If you’re interested in learning about golf betting, you’ve come to the right place. This is a detailed guide that will help you better understand golf betting, and prepare you not only for placing your bets but also for actually winning.
I’ve acquired all this insight knowledge through trial and error, so I promise that you can rely on it. In this in-depth guide, I will walk you through the following:
Without further ado, let’s get into all the nuts and bolts of golf betting. Remember, knowing is half the battle, so make sure you thoroughly go through all the following parts.
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To bet on golf, you first need to understand what betting odds are.
Betting odds represent a chance or, better yet, a likelihood of a certain outcome taking place. They are the so-called implied probability of an event occurring.
Let me paint you a picture of how betting odds work.
Let’s say a golfer is listed in a sportsbook at odds of 28.0 to win a particular tournament. That golfer’s chances of winning are 3.57% (100% divided by 28.0).
What does this mean for you?
The lower the odds are, the greater the chances of winning are. However, they also mean lower payouts. On the other hand, higher odds mean higher payouts, but the chances of winning are lower.
But how can you convert the odds?
Let’s say you place a $10 bet on the golfer with 28.0 odds of winning the tournament. If the golfer wins, you will make a profit of $270.
There’s a simple math behind this:
($10 (stake) x 28.0 (odds)) – $10 (stake) = $270 (profit)
Quite self-explanatory, value bets offer value. When there is betting value in the odds, that’s when you have a chance of actually winning.
I’ll give you an example to help you understand it clearly.
Let’s say a golfer is at odds of 7.0 to win a tournament. The implied probability is 14.28%. But you’ve done your homework and determined that the golfer’s chances of winning are 15% (your assessed probability).
The value in this situation would be 5%, calculated like this:
(15% (your assessed probability) x 7.0 (odds)) – 100% = 5% (value)
Since the value is higher than 0, you have yourself a betting value, which means you can win if you bet on this player.
The bookmaker’s implied probability of 14.28% does not offer value. Just do the math. Also, if your assessed probability is lower than the implied one, there’s absolutely no value in betting at those odds.
As you’re about to see, there are plenty of ways you can bet on golf. I’ll briefly go over each of them to let you know what your options are.
Outright Betting
When you place an outright bet, you bet on the outcome of an entire golf tournament, not just individual games. Outright bets have significantly higher returns, which is why they are some of the most common types of betting. There isn’t a punter in the world who doesn’t like placing outright bets, as they are very appealing.
To Win Betting
The so-called “to win” bets are those you place on a particular player whom you think will win a tournament. If they win, you win your bet. If they lose, you lose. As simple as that.
Futures Betting
Futures betting is quite similar, but it represents placing a long-term bet. It isn’t only betting on a player to win an entire tournament. A futures bet is not something that one tournament can decide. You can place this bet during or at the beginning of a season or the playoffs, but you can include more than one tournament.
First-Round Leader Betting
This type of betting is pretty straightforward. Placing a first-round leader bet means backing a golfer whom you believe will be leading after the first round of a particular tournament. It absolutely doesn’t matter whether or not they actually end up winning the tournament. All that matters is that they lead after the first round.
This type of golf betting it very popular among punters, as many players manage to get off to a quick start because there’s no pressure from the leaderboard just yet.
Each-Way Betting
An each-way bet splits your wager into two separate bets – a win bet and a place bet. So, when you place an each-way bet, you have to double your stake. That way, you’re betting on a golfer to win the tournament, and to finish in the top 5 or 6, depending on your chosen bookmaker.
Top Nationality Betting
Placing a top nationality bet means betting on a player from a certain country or region. For instance, if there are only 3 players from a certain country, and you place a wager on one of them, you will win your bet if that player comes out with a higher score than the other two.
Top 5/10/20 Finish Betting
There are always players who rarely come out on top, but do manage to make the cut. If you place a top 10 finish bet on a player, and they finish in the top 10, you can earn some nice cash.
Do you know what else you can do? Place a finish bet in all three markets – Top 5, Top 10, and Top 20. If your player finishes in the top 5, you’ll have yourself a triple win!
Head-to-Head Betting
Head-to-head bets can be very interesting, as you can place a bet concerning two players who are not playing in the same groupings but on the same golf course.
You can also wager on one of two playing partners. In that case, you can choose which of them do you think will win, who do you think will get the lowest score after a certain number of holes, or who will win certain holes.
Hole-in-One Betting
Most golfers never ace a hole-in-one in their entire careers. A hole-in-one is when a golfer gets the ball into the cup in the green with only one stroke. The betting odds for this market are usually pretty low, but you can win big if the golfer you bet on does score an ace.
Having an effective strategy for betting on golf will help you win more bets from one tournament to the next. Let’s go over some of the essential golf betting strategies you should apply. Keep in mind that combining all of them will bring you the best benefits.
Know the Course
Every golf course is different. Some are wide open, while others have a lot of trees and deep rough. There are also links courses, usually located on the coastline and having a sandy terrain.
Some players perform perfectly on rough courses, while others prefer clean and modern courses where they don’t have to be accurate off the tee.
Knowing what players perform well on particular golf courses will greatly help you reach your betting success. You’ll be able to stack the odds in your favor much easier.
Understand the Golfer’s Form
Learning everything you can about a golfer’s form is the most crucial step you need to take. It’s important to know the current form of a player you’re considering to bet on so that you can see whether or not they actually have a good chance to win.
But it isn’t only about winning. Perhaps you want to bet on who will have the lowest score. You wouldn’t be able to accurately assess that probability if you have no insight into a particular golfer’s history, especially when it comes to particular courses.
You need to study all their finishes in recent tournaments so that you’ll be able to assess their future performance. For instance, if a golfer has been flying under the radar for a while, backing them to finish in the top 10 or top 20 may help you win a bet.
Keep Track of the Stats
Studying the stats will give you an edge over the bookmaker. Dive into both recent and season-long statistics to see how various players have performed on various courses.
But what statistics are the most important to keep track of? Strokes gained, driving distance, driving accuracy, greens in regulation (GIR), and fairways in regulation (FIR).
Strokes Gained
Strokes gained is the measure of a player’s performance on each putt set against other players. It shows how many strokes a player gained or lost on the field off the tee.
Driving Distance
This stat shows how far golfers can actually hit the ball.
Driving Accuracy
Driving accuracy shows, well, a golfer’s accuracy. This is a much more important statistic than driving distance because it doesn’t matter how far a golfer can hit the ball if they don’t do it with precision.
Fairways in Regulation
Fairways in regulation show occurrences of a golfer’s off the tee shots that landed in the fairway. This statistic is great to follow when you want to learn more about a player’s driving accuracy.
Greens in Regulation
Greens in regulation show a player’s performance on the putting surface based on where the ball lies. When a player hits the green in regulation, it means that they managed to put the ball on the putting surface and still were left with enough strokes for at least a birdie (1 under par).
Research the Weather
Weather conditions naturally play a big part in golf. A lot of players don’t mind bad weather, as they are experienced enough to prevent it from negatively affecting their performance. They can work really well with wind, as they know exactly how to use it to their advantage.
Such players are definitely worth backing, so be sure to learn how various golfers perform in certain climates and weather conditions. Make sure you also always check the weather forecast before a golf event that you would like to bet on.
Avoid Inexperienced Golfers
It is not uncommon that an inexperienced golfer gets lucky and makes the cut, or even finishes in the top 20, for instance. However, placing a bet on those players may not be a very smart strategy.
It’s actually a very risky strategy, especially if you’re thinking about placing an outright winner bet on an inexperienced golfer. It’s really better to put your money on safer bets. It’s okay to take a risk now and then, but, in this case, that risk could potentially cost you big money.
Don’t Fall for the Tricks
It’s essential that you don’t fall for the common tricks in the sports betting business.
The oldest trick in the book is falling for that fixed game. It’s not fixed. It’s a tactic to make you put a lot of money on your bets, which you will lose. It’s a rookie mistake that I’ve seen a lot of people fall for.
Another trick to look out for is absolutely fantastic odds. Remember, if they seem too good to be true, they are.
Be smart, and always play it safe. Use your head, and you’ll actually win your bets.
Don’t Get Carried Away
This is another very common rookie mistake – betting all your money at once when you start winning, or even before that. Golf betting, or any other sports betting, for that matter, is not something you should invest all your money in.
Relax, take a breath, and get a bird’s eye view of it all. Keep a cool head, instead of betting and potentially losing all your hard-earned money.
Speaking of which, I really do hope you have another source of income. Golf betting is a great hobby that can get you some cash on the side, but it should remain just that – a hobby.
That’s all, folks! I hope that I covered everything about this remarkable game and how you can bet on it. If you think of anything that I may have missed, please feel free to leave a comment.
Remember, golf betting, or any other kind of sports betting, should be fun. It shouldn’t become stressful, which is why you should take a breather every now and then. In the meantime, you can learn more about the game and become a pro better before you even know it.
Success lies in thorough research. Only when you know exactly how to bet on golf properly will you be able to start counting some wins. And that’s when it will start being truly fun. So, make sure you follow all these tips I’ve provided you because they will help you make money and have some real fun while doing it.
I’m always delighted to hear about other punters’ experiences and opinions, so don’t hesitate to share yours with other readers and me. I would be more than happy to get into a conversation with you and discuss how one can score big in golf betting.
Brush up on your knowledge, good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
What Are Value Bets?