Throughout Golf, the word handicap is used a lot to describe how many shots a player needs to shoot level. It is a system used to even the odds against great players and their adversaries. Golf handicap betting uses these fundamentals and incorporates them into the world of sports betting, as players can be given more shots compared to others to even the odds and create betting opportunities. This means that even the most mismatched golf tournaments give every player betting market an opportunity!
In this golf handicap betting guide, we are going to look at what golf handicap betting is, the different examples of golf handicap betting and how it works through real-life examples.
What Is Handicap Betting In Golf?
The handicap betting system is a system that allows bettors to give a theoretical advantage to a player by giving them a handicap. This handicap can work in both ways, meaning players can be given shots, or have shots taken away from them, meaning you can give different golfers theoretical advantages or disadvantages in play.
This means that even if players do not win the tournament in real life, the bet can still be successful as the handicap will award the player fewer shots, as golf is all about scoring the lowest numbers. Odds are adjusted for these handicap bets, meaning if you think a player is going to win by a couple of shots, you can use the handicap betting system to create better odds, in hopes that the player creates a large winning margin.
With handicap betting being quite a confusing topic when it comes to golf, we are going to look through some real-life examples of golf handicap betting and how odds and different match outcomes can affect the betting market.
Typically, golf handicap bets will involve two players, with these players competing against each other.
| Player | Handicap | Odds |
| Scottie Scheffler | +2.5 | 4/6 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +2.5 | 20/1 |
In this scenario, we are putting Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood up against each other in this round, and these typically take place across one round, but they can also take part throughout the whole tournament
With this example being shown, we are now going to run through how these bets work and what would need to happen for these bets to be successful.
How Do Golf Handicap Bets Work?
There are plenty of ways to place golf handicap bets. Whether you are using a plus or minus handicap, one player will end up getting the advantage over another. This technique is commonly used throughout Value Betting.
When looking at these golf handicap bets, we can think about them in two different ways, with one way being that the handicap is applied before the game, and the other being that the handicap is applied after the game.
- Points are adjusted before the round – Using the example above, Scottie Scheffler is given a +2.5 handicap, meaning Scheffler would begin the round 2.5 over par, meaning he would be 2.5 shots behind Tommy Fleetwood.
- Points are adjusted after the round – With the same example, if Scheffler ends the round with a score of 71, the 2.5 handicap would be applied to his finishing total, meaning he would end the round with a score of 73.5
With tournaments not ending in ties, it is possible for golfers to finish on the same score for the round. However, the handicaps are given decimals, ensuring that a tie is not possible.
| Handicap | Outcome Needed For the Bet To Be Successful |
| Scheffler +2.5 | Scheffler to beat Fleetwood by 3 shots or more |
| Scheffler -2.5 | Scheffler to beat Fleetwood or lose to Fleetwood by 2 or fewer shots |
As a tie is not possible, there are only two betting markets available for golf handicap bets. If you are looking for other betting markets that involve unique and different markets, you can check out our matched betting blog, which is available on the site and full of matched betting information.
These handicap bets can be used across rounds and tournaments, as this will clearly affect the odds of each bet.
Golf Handicap Betting Examples
Golf handicap bets can come in a handful of different ways, so we are going to look at another example of how these handicap bets work and how they can affect odds.
| Player | Handicap | Odds |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +5.5 | 4/1 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | -5.5 | 1/2 |
Through this betting example, we are giving Hatton a 5.5-shot lead against Bryson DeChambeau, giving Hatton a big advantage compared to his competition. This means DeChambeau would have to make up 6 shots in order to beat Hatton.
Unlike what we see in other handicap betting examples, such as our football handicap betting guide, there is no option for a tie, meaning there are only two options for golf handicap bets.
If the margin between the two players increased, then the odds of Bryson winning would become higher, whilst the odds of Hatton winning would become lower, as Hatton would have an even bigger advantage against DeChambeau.
