By Craig Mahood Sune Ditlefsen
GOLF has experienced a surge in popularity among UK bettors in recent years, with punters drawn to its unpredictable action and hectic tournament calendar.
The four majors keep bettors throughout the year, and the PGA Tour ensures there is always something around the corner to have a cheeky punt on.
In this guide to the best golf betting sites, our team of betting experts has used our detailed Sun Factor review and ranking system to determine the best golf betting sites currently available to UK bettors.
Top golf betting sites in the UK
🔎 A closer look at the best golf bookmakers in the UK
Narrowing down the list of the best golf bookmakers in the UK took some time, but after careful deliberation, the following ten UK betting sites have made the cut.
bet365 reigns supreme in our list of the best golf betting sites in the UK. There are several reasons for this. Of course, the site is one of the best-designed and easiest to use in the UK, and there are also some fantastic mobile betting options, but the reason it topped this list specifically is the quality of its golf betting options.
It has become my go-to option for golf betting, with its generous price boosts and additional placing on each-way bets being two of the biggest selling points. For example, in this year’s US Open, it offered eight places on each-way bets, with most operators offering five or six.
Additionally, the site regularly offers price boosts and other promotions specifically for major events, ensuring it is the best option for golf bettors.
Betfred is another operator that excels in online golf betting options in the UK. The site also offers extremely generous placing, paying up to eight places during the US Open, as well as running a string of novelty and proposition bets for the event and other majors throughout the year.
The site also offers some of the best in-play betting options around, and its excellent mobile app perfectly complements these.
When it comes to the sheer number of golf betting markets, few operators can compete with BetMGM. The international operator offers a vast selection of golf markets, often providing some of the best novelty and prop bets available.
It also offers extremely generous odds, especially in markets like leader after the first round and the top 30/40 places. Additionally, BetMGM is one of the best options for price boosts, offering excellent odds throughout the majors and other tournaments.
4. 888 Sport
888 Sport is another major player that offers some excellent golf betting options. The site typically offers generous placing for events, and provides extensive coverage of the majors, as well as smaller golf tournaments and events throughout the year.
During the mayors, you will find plenty of betting specials, as well as acca boosts and other price offers. The specials offer some of the best prop bets you are going to find at any top UK betting site, and the price boosts during the majors are also extremely attractive.
5. talkSPORT BET
talkSPORT Bet has quickly become one of my favourite online bookies in the UK. The site offers a little bit of everything, and its golf markets are among the very best.
Its Lucky Dip feature, which essentially sees a random selection made on your behalf, can really spice up a golf tournament and get you rooting for someone you didn’t expect. As well as this, it offers some of the best future markets around, offering excellent odds on upcoming events, and often being one of the first to do so.
Betano is another top UK sports betting site that impressed us with its golf betting options. While the site does not have any golf-specific bonuses, it does offer early odds for upcoming events and has some excellent in-play betting options. We have also found its live coverage, in terms of stats and information, to be among the best currently available in the UK.
7. BetVictor
If you enjoy proposition bets and future markets, BetVictor is one of the best golf betting sites around. The site also runs a Lucky Dip betting option, as well as regular price boosts and extensive in-play betting options.
It is not just its golf betting that makes BetVictor a top UK sports betting site, though, with the operator providing excellent customer service, a top-quality mobile app, and a generous selection of bonuses and promotions for new and existing customers.
Tote is a bookmaker that has really made a name for itself over the last few years. While it is best known, as its name might have given away, for its tote betting options, the site also offers fixed odds betting, and its golfing options are extensive, to say the least.
The US Open was featured prominently during the writing of this guide, but the site also had a section dedicated to other tour events. Here, there were odds on smaller tours like the Hana Bank Invitational, the Costa Navarino Legends Tour, and on several women’s tournaments. If you’re looking for variety, then Tote is the site for you.
When it comes to in-play betting options, kwiff is one of the best golf betting sites available in the UK. While the site might not offer the same number of markets as some of the others on this list, it excels with its live-betting coverage and speedy odds updates.
The operator also has a good mix of bonuses and promotions, with the surprise bet feature being a standout for those who like to be kept guessing.
10. Spreadex
Spreadex might not have all the bells and whistles of other golf betting sites, but it delivers where it matters, namely, with its golf betting odds. Of course, the site also offers lay betting options, making it one of the most unique entries on this list.
The main reason I use Spreadex, however, is that I find it will often have the best odds when compared with other top online sports betting sites. Its lack of features also means it provides a stripped-back and easy customer experience, making it the ideal site for golf bettors who just want to get right into the action.
🏆 How we picked the best bookies for golf betting
Our team of online betting experts followed a thorough process to determine the best UK golf betting sites. Our Sun Factor review process ensures that we only select operators that meet our high standards, with licensing, customer support, payment options, and betting markets all being prioritised. Of course, we also had specific criteria that we used to determine which were the best betting sites. The following were the key things we considered:
âś… Golf tournament coverage
Needless to say, one of the most important things a good golf betting site needs to have is good golf tournament coverage. While almost all sports betting sites cover the Majors, the best ones also provide in-depth coverage of smaller events throughout the year.
âś… Good odds for golf
With so many top sports betting sites now offering golf betting options, you should never settle for weak odds. We advise checking out odds comparison sites and shopping around to find the best odds for you.
âś… Free bets and betting offers
Bonuses and promotions are an essential part of the modern sports betting experience. With golf on the rise, more and more UK bookies are offering golf-exclusive bonuses than ever before. When deciding which golf betting sites to recommend, we always check what bonuses and promotions they offer for the sport.
âś… Live golf betting
Golf can be incredibly unpredictable, which presents a lot of excellent in-play betting opportunities for punters. When selecting the best UK golf betting sites to recommend, we verify whether they offer live streams, the quality of their live odds, and how promptly their live odds and markets are updated.
âś… Golf betting features
Finally, we also monitor the number of betting features available. Cash-out, acca insurance, early payout, free-to-enter predictions, and more have all become commonplace in the betting world in recent years, and many of these can be extremely helpful when betting on golf.
🏌️‍♂️ How to bet on golf online
Betting on golf has boomed in popularity over the last few years, and bookmakers have made it easier than ever to bet on the sport. If you are new to golf betting, all you need to do is follow these steps to get started:
Choose your preferred golf betting sites from the ones explored in this guide. Follow the link provided and complete the sign-up process. Be sure to claim any available welcome bonuses. Once you are registered and have deposited funds, find the golf section. This is typically listed in the A-Z sports list, but may be displayed on the homepage. Scroll through the available golf markets and choose the event you want to bet on. Add your selection to your betting slip and enter your stake. Be sure to check the amount and then confirm your bet. Sit back, enjoy the golf, and hope for the best!
đź’Ą How to make the most of your free bet offers for golf
Free bets can be an excellent way to boost your account and enhance your overall sports betting experience. While most sports betting sites will not offer free bets that can be exclusively used on golf, most free bets will be flexible and allow punters to use them on a range of sports. However, it is essential to check this beforehand, as some may only allow you to use a portion of your free bet for golf.
Ultimately, how you use your free bet comes down to your decision. Personally, I have found using free bets to get ahead of future markets and lock in top odds can be extremely useful. If, however, you don’t want to play the long game, then consider backing an outsider with your free bet. Backing favourites with free bets is not particularly beneficial, as you will always lose the stake.
đź“ŠPopular golf betting markets
One of the primary reasons for golf’s popularity among sports bettors is the numerous markets available. The following are the most popular golf betting markets at UK betting sites:
Tournament winner – Tournament winner bets are the most common bets to place on golf. This is simply a bet on which golfer will win a tournament, for example, you might bet on Scottie Scheffler to win the US Open. Top 5/10/20 finish – This is a bet on a player finishing in a specific position range during a tournament. For example, you might back Justin Thomas to finish in the top 5 players at the PGA Championship. Each-way: Each-way betting in golf works in the same way it does in horse racing betting. When you place an each-way bet, you are actually placing two separate bets: one for the player to win the tournament, and the other for them to place within a certain number of positions. For example, if you back Xander Schauffele each-way at the Masters and the bet pays out for four places, and he finishes third, you would win the each-way part of the bet. 1st round leader – Golf can be very unpredictable. As such, it is not unheard of for the tournament leader at the end of the first round not to go on and win the tournament. This makes betting on the first-rounder leader betting markets particularly interesting, as they can often offer some good value. Head to head – Head to head is a unique type of betting in golf that allows punters to bet on the outcome between two players competing in a tournament or during a specific round. For example, you might back Rory McIlroy in a head-to-head with Xander Schauffele in the first round at the US Open Championship. Make the cut – If you bet on whether a player makes the cut, you are wagering on whether or not they make it past the first two rounds. The cut is designed to reduce the number of golfers in the later stages of a tournament. Like the first round leader market, this can be an excellent market to find some value. Hole-in-one – A hole-in-one is another betting type exclusive to golfing. It is a bet on whether a hole-in-one will be achieved. This can be by a certain player, during a specific round, on a specific day, or during the tournament. Top player by country/region – Another betting market we believe offers a lot of value is the top player by country/region, also known as nationality bets. This is a bet on which player will finish the highest from a specific country or region. This presents great betting opportunities as it reduces the field and can present some real value.
⛳️ Popular golf tournaments for betting
The golf calendar is loaded with exciting events and betting opportunities throughout the year. The following are the biggest events to look out for:
The Open is the final major of the calendar year. It takes place every July and is widely considered the most prestigious of the four majors, mainly due to its history. The tournament was founded in 1860 and is the only one of the four majors to take place outside the US. The tournament has been held at different venues across the UK, including St Andrews, Royal St George’s, and the Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is another popular golf tournament that takes place at different courses across the US. The championship is held every May, with a huge prize pot of $15 million being given to the winner. It is another one of the four majors. Xander Schauffele is the reigning champion, with Americans dominating the tournament for the last decade.
The penultimate of the four majors to take place each year is the US Open. This is held every June and was founded in 1895, making it one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world. It is held at different venues each year, with Bryson DeChambeau winning the 2024 edition at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.
The Masters
The Masters is perhaps the best-known golf tournament in the world, and it is one that certainly receives a lot of attention from bookies and punters alike. The tournament is held every April, with Rory McIlroy finally getting his hand on the iconic green jacket and winning this year’s edition.
The Ryder Cup is a biennial event that brings together the best golfers from the US and Europe to compete for the titular prize. The tournament sees Team USA and Team Europe go toe-to-toe over a series of foursomes, fourballs, and single matches. The event has been held since 1927, with Europe having the better of America in that time. The next Ryder Cup is scheduled to take place in Farmingdale, New York, this September.
Tour Championship
The TOUR Championship is one of the final stops on the PGA Tour and is one of the most viewed and bet-on events on the golf calendar. The tournament is held at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta and takes place every September. It is also one of the FedEx Cup Playoff events.
Players Championship
Another significant stop on the PGA Tour is the Players Championship. This is one of the most lucrative tournaments in golf, held annually at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida. While it is not officially a major, it is often promoted as the fifth major, with one of the biggest reasons for this being the quality of the players competing at the event.
đź’ˇ Golf betting tips
If you are new to betting on golf, you might be wondering about the best practices to follow to ensure you are not always losing your money. The following are our top tips for betting on golf in the UK:
1. Study player form and history
If you are going to bet on golf, or any sport for that matter, you should always do your research beforehand. As an individual sport, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered when betting on golf, including a player’s previous records on different courses, their current form, and how they handle different weather conditions.
2. Check the weather
Speaking of weather conditions, one of the first things you should do when checking on golf is check the weather. The wind and rain can have a serious impact on how players perform, and it is also a factor that can not be controlled. While weather reports are not always going to be accurate, checking them before a tournament can be an excellent way of keeping ahead of the bookies.
3. Take advantage of bonuses and promotions
Bonuses and promotions can be an excellent way of giving your online sports betting account a little boost, and they can also be a great way to enhance your golf betting experience. Free bets and other promotions are going to be available throughout the year, but you will definitely see an increase in them during major events like The Masters or the Ryder Cup. Likewise, you should also keep your eyes peeled for price boosts during major tournaments.
4. Set a budget
Managing your budget is crucial to maximising the benefits of any online sports betting experience. Punters should always practise responsible gambling and never spend more than they can afford to lose. All of the UK golf betting sites listed in this guide offer useful responsible gambling tools, including deposit limits and, if needed, time-out and self-exclusion options.
5. Follow tipster advice
Finally, if you need help, then why not listen to the people who have been there and done it? Our golf betting tipsters at The Sun live and breathe golfing, and they want to share that passion and knowledge with you. Be sure to check in with us regularly to get the latest and best golf tips to help you improve your golf betting online.
âť“ FAQ about golf betting sites
1. Are there any golf free bets for new users?
Yes, several top UK bookmakers will offer free bets to new customers. However, in most instances, these bets are not specifically focused on golf and are, instead, just free bets that can be used on any sport.
2. Is it safe to bet online on golf?
Yes, providing you are betting with a licensed UK betting site. All of the operators recommended in this guide are fully licensed and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.
3. Can I bet live on golf tournaments?
Yes. You can bet in-play on golf tournaments. Many of the bookmakers on this list will offer live odds, with some even providing streams.
4. Can I bet on golf on my mobile?
Absolutely. All of the golf betting sites in this guide offer golf betting, both pre-event and in-play, on mobile devices, with many of them having free-to-download betting apps.
5. What are the best golf betting sites?
The best golf betting site for you is going to come down to personal preference. bet365, BetVictor, Betfred, 888 Sport, BetMGM, and Spreadex are among the best currently available in the UK.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – gamcare.org.ukGambleAware – GambleAware.org
Read our guide on responsible gambling practices.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.