Golf Betting Strategy: How to Bet on Golf in the UK

How Golf Betting Works

Golf betting is pretty fun and can be quite rewarding. Unlike most sports popular with UK bettors, betting on golf is mostly centred around a single player. That means the odds usually depend on the player’s statistics and their past experiences on a particular course, as well as how a course is laid out.

Golf provides a plethora of betting markets, allowing you to wager on various betting options and preferences. The most common types of golf bets are;

• Outright or tournament winner: This is the simplest bet in golf betting, and it involves choosing a player whom you predict will win the tournament.

• Top 5/10/20 finishes: This market allows you to bet on a golfer to finish in the top 5, top 10, or top 20 position on the golf tournament leaderboard.

• Matchups (head-to-head): In this market, you bet on a player to outperform another — regardless of the outcome — in a specific round or the entire tournament. This bet can either be 2-ball, between two players or 3-ball, between three players.

• Each-way: This combines two bets in one. The first half is for your chosen player to win the tournament, and the second half is for them to finish within a specific range (usually top 5 or top 8).

Other popular golf betting markets include first round leader, parlay, prop bets, and round totals (over/under).

Top Golf Betting Strategies

Now let’s look at various top golf betting strategies you can adopt to improve your golf betting and ensure you are not losing money.

Form & Course History

Studying the player is arguably the most important strategy for successful golf betting. That means you should research the player’s recent performance to get a good idea of their current form. All players have their strengths and weaknesses, and you must figure that out before placing bets. Examples of what you should look out for in a player’s current form include driving accuracy, injuries, and swing mechanics.

Also, don’t forget to study the course (course length, fairway width, green complexity, grass type) and how the player has performed on different courses. This is because golf courses vary greatly, and certain players perform better on a specific type of course than on others.

Weather Conditions

Since golf tournaments are held outdoors, weather conditions can significantly impact their outcomes. Windy conditions, for instance, can make it difficult for the golfer to control the ball’s flight and make the course more challenging. Rain, on the other hand, tends to soften greens and drench fairways, which also affects the course play.

Thus, you should always check the weather reports before the tournaments to help you find value bets based on how players perform in different weather conditions. Even though the weather reports will not always be accurate, they will help you keep ahead of bookmakers.

Stats that Matter

You should ignore pointless stats and focus on pertinent stats that can help you place winning bets. Strokes gained/ball-striking, shots gained/approach-the green, shots gained/tee-to-green, opportunities gained, and total driving are all helpful.

Using golf statistics and data analytic tools can also help you in creating predictive models for each golf tournament. This approach enables you to make informed betting judgments based on facts and analysis. By analysing data and statistics, you also stand a lower chance of making costly bets, as you have eliminated decision-making based on emotions and personal preference factors in your betting strategy.

Value Betting

Another key strategy is finding value bets, also called value betting. A value bet is when the chance of winning a golfer is much greater than the odds given by the bookmaker. A good example of this scenario is when a skilled player is always ranked as the underdog and the bookmaker undervalues them by lowering their odds of winning. Thus, you need to know every golfer’s form, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as the details of the tournament and the player’s past performance on the course to know their actual odds of winning.

Avoiding Favourites

While you may be tempted to always bet on the favourite, especially if you are a beginner, it is not the smartest golf bet. More often than not, favourites do not always win golf tournaments, and when they do, the payouts are usually low. 

Upsets happen frequently in golf, and if you had placed large bets or heavily favoured favourites, you stand to lose lots of money. Instead, look for value bets where the odds are in your favour, even if you have to bet on the underdog. To put it simply, don’t bet on a favourite solely because of their popularity and reputation.

Each Way Betting in Golf Explained

Each way betting is a unique type of golf betting that’s quite popular with many seasoned and experienced bettors in the UK, although beginners can also try it. The bet normally splits your wager into a “win” bet and a “place” bet. That means, when you place each way bet, the bookmaker will split your stake into two and make half of your bet on the player to win the tournament outright, while the other half to finish top 5 (or sometimes top 4 or top 8).

For example, if you bet £20 total on a golfer each way, you're betting £10 on the player to win the tournament and £10 to finish top 5 at a smaller payout.

In-Play & Live Betting Tactics

In-play golf betting, also known as live betting, is one of the most exhilarating golf betting experiences in the UK. This golf betting style allows you to place bets on a golf tournament or a match as it is happening in real time. Unlike other golf bets, we’ve mentioned above, in-play betting offers a flexible and more lucrative betting experience.

