Does Drinking Belong on the Golf Course? | Splitting Fairways Episode 16

Golf and beer. For many golfers, the two go hand in hand. Whether it’s a few cold ones during a weekend round, a charity scramble or an afternoon with friends, drinking has become a familiar part of golf culture.

But does drinking actually belong on the golf course?

That’s the question Ryan and Jeremy are tackling in Episode 16 of the Splitting Fairways Podcast, and as usual, there are some differing opinions.

Is Golf a Sport or a Social Experience?

For some golfers, the goal is simple. Play well, shoot a good score and enjoy the challenge that makes golf so frustrating and rewarding at the same time. Adding alcohol to a game that already requires coordination, concentration and touch doesn’t necessarily make much sense.

For others, golf is about more than the scorecard. It’s four hours outside with friends, enjoying the company, the conversation and maybe a few beverages along the way.

Neither approach is necessarily wrong, but where do you draw the line?

There’s also the question of whether drinking actually helps your game. We’ve all heard someone claim they play better after a beer or two, but is that really the case, or do they simply care less about the results?

Does the Type of Round Matter?

Is having a beer during a competitive round different from enjoying a few during a charity scramble? What about a golf trip with friends versus an early morning tee time?

And perhaps the biggest question of all: At what point does your good time start affecting everyone else’s experience on the course?

In this episode, Ryan and Jeremy debate the role alcohol plays in recreational golf, whether it belongs in competitive rounds and why the answer might depend entirely on the situation.