Here is a quick and simple table which walks through what different outcomes would be needed for each selection to be successful.
| Handicap | Match Outcome |
| Bryson DeChambeau +5.5 | DeChambeau must beat Hatton by 6 or more shots |
| Tyrrell Hatton -5.5 | Hatton must beat DeChambeau or lose by 5 or fewer shots |
As DeChambeau is the favourite out of the two golfers, he will be given a deficit in shots compared to Hatton. This means that in the real-life round, Hatton can still lose the matchup, yet the theoretical handicap will allow for the bet to still be successful, as long as he does not lose by 5 or more shots. Changing the number of shots a player is ahead or behind by in these bets will, therefore, change the odds of the bet. It is worth looking at different bookmakers and what they offer in comparison to ensure you are getting worthwhile odds for the specific handicap.
How To Use Golf Handicap Betting
With the handicap betting system becoming increasingly popular in different sports, it is a selection making its way into the golf betting market. This allows for matchups between all different types of players, evening the odds between average tour players and the top-ranked players in the world. Whilst this betting is not traditionally seen in matched betting, it is a useful technique which can create new betting opportunities.
For those interested in learning more about golf betting, you can check out our golf betting guide, which is available on the site. Here, we are going to look through some tips that can help you make the most of your golf handicap bets.
- Don’t Be Afraid To Back The Favourite – Throughout golf, there can be times when the favourite wins the tournament by a couple of shots, showcasing a dominant display over the field. By placing a handicap on the favourite, we can get better odds compared to traditional Outright Win bets, as long as the player wins by a couple of shots.
- Lesser-Known Competitions – This is where research can really come in handy. With most bettors placing their bets across the PGA Tour and the major tournaments such as The Masters and The US Open, it might be worth looking at other selections such as the Korn Ferry Tour and the DP World Tour.
- Research Players – By understanding and researching the players you are betting on, you can give yourself an advantage as you can see which players are performing well, which players prefer certain courses and if players perform better at the start or end of a tournament. All of these aspects can affect how players perform and therefore affect your handicap bets.
Golf Handicap Betting Vs Other Handicaps
The handicap betting system in golf is quite unique, as golf is a sport which features hundreds of players across the weekend, meaning the handicap match-ups are usually placed against specific players. Golf is a sport which comes with plenty of highs and lows for players, meaning upsets can be fairly common. This is something to keep in mind when placing handicap bets throughout golf.
As ties can happen throughout the leaderboard of golf, the handicaps that are available to place bets on come with a decimal place, ensuring that a tie is not possible, as one player will always have the 0.5 advantage.
Here, we are going to look at some of the positives and negatives of golf handicap betting, which you can take into account before placing any bets.
✅Handicap bets can be used throughout all different types of golf tournaments
✅Only 2-way handicap betting available
✅Handicap bets can offer better odds compared to other selections
❌More complicated compared to other selections
❌Requires plenty of strategy and research
Golf Handicap Betting FAQS
As this topic can be quite confusing, we are going to look through some of the different questions that surround golf handicap betting.
Where Can I Find Golf Handicap Bets?
To find these bets, you simply must choose your bookmaker and go to the ‘Golf’ section, which can be found throughout the sports section. Using an example of Paddy Power, you can find this on the left-hand side of the screen on desktop devices.
You can then navigate throughout the betting markets that they have available to find handicap betting. There are also other betting markets available which are options such as Outright Winner and Birdies Per Round.
Why Should I Use Golf Handicap Betting?
Golf is a sport which usually features heavy favourites coming up against lower-ranked players as the field sizes are so huge. This means the odds will not be very high for selections when it comes to player matchups. By using the golf handicap betting system, we can change these odds and make them higher by changing the requirements for the bet to be successful.
What Is Golf Asian Handicap Betting?
Asian handicap betting is traditionally used throughout sports to allow for ties and draws, as the Asian handicap uses a decimal place to ensure that draws cannot occur. If you would like to learn more, check out our Asian Handicap Betting Guide. In golf betting, there are no draws throughout this handicap betting, meaning golf handicap betting and golf Asian handicap betting are theoretically the same thing.
