Golf is one of those globally popular sports, appealing to casual enthusiasts, as well as professional players who compete in high-stakes tournaments with hefty rewards. With the PGA and European Tours, as well as the LIV Golf competition at the forefront of the game, betting on golf has never been more simple.
Below, we dive into the essence of golf, highlighting its significant ties to the betting world, thereby offering insights into golf betting. This way, you'll get acquainted with the ins and outs of wagering on golf and be able to pinpoint the top golf betting sites in 2024.
Best Golf Betting Sites in 2024
- 1
BetMGM Sportsbook
First Bet Offer - Up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
Place your first qualifying bet and get up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets if your first bet loses.
- 2
FanDuel Sportsbook
Up to $1,000 Second Chance Bet - Paid in Bonus Bets
Simply deposit a minimum of $10 to FanDuel Sportsbook, and then make a first qualifying bet. If it doesn't win, they'll refund this stake as bonus bets, up to a max of $1,000
- 3
Caesars Sportsbook
First Bet Offer - Up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets
Place your first qualifying cash bet and if it loses, you’ll get it back as a Bonus Bet – up to $1,000
- 4
BetRivers Sportsbook
Second chance bet of up to $500
If your first bet loses, you will get 100% of the money back as a bonus bet, up to $500
- 5
Golden Nugget Sportsbook
Bonus Bet up to $250
Place a bet on any sportsbook market (at min odds -200) and have your stake matched with a Bonus Bet up to $250.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of golf betting types and what it entails, let's check out which sites our experts believe are the best sportsbooks for wagering on golf as a Michigan Player.
The list above takes in account more than just the golf offering, but this forms a huge part of what we've looked at for this ranking table. Other areas we've looked at to form the overall rankings are:
- User experience for golf betting fans
- Golf specific bonuses - Majors, Ryder Cup
- Wider bonuses and sportsbook promos
- Payment methods
- Customer support
- Trust and security
What Do the Best Golf Betting Sites Offer?
When it comes to the best betting sites out there, it's essential to ensure it has all the necessary features to rank among the best. This is especially true for the best online golf betting sites in 2024. Hence, new users should keep an eye out for several key factors.
First and foremost, any betting site must be regulated and operate legally. Ensure you sign up with a fully licensed site to safeguard your personal data. The MGCB regulates the Michigan landscape and you can rest assured that your account is safeguarded through any operator licensed through this entity.
Once you've confirmed you're dealing with a legitimate site, check that it offers a sufficient range of payment methods for deposits and withdrawals. It's crucial to have access to the most common payment options, like PayPal, Apple Pay, credit cards, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, etc.
Make sure there's Plenty of Golf to Wager on.
After ensuring a variety of payment methods are available, assess the golf betting options offered by the site. This includes the range of competitions you can bet on and the available markets on these events. Also, if you can watch live tournaments via your sportsbook then even better.
Finally, take a look at the welcome bonus and other promotions you can take advantage of as a new player at the online golf betting site you're considering. Every new bettor should have the opportunity to claim a welcome bonus.
Understanding a Great Golf Betting Product
Whilst the above covers the topline of what makes a great sportsbook for golf betting, it's worth taking a deeper dive into some of the features that really stand a betting site out.
If an online bookmaker offers an amazing array of golf tournaments and markets, but the user experience on the site and app is terrible, then it's not going to be much fun to place your wagers.
The very best Golf betting sites will offer both - a huge amount of golf to wager on, but also an experience that helps you build the entertainment out of the event and not take away from it.
A few of the key features that can help the case even further and which we go into more detail on below, are:
- Golf Cash Out
- Live Streaming Golf
- Live Data and Visualizations
Betting on Golf - Cash out is a Great Feature to Focus on
The cash-out option is a big hit among online betting enthusiasts when they're placing their golf bets. The main perk? You can close your bet early, grabbing some winnings or cutting your losses if it looks like things aren't going your way.
Let's say you've got an active golf bet and your betting site offers cash-out. If you've already won some of your picks but you're not feeling too confident about the rest, you can cash out early and lock in some profit.
Likewise over a 4 day tournament, your chosen winner may be flying on day 1, 2, and 3, and take a commanding lead at the top of the leaderboard. On day 4 though, they come out badly, bogeying the first 3 holes and putting the win in jeopardy. This is where you could cash out for the win, close off a nice profit, and take away the stress of watching a wretched day 4.
Golf Live Streaming - Watch and Wager
Another key feature for any golf-focused sportsbook in Michigan is the ability to live stream golf events you're betting on. Luckily, a lot of sites are on board with this, so you won't miss out.
Being able to watch the action live means you can make better-informed bets, giving you a better chance at success.
Live Golf Data and Visualizations
Where a betting site may not offer Live Streaming opportunities due to rights conflicts, the next best thing is a robust live golf data and golf visualizations that can give the player more info in order to make informed decisions.
