A beginner’s guide to gambling on golf

When it comes to the world of wagering, it’s fair to say that some sports generate more interest than others. There are some sports that are deceptively popular too, with golf providing a fascinating case in point. 

The statistics certainly suggest that golf fans love to bet, with 81.1% of the sport’s audience known to wager on tournaments and matchplay as it unfolds.

But what if you want to bet as a golf fan but have no idea where to start?

In this article, we’ve put together a beginners’ guide to gambling on golf and boosting your chances of achieving a profit.

Understanding wager types and strategy 

Gambling on sports can be challenging at the best of times, but it’s fair to say that golf betting represents one of the more complex pastimes.

This is partially because there are various types of golf bets, each of which offers its own unique advantages and risk-reward ration. Here are some of the most popular:

The win bet: With this simplistic wager, you bet on a specific golfer to win a chosen round or tournament.

The versus the field bet: Usually, a bookies’ favourite has emerged prior to the start of the final round of a tournament. With this type of wager, you hedge against the frontrunner and bet on one of the chasing pack to prevail (usually at enhanced odds).

The head-to-head bet: With this bet, two golfers are selected by a sportsbook and you’ll have to wager on one to beat the other (we’ll have more on how you can make this choice below).

The futures bet: You’ll usually place this type of bet at the start of a major tournament or championship, as you look to back the outright winner at the best possible price. 

Golf betting strategies and tips for beginners

With an understanding of the bets and individual markets on offer, your next step is to develop a viable strategy that minimises risk, identifies value and optimises your chances of winning.

Don’t let the use of the word strategy alarm you, however, as this essentially requires you to inform your betting selections wisely and leverage specific markets to tip the risk-reward balance in your favour.

Here are some tips to help you on your way:

Factor in the course, conditions and analysed data: One of your first steps is to identify the factors that can influence the outcome of a match or tournament. The course is one of the most important, as are the weather conditions that will impact directly on gameplay and the performance of individual players. You should also analyse key data sets like form and historical performance to inform your selections, rather than relying on bias or partisan support.

Bet on multiple golfers: If you’ve ever wagered on a casino game like roulette, you’ll know that the most effective strategy is to cover as much of the betting wheel as possible with your stake money. A similar principle applies to golf betting, as backing multiple golfers in a single tournament (without increasing your bankroll) can spread risk and increase your chances of securing a return.

Identify and create value: To achieve this, you’ll need to identify higher value bets while also tapping into specific markets to create additional value. You can create value by using betting markets like handicapping, which enable you to impair tournament favourites by a specific number of strokes. This will improve the odds on offer without overly compromising your chances of winning. 

Manage your bankroll and use it strategically: Once you’ve identified the best value wagers, you can begin to distribute your bankroll in a way that optimises your potential returns. More specifically, you should increase your stake when backing selections that have a high probability of winning, while lowering the value of your wager on outside bets.

So there you have it; our brief beginners’ guide to gambling on golf. Just remember to start small as you begin to learn the market, and never commit to wagering more than you can afford to lose!