Golf. What can I say about it? At a certain time in my life I was in a relationship with a golfer. My motivation for wanting to learn to play was so that we could hit the links together. I started taking lessons after work as a surprise for him and was excited to show off what I’d learned. Shockingly, I got an even bigger surprise when I discovered that he was a lying, cheating, bastard. But hey, at least I learned to play! Over the years I’ve taken more lessons and played many rounds. I’m decent enough but definitely not winning any tournaments. One thing I love about golf is that I get to spend a decent amount of time with my friends, off our phones, and usually by the 9th hole grabbing one of these three golf drinks.

Some people start drinking as soon as they start playing. Others, like my dad, won’t touch any alcohol until we’ve completed the round. When I go with my dad I’m definitely drinking as soon as we start playing. I love the guy but he’s way more fun when I’ve had a couple of drinks. My friends and I usually try and wait until at LEAST the 6th hole. Though it really depends on the day, where we are, stress levels, how terribly we’re playing, and who is driving home.

Classic Gin and Tonic

For some reason this is always one of the golf drinks on my list. I think it’s because my dad has always been a big fan of the drink and he would always have one after a round of golf. They’re also super refreshing and perfect on a nice sunny day. I recently posted about my favorite gin, Eden Mill, and it’s absolutely delicious with tonic and a bit of lime. This is perfect when I’m at home enjoying my drink after playing the course. But if you want something a bit easier and ready to go you should definitely check out Bombay Sapphire canned gin and tonic cocktail.

It’s quick and easy to throw these cans into a small cooler on ice and pull one out when you’re ready to start drinking. You can put them over ice in a Hydroflask (or Stanley whatever people are drinking from these days) or sip them directly from the can. I like to put it on ice to keep it nice and cool.

Arnold Palmer/John Daly – non alcoholic

Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer popularized this drink which is a mixture of equal parts iced tea and lemonade. The story goes that he was once overheard ordering the drink at a course and another patron asked their waitress for the Arnold Palmer drink. As you can see by the ingredients, it’s a non alcoholic drink for those of you out there who want to keep your game sharp or you’re the designated driver for the day.

If you want to give it a bit of a kick, add a little vodka to it and it transforms into a John Daly! The official recipe for a John Daly is 2 oz iced tea and lemonade with 1.5 oz of vodka. Some people would rather use rum, it’s up to you!

Session Beer or Seltzer

A typical round of golf can last up to four and a half hours. That’s quite a bit of time when you’re outside trying to get a little tiny ball into a little tiny cup. Might as well take advantage of that time with something light and refreshing. If you’re my friend or know me at all, you know that I am a huge fan of Maui Brewing Pog Hard Seltzer. That’s my go to drink for a long day on the course. It’s flavor isn’t too overwhelming like other seltzers out there….*ahem….White Claw*. I’ve been known to throw a bit of vodka into it for an added boost, but I would never while golfing. It’s a good all day drink and I never feel terrible after having a few.

Another option is any other session beer. I have many friends who will bring a six pack of Bud Light or Coors Light and sip on those all day. With a lower alcohol content, they’re a decent option for all day drinking.

Fireball shot

As I mentioned before, I’m not the best golfer. My friends and I all have about the same skill level so it’s fun to play with them. We’re not holding anyone up behind us. None of us are bored waiting for the others to actually connect with the ball. We can all mostly stay on the fairway and not too many balls are lost. I’d say I’m consistently hitting two over par on a good day, occasionally getting a par and on the best days maybe a birdie!

When any of us hit a birdie it has been decided that the person hitting the birdie has to take a shot of Fireball Whisky. I’ve only had to take two shots since we started doing this and it’s been a few years now, so I’m definitely not getting drunk on fireball every round. But it’s a fun way to celebrate and they make those lovely little bottles so they’re easy to bring along. You don’t have to play by this rule, but it can be fun! You might need to change it up a bit depending on your skill level. We hardly ever get birdies, but maybe you do! So why not take a shot if you get an eagle. Or maybe you’re just starting out, go for it if you hit par. It’s all up to you and it’s all in good fun.