Leaderboards, player stats, and a wide array of live betting options all play into this, and a great example would be FanDuel Sportsbook who partnered with the IMG Arena Golf Event Centre to provide fans with unparalleled live wagering opportunities.
So, its very fair to say that golf betting is taken really seriously by the best operators out there, and our FanDuel Sportsbook review goes deeper on their product advancements.
Live Betting on Golf
Live betting can sometimes give you an edge in golf bets, just like in any other sport; there's no exception here. I often suggest keeping an eye on live bets, where the options are even more plentiful.
The data available, as mentioned above can give you a real edge, and if you're watching live and have a keen eye for the game, you may just find some value wagers in the market
One key piece of advice: avoid betting on a comeback for the initial favorite in a golf match. If a golfer falls behind, their chances of bouncing back diminish significantly. Instead, consider other betting options available after watching some of the match unfold.
Never place bets randomly; it's a surefire way to drain your bankroll.
Golf Betting Bonuses Explained
Nowadays, betting sites are all about welcoming new players with enticing bonuses. They know bettors love a good bonus, so they're always trying to outdo each other.
These features and bonuses make betting on golf not just more exciting but also potentially more rewarding if you play them well.
Let's talk about some popular types of bonuses that will likely appeal to golf bettors:
Deposit Match Bonus
One of the most common forms of welcome bonuses, but also likely to be one of the most popular form of golf bonuses too, the deposit match bonus sees you receive bonus funds up to an amount equalling a percentage of a qualifying deposit.
For example, if a betting site offers a 50% match bonus and you deposit $100, you'll get an extra $50 from the site, giving you $150 to play with. Remember there will be T&Cs specific to the bonus too.
Golf Second Chance Bet Bonus
A simple bonus mechanic that sees you receive bonus funds equal to a qualifying bet amount IF that qualifying bet loses.
Let's say there's a sportsbook promo for a $50 second chance bet offer for golf. If you place a $50 qualifying bet on Johnson to win the US Open and that wager loses, the sportsbook will give you a bonus bet back to the same $50 amount.
Golf Bet Boosts - Get More Value from your Wagers
Another specific golf promotion you can expect to see, is an odds boost or profit boost for a specific gold event or market.
In this promos you'll see the odds you wager at boosted to a bigger price to give you a better payout should you win. More often than not, these will be pre-selected options that the sportsbook is willing to take on.
Golf Betting - What Competitions Can You Bet On?
Given that golf is a world-renowned sport, betting sites have wholeheartedly embraced it, offering bettors the chance to place wagers on a variety of exciting tournaments. With golf tournaments happening all around the globe all throughout the year, you're never short on betting options.
Unless you're a mega fan of golf, you are probably looking to bet on the big-name golf competitions, the ones that draw in the top players from around the world. These are the tournaments where the action is intense and the betting options are plentiful.
Some of the major golf events and tours include:
- The Masters Tournament
- US Open
- The Open Championship
- PGA Championship
- PGA Tour Events
- LIV Golf Events
- Ryder Cup
- Golf at the Olympic Games.
Of course, there are other tournaments out there, but these are the heavy hitters, the ones where betting sites pull out all the stops with a wide range of betting options.
Betting on the PGA Tour from Michigan
From the buzz of the season kick-off to the climax of the FedEx Cup, you can bet on the whole PGA Tour calendar. Michigan got the green light for online golf betting in December 2019, and the first wagers were placed as the new season swung into action in 2021.
The PGA Tour's allure is worldwide, and even before Michigan's go-ahead, sportsbooks were teeing up PGA odds and lines. Operating across other states and countries, many of the top PGA betting sites now in Michigan have been fine-tuning their offerings for years. This is great news for us golf enthusiasts, ensuring that all the sportsbooks listed here are legal, secure, and deliver a top-notch golf betting experience.
Betting on the Golf Majors
There's a strong case that betting on golf's majors offers a more thrilling ride for those looking to cash in on their golf knowledge. Factors like player form, course familiarity, and handling major pressure are huge variables that sportsbooks wrestle with. This unpredictability can give keen bettors the upper hand.
With Michigan green-lighting bets on all major golf tournaments, every sportsbook operating in the state is in on the action. The majors come with their own unique betting opportunities, including plenty of special bets like player props, and our top golf sportsbooks picks are ready to get you into the heart of the action.
Golf Betting Strategies to Consider
When it comes to golf, it's important to know that like any sport, there are strategies that can help boost your chances of winning.
A key factor to consider when betting on golf is the type of tournament being played. This can be a game-changer when deciding on a bet.
A massive strategy in golf betting, but one that requires you to be sharp-thinking, is to really follow the form of the lower ranking events to see which players are peaking and which players suit the course that you're about to wager on.
Betting on players who are on a winning streak can be smart, especially considering this is very much a sport about form and momentum. Sometimes, a golfer might catch everyone's attention with their skills and determination, leading to a series of victories. These players might not be top contenders in the biggest competitions, but they could be worth betting on in less prestigious events.
