See You at the 19th Hole: Our Favorite Golf Drinks
From the Transfusion to the Azalea, make your post (or pre) round cocktail count with these classic golf drinks.
Golf is a game of skill and mental fortitude, and one that experienced players know cannot be beat. Maybe that’s why it pairs so well with cocktails. Whether you’re into boozy afternoon rounds or stick to gatorade on the course, you’ll find many a golfer en route to the bar after a round to enjoy some classic golf drinks.
Some of these iconic golf cocktails came to fame at clubs around the world, while others are classic drinks so intertwined with the game that it’s hard to disassociate one from the other. Whatever your fancy, we’ve scoured the internet, surveyed our golfing friends, and researched recipes to compose this definitive guide to golf course drinks. Please enjoy responsibly!
Golf Cocktail #1: The Hole in One
If you’ve never had the fortune of making a real life hole in one, consider drowning your sorrows in this concoction. The Hole in One is a cousin of the Manhattan that opts for scotch instead of whiskey and the addition of lemon juice to complement the traditional sweet vermouth and orange bitters. Perfect for celebrating your first hole in one, but keep in mind the price of this cocktail could be a tough ticket if you’re footing the bill.
1.5 oz Scotch
3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth
1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
1 Dash of Orange Bitters
Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir (don’t shake) and strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wedge. Then relive the memory, or dream about creating one. Before you go dreaming about this one, make sure you know what to do when you make your first hole in one
Golf Cocktail #2: The Transfusion
I don’t know where the Transfusion originated, but I remember exactly where I was when I had my first: a buddies golf trip to Pinehurst in 2013. At the turn, as I contemplated how to sustain my high spirits, one of my foursome bellied up and ordered a Transfusion. Enamored by the perfection of the name itself, I said make it two.
And it did not disappoint. Fizzy, refreshing, and packing a punch, it would be the first of many Transfusions I would enjoy at nearly every booze round from that day forth. Strangely, I don’t think I’ve had one in a non-golf scenario, but at Selywn Pub in Charlotte, NC they sell more Transfusions than beers. Their Transfusion menu is a thing to behold, and an ode to the golf drink GOAT, but the recipe is a marvel of simplicity.
Fill a cup with ice (preferably one you can take in the cart with you)
Add two shots of vodka
Add Ginger Ale to the top (you can substitute Sprite if you must)
Add a splash or two of grape juice (or cranberry if you fancy)
Stir, sip, and let it rip!
Golf Cocktail #3: The Azalea
My award for the best golf themed cocktail has to be the Azalea, based on title alone. Named for the flowering shrub that adorns August National (and the namesake of the final hole of Amen Corner), this picturesque gin-based cocktail is fruit forward and refreshing. If you’re someone who is always counting down to the second Sunday in April, and you haven’t enjoyed an Azalea, perhaps it’s time to add this to your tradition? You’ll need a couple ingredients that you might not have, so plan ahead.
1.5 oz Gin
2 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
1 tsp Grenadine
Fill a shaker with ice and layer the ingredients in the order above; shake, and pour into a rocks glass. You may wish to pour it over ice so the water melt can cut the sweetness a bit, but we’re not here to tell you how to drink.
Golf Cocktail #4: The Bloody Mary
I’m the type of golfer who can’t fathom a casual round that doesn’t begin with a Bloody Mary. A smart choice for tailgaters and weekend warriors, this Bloody Mary recipe provides a nourishing injection of Vitamin C with less dehydrating after-effects thanks to Low Sodium V8. Keep in mind, this is just a base recipe. You can add any spices and accouterments you wish, but fundamentally speaking (and I will die on this mountain) you absolutely must include at least a teaspoon of celery salt and a hearty squeeze of lemon juice. Otherwise, it’s just tomato juice and vodka.
I actually learned this recipe on a hunting trip in Altair, Texas with my father and his buddies. These men knew how to hunt, knew how to drink, and took their “bloodies” very seriously. Especially the Pathologist who taught me this recipe, and I trust him because, well, he’s a doctor.
6 oz tomato juice (I prefer Low Sodium V8)
1 shot of Vodka (Tito’s for me, but Absolut Peppar will give you additional heat)
1 tsp Celery Salt
1 quarter lemon wedge, squeezed
½ tsp pepper
½ tsp chili powder
3-4 dashes of hot sauce (Texas Pete all the way)
1-2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
Horseradish is optional, but encouraged
Garnish with a stalk of celery, bacon, olives, crawfish, crab legs, beef jerky…anything you wish! The basic Bloody Mary is a veritable palette of boozy expression.
Golf Cocktail #5: The John Daly
No disrespect to The King, but if you need something a little stronger than an Arnold Palmer, the John Daly is for you. Aptly named, a shot of vodka takes the classic half lemonade and half iced tea concoction to a new level. Perfect refreshment on the course or off, this drink can get pretty crafty with freshly squeezed lemonade and fresh-brewed lipton, but true to Long John’s working class vibe, it needn’t be complicated.
2 oz Lemonade
2 oz Iced Tea
1.5 oz of Vodka
Garnish with a lemon wedge and then let the big dog eat. But keep in mind, too many of these on the course (or in the crowd) and you could find yourself in all kinds of trouble.
Golf Cocktail #6: The Bobby Jones
I’ve admittedly never had one (challenge accepted), but how can we uphold this as a comprehensive golf cocktail guide without including a drink named after the most influential amateur golfer in the history of the sport? The recipe itself will take you back to the 30’s, and it’s easy to see Mr. Jones and Alister MacKenzie enjoying one of these after a walk through the Fruitlands Nursery.
You’ll probably need to visit your local package store to stock up on the ingredients, but who ever needed an excuse to go booze shopping?
1.5 oz Brandy
0.5 oz Creme de Cacao
1/4 tsp Grenadine
Garnish with a lemon peel, loosen your suspenders, and reminisce about the glory days.
So there it is, our definitive guide to golf drinks. Did we include your favorite? If not, we’d love to hear from you and include it for others to enjoy!
You can’t have great golf drinks without something to put it in. Check out our collection of golf-themed barware!
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