In-Play Golf Betting Strategy – Betting Strategy

What Is In-Play Golf Betting

Before we commence, it is important to understand what in-play betting actually is, as well as its many advantages.

In-play betting is a type of market which opens as soon as the golf tournament starts, and closes mere moments before it finishes. In contrast, regular betting begins pre-tournament, and your opportunity to bet is over before the game has started.

So, what benefits does this bring the punters?

• There is a smaller window to bet on the golf tournament, therefore less time to wait for the outcome of your bet
• You can react to shifting circumstances and adjust your bet accordingly; in-play betting gives you a unique perspective that regular bettors don’t have
• Many would argue that in-play betting is a more thrilling experience due to the added pressure of necessarily quick responses to fluctuating odds
• Experienced punters can benefit from a change of pace

How To Bet On In-Play Golf

It is a common misconception that in-play golf is somehow harder to carry out than regular golf betting. This type of wager is just as simple to place:

• Register or log in to your favourite betting site (if you are a new punter, ensure you have compared bookmakers and done your research)
• Search for the ‘in-play betting’ tab
• In the sports section, click ‘golf’
• Browse through the range of markets (read on below to find out what they are, but be aware that some close early in in-play betting)
• Choose your market and find the odds most enticing to you
• Decide on your stake, and place the bet
• Once the game finishes, you will find out whether your wager was successful!

As we mentioned, in-play golf has a huge variety of markets which the majority of betting sites offer. These include:

OUTRIGHT WINNER	The most straightforward market to conquer is outright winner, therefore punters new to in-play golf may want to start here. Essentially, all you have to predict is who you think the winner of the tournament will be. Some competitions last a day, other a couple of days, and some have a week-long duration. Once the tournament ends, you will see how your wager has done.
EACH-WAY	Each-way betting is considered to be two bets: a win bet and a place bet. By choosing a player, you are hoping that they either win the tournament or place in the top rankings. Depending on the tournament this could be Top 2, Top 3, or Top 5.
TOP FINISH	The top finishes market is another relatively simple market to understand. Again, depending on the bookmaker, it could be Top 5, Top 10, and so on. You must simply decide on players who you think will make it this far. Although this market often has low odds, it is easier to predict when in-play betting, based on how the players are performing live.
CUT LINE	The ‘cut-line’ market is a niche market specific to golf. It divides the competition into two, and only the players above the cut line will continue on to the next stage of the tournament. For example, in the Irish Open, this is the top 65 contestants. This is based on their score by a certain time in the tournament.
TOP NATIONALITY	Especially in prestige golf competitions like the four majors, there can be over one hundred players. They all represent different nationalities, hence why the top nationality market is such a big hit. Here, you must predict which nationality you think the winner of the tournament will be.

Furthermore, in-play golf betting opens the door to receiving several promotions and offers from betting sites. This includes:

• Free Bets: If you are a new customer, you will be inundated with welcome offers from betting sites known as free bets. This is where you receive funds to use on the betting site and place a wager. However, there are terms and conditions with this such as a certain odds value, and some payment methods are excluded.
• Enhanced Odds: Sometimes a bookmaker will artificially increase the odds to make the bet more appealing. As a result, you can make a bigger profit.
• Early Cash Out: In-play cash out betting is a unique yet extremely profitable type of wager. This is when you place an in-play bet during the golf game, but are allowed to close it and cash out at any time before the end. It works if you can sense a shift of circumstances and don’t want to take the risk of waiting.
• Acca Insurance: When you place an accumulator bet, it is worth having acca insurance. This means that if you lose a leg of your wager, you can still make a profit.

Strategies For Betting On In-Play Golf

Lastly, we will discuss the different strategies for betting on in-play golf. These will help you create a more intentional wager with a higher chance of success.

Choose A Tournament

It is easy to become overwhelmed with the sheer number of golf tournaments out there. Our tip would be to focus on a few of the most popular, and really get to understand them. Below is a list of the most famous around the world:

TOUR	LOCATION & DATE
The PGA Tour*	Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky 13th – 19th May
The Masters*	Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia 11th – 14th April
The Open Championship*	Royal Troon in Scotland 14th – 21st July
The US Open*	Pinehurst Village in North Carolina 10th – 16th June
The Irish Open	Royal County Down in Newcastle 11th -15th September
The Ryder Cup	Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Italy 20th – 26th September

*These are the tournaments collectively known as The Four Majors. They are the most prestige golfing events in the world.

Compare Betting Odds

There are a plethora of betting sites which cover golf, because it is one of the most popular sports in the world. As a result, you may find it easier to find a bookmaker and stick to it. However, this is not in your best interests as you should always be searching for better odds.

Especially in in-play betting, the odds are always fluctuating. This is why it’s imperative to do some research on which betting sites have the highest in-play odds.

Golf Course Conditions And Weather

Depending on the tournament and its location, there are different features a golf course could have:

• Sand bunkers ranging in depth which are found on the fairway or near the green
• Water bodies both which should be avoided
• Clusters of trees usually located to the sides are out of bounds

Research the players in the golf tournament and how they perform in these conditions.

Furthermore, the weather is a key factor in how the tournament plays out. Fog and wind speeds are amongst some of the weather conditions which affect the performance of a golfer.

Financial Boundaries

Arguably the most significant aspect of in-play golf betting to consider is your individual financial boundaries. One of the only ways to consistently make a profit in the long-term, is by considering how to gamble responsibly.

Despite the thrill and dynamic nature of in-play betting, you bear in mind how much disposable income you have before the start of the tournament. This way, you can focus solely on the game once it starts, without worrying about the financial aspect. Overall, this will ensure you don’t go over budget. A great way to monitor your spending is through e-wallets like Revolut, Neteller, and Skrill.