On the flip side, you could opt to bet on the favorites, especially in major tournaments. It's a more straightforward approach compared to the one mentioned earlier and will often return at a lower rate than picking a lesser-known golfer.
Parlay Golf Betting - Teeing Up for Bigger Wins
Parlay betting in golf is a smart play for boosting your winnings, albeit taking on more risk at the same time. When you tee up a golf parlay, you're rolling several individual wagers into one package. The odds for each wager are combined, offering a bigger payoff. But remember, for your parlay to pay out, every prediction has to be spot on.
Let's walk through an example with three tournament favorites who are all priced at +270.
Say all the favorites win their tournaments. Betting on them separately with $100 on each would net you profits of $270 respectively, totalling $810. A great payout and profit for sure.
However, if you wrap these up into a parlay, you're now looking at a combined price of +4965.30. Placing a $100 parlay would see you take home $4965.30 in profit, or if you were even more aggresive and took the original 3x $100 stakes, and wagered $300 on this parlay you would swing a profit of $14,895.90 - a huge return.
Now, that example was just with a relatively short priced set of favorites - imagine if you rolled up three selections at much bigger prices!
Golf Betting Markets - What Should I Expect?
The top picks in golf betting markets in Michigan won't catch you by surprise.
Tournament Winner Bets, Matchup Bets and Total Round Score Bets all feature highly.
Beyond these classic markets, there's a rising trend for hole-specific bets like First Player to Birdie, Anytime Eagle bets, and Last Player to Birdie in the round. These markets are quite sharp due to their popularity, making it a challenge to spot the value.
For the bettors who really dig into the stats and have the time to analyze the field, more detailed prop bets on players offer some enticing odds. These less mainstream bets mean the odds can swing more, presenting opportunities. Think along the lines of bets on total birdies in a round or longest drive distances.
In most Michigan sportsbooks, you're likely to find these three types of bets front and centre.
Tournament Winner
The straightforward bet of them all is picking the tournament winner. It's a simple head-to-head on who will lift the trophy. This could be for the entire tournament, a specific round, or even a group of rounds. You'll never find a sportsbook in Michigan that offers golf betting but doesn't offer tournament winner bets for golf.
The beauty of golf betting is that tournaments last four days as standard, so you get quite a bit of value for your money, IF your chosen player is in the running. And, if they're not, then you could always wager again in-play on someone who is.
Player Matchup Bets
Matchup bets level the playing field by pitting two golfers against each other, regardless of the overall tournament outcome. The sportsbook sets the line with one golfer as the favorite and the other as the underdog.
For example, you might see:
Jordan Spieth: +1.5 (-110)
Rory McIlroy: -1.5 (-110)
This means McIlroy is the favorite and has a 1.5 stroke "handicap." He needs to beat Spieth by more than 1.5 strokes for the bet to pay out. A McIlroy win by one stroke would be a losing bet, but winning by two or more seals the deal.
What's great about matchup bets is the strategic play; if you're confident the underdog will outperform expectations, you can win even if they don't win the matchup outright, as long as they keep it close.
Total Round Score Betting
This bet hinges on the combined score of a golfer or golfers at the end of a round or the tournament. Sportsbooks will set a score line, and you decide whether the actual score will be over or under that line.
Here's a typical line you might come across:
Over 70.5 (-110)
Under 70.5 (-110)
Betting "over" means you expect the total score to be 71 or higher. An "under" bet predicts a score of 70 or lower. This bet is a fan favorite for its simplicity and adds an extra layer of excitement to following the tournament's progress.
Conclusion
As we've touched on from the start, golf ranks among the most followed sports globally. It's also an ever-growing sport for betting on, and in Michigan it's no different.
That's why you'll never run short of the best golf betting sites to sign up with. But always pay attention to crucial aspects like payment methods, betting options, available competitions, and the betting site's licensing.
Lastly, be mindful of your deposits. If your balance runs out, resist the urge to play in a bid to recover losses. This strategy won't do you any favors; in fact, it could make things worse.
FAQs
Online sports betting has been legal in Michigan for many years and betting on golf is completely possible from within the State. The best sportsbooks out there will offer plenty of golf betting markets on the biggest tournaments. All the Majors are covered and you'll have no problem wagering on your favourite players.
It's completely legal to bet on golf when wagering from within Michigan. This is because sports betting is regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board and any sportsbook that has a license granted by them can offer markets to wager on. This includes on all the biggest golf betting markets out there.
Like most sports, golf isn't necessarily easy to win at, but it's certainly not hard to actually place a bet on golf. You need to visit your favored sportsbook and head to the golf section, where you'll find all the current markets that are possible to wager on. Just make your selections, choose your stake and get your money on.
The most obvious golf bet out there is wagering on the outright winner of a tournament. It's a simple bet, that can give you lots of bang for your buck with most tournaments lasting over four days. If you've picked a live runner then it can add to the entertainment of the golf tournament overall.