the place to start.

Should I Join More Than One Golf Betting Site?

Betting On Golf Tournaments

It’s a good strategy to join more than one golf betting site when you’re looking to make a profit betting on the game. Why? First, multiple sports betting accounts don’t cost you anything extra. There’s no risk that comes with having two accounts to wager from. The advantage of this is that you can shop different wagers to get the best odds. If you’re betting something like tournament winners, you’ll see a lot of differences in the odds offered.

Are There Apps Where You Can Bet on Golf?

Yes! In our list of the best PGA betting sites, we’ve included many options that have dedicated mobile apps you can use. And if you want to bet on the go but you don’t want to download an app, each site also comes with a mobile-friendly platform. With this, you can bet on the go from your internet browser with no need for adding a program or software to your device. For more information on the best golf betting apps, check out the page linked below.

Golf Betting Sites

Conclusion on Golf Betting Online

Direct Golf

Golf may be a relaxing sport, but it’s also an exciting sport. And when you wager on the game, it makes it that much more exciting. If you are ready to get started betting on golf online, you have all the tools, information, and resources needed. Head on back up to the top of this guide and get started by picking out the right golf betting sites for you.