When engaging in in-play golf betting, you have the option to adjust your stake based on how the match is going as well as the player’s form. For instance, suppose you wagered on an underdog, and they start to do even better than you expected. You can leverage this momentum shift by raising your stake. Similarly, if a player does not perform as you anticipated, you can switch to another golfer or lower your stake.

Live golf betting also offers a wide range of markets. You can place tournament winner (outright) bets, match bets, hole-by-hole bets, prop bets, and leader after X (specific number) holes.

As for the odds, in-play golf betting odds are anything but static. Bookmakers update them regularly, and they rapidly change depending on the player’s performance, the course, and the weather, among other factors. Usually, a player’s better performance translates to shorter odds, while mistakes equal longer ones.

Best Golf Events to Bet On

The golf calendar in the UK is loaded with exciting tournaments and betting opportunities throughout the year. Some of the biggest golf events to look out for include:

The Open

The Open, which dates back to 1860, is the oldest golf major and is considered the most prestigious of the four majors in the UK. Also referred to as the British Open, this tournament takes place every July and is open to both pro golfers and amateurs, with fast-rising players and underdogs getting the chance to compete on the biggest courses. This gives bettors the opportunity to wager on upcoming and home players with exclusive odds.

The Ryder Cup

This is another amazing golf tournament event popular with UK bettors, and it happens every two years. The event is named after English businessman Samuel Ryder, and it brings together the best golfers from Europe and the US to compete for the titular prize. The event sees the golfers from the two regions go toe-to-toe over a series of foursomes, fourballs, and single matches. Since the tournament started in 1927, Europe has had the better of the US in that time. The next Ryder Cup tournament is to be held in September 2025.

PGA Championship

Another great golf event to bet on is the PGA Championship. It has been around since 1916 and continues to be a hugely popular event in the world of golf. Also known as the USPGA Championship, it is an annual golf event organised by the Professional Golfer's Association of America. Unlike The Open, the PGA Championship tournament is strictly for professional players, and this has played a huge role in its popularity.

The winner of the PGA Championship is awarded the Wanamaker Trophy, and recent winners have included young power golfers and seasoned pros.

Recommended UK Golf Betting Sites

Ready to bet on the upcoming golf tournament? Here are the best golf betting sites in the UK.

• Bet365: One of the top sites for UK golf bettors is Bet365, and it offers top-notch golf betting experiences. The operator is available both on desktop and mobile, allowing you to wager on top golf majors and tournaments from anywhere, anytime. Bet 365 also offers a vast selection of golf betting markets, with plenty of choices in each market. Some of the most popular types of bets you can place here include tournament winners (outright), to make cut, top finishes, each-way, round markets, futures, player markets, and more. In addition, the site offers generous bonuses and promotions such as free bets, bet boosts, early payouts, and acca boosts.

• Paddy Power: Paddy Power is another top bookmaker we have tested and approved for golf betting. Of all the leading golf betting sites we have reviewed, it is among the best-designed and easiest to use in the UK. The operator regularly offers price boosts and other promotions to golf bettors, enhancing their betting experiences and increasing potential payouts. What’s more, you can find the most competitive golf betting odds on this bookmaker.

• Sky Bet: This is another fans-favourite golf betting site in the UK. With lucrative bonuses and promotions, a wide range of golf betting markets, competitive odds, and a modern, mobile-optimised site, Sky Bet has become one of the leading golf bookmakers worldwide. The operator also offers top-notch in-play betting and in-play price boosts, allowing you to seamlessly wager on golf tournaments as they unfold in real time.

Common Golf Betting Mistakes to Avoid

Betting on golf can be a profitable, entertaining, and enthralling experience. However, there are some common mistakes many beginners make, preventing them from fully enjoying what golf betting offers.

One of the top mistakes is chasing losses with aggressive bets. Doing this can increase risks through emotional betting and also make you miss out on some lucrative betting opportunities.

Another mistake is ignoring the course conditions or fit. Betting on a golfer solely based on their skill set and without considering how the course affects their performance is a classic mistake. Regardless of the player, the course fit always trumps talent.

Other common mistakes you should avoid include betting without doing research on the players, blindly betting on favourites, and over-betting.

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Responsible Gambling

Having an effective golf betting strategy is not enough for a successful, rewarding betting experience. You must remain vigilant and bet responsibly. Set a budget and stick to it, and never bet more money than you can afford to lose. You should also seek help if you realise you might be developing problems with betting. What’s more, most bookmakers in the UK offer tools like self-exclusion and timeouts to help you stay in control of your golf betting habits.