Enjoying adult beverages has gone almost hand-in-hand with golf for as long as we can remember. It’s no surprise that so many indoor golf spots now prominently feature a full bar or let you BYO. Just like on a real course, sometimes we all need a little “birdie juice,” “aiming fluid,” or “swing oil” to unlock your A-game.
Before we go further, we should note that every golf experience should be responsibly fun. Everyone should know their limