Golf is generally considered to be a peaceful sport, which is mainly for older people. After all, it’s not as fluid or spectacular as football or boxing. But real experts can challenge this view and even call it amateurish.
For more than three centuries, golf has been a sport that attracts not only the elite and the older generations. The sport has won the interest of a huge number of spectators around the world, who not only actively follow golf tournaments, but also bet on their favourites.
In this article, we will tell you more about how to bet on golf, give you an introduction to the different types of sports betting and even explain how to avoid the GamStop self-exclusion restrictions.
Major Golf Odds
- On winning a tournament. This is a very dangerous bet due to the large number of players usually involved in tournaments. Predicting a winner is very difficult, despite updated rankings and differences in class between athletes.
- Getting to the top. It is possible, for example, to wager on a player being in the top 5 at a tournament. It is a safer bet, but not always available.
- On duelling golfers. It is much easier to analyse multiple players to find out their chances of success in a tournament. Whichever player is higher at the end of the tournament will win the face-off duel.
- The best player from a certain group. For large PGA and European Tour tournaments, it’s not uncommon to see this unusual lineup. A list of golfers from a certain country, widely represented in the competition, is offered and you can try to guess the best in the final table – let’s say the best American, Irish or Swede.
- On the lead after a certain round. Here everything is clear – which player will be in first place after a round, that’s the winner. Be careful, the leaders often start the tournament late and come out on top by the finish line.
Betting Golf Strategies: What to Look Out For?
In order to make a successful golf bet, it is important to develop a specific strategy, which will be fundamental in choosing the type of bet and tournament. There are four key points that make up a winning strategy.
Golfers’ Shape
When betting on a golfer, it is extremely important to understand the fitness of the golfer and his current skill level. The best method of determining this is to study the player’s recent matches, performance and quality of play. If the golfer has not performed well in the last 3-5 games, it is best to avoid betting on him.
As an example and explanation, we can look back at the 2015 European Tour. There, 29 of the 33 stage winners have been in the top 20 at the previous five tournaments at least 1 time!
Golf Course Features
The skill of the player is important, but the adaptation of the selected golfer to the course on which the Tournament is being held is very important. For renowned tournaments such as the PGA and European Tour, the courses remain the same. Thus, the bettor can not only predict the outcome of the game, but also give a qualitative assessment of how the style of play suits the venue of the tournament.
For example, a player regularly shows mediocre results, but every year on the same golf course he easily pulls ahead and gets maximum points in the tournament.
Tougher golfers are forced to hold their full power under certain features of the course, such as high grass, trees or other natural obstacles. These conditions require extreme concentration and accuracy of stroke.
At the same time, for modern courses with open terrain, sub-typical golfers will find it more difficult. Because on open, well-groomed courses, it’s the power of the stroke, not the accuracy, that counts.
The Weather Factor
Weather conditions can affect many sports and golf is one of them. The PGA Tour alone has a number of golf courses that are located in areas that are characterised by strong and violent gusts of wind. This not only makes it difficult for the golfer, but it can also significantly affect the results of even seasoned players.
Unfortunately not all golfers can easily cope with possible gusts of wind. The best players at such courses are from the Nordics and Great Britain. They have been accustomed to such weather since their early years and have learned to play in such climatic conditions. By the way, Americans from Texas and Florida can also surprise on windy courses. After all, their home regions are also particularly windy.
Nevertheless, it is important to compare criteria such as a player’s fitness and adaptability to the course and its characteristics. This is especially important to consider if you intend to get good odds at the beginning of the line. And unfortunately, the weather forecasts are powerless here and will not give much information. Because the weather can be very changeable, especially in some regions.
Player Experience
Betting on a promising golfer who has never won a trophy in a serious tournament before is extremely risky. After all, it is more difficult for beginners to cope with the psychological pressure of a major competition, and they know that their competitors are experienced golfers who have played the course for more than the first or even second time. Even if a player of your choice has performed exceptionally well in a few marginal tournaments, it does not mean he will be as focused and resilient in the big scramble.
In addition, experienced golfers do not need to play many smaller tournaments in order to earn extra points. They are simply preparing to step onto the course of a serious PGA or European Tour tournament and simply show a great game. And that’s not the only reason. If a golfer becomes PGA or ET champion, they are automatically eligible to play in those tournaments for subsequent years (2 to 5 years).
Where to Place Golf Bets?
Once you understand the odds of winning in golf, it’s your turn to choose a reputable betting company. The internet is teeming with betting sites, but not all have the players’ best interests in mind. Thus, you have to be careful when choosing a place to bet your money.
When choosing a betting shop, you need to read the reviews to see what they offer. Even legitimate sites have different offers. Firstly, some offer better betting odds than their counterparts.
In addition to odds, you have to consider the bonuses and other promotional offers available to players. Stay away from sites that have nothing to offer you. Apart from that, be sure to research each bookmaker before registering.
It is also a good idea to participate in more than one betting site. However, it is best to start with a platform that has good options. There are many websites with reviews of non-GamStop bookmakers online, like the website NoUkCasino. Such projects make selections from reliable, verified online bookmakers from around the world. They also select only projects that do not participate in the GamStop self-exclusion scheme. This makes it easier for many Britons to find a sports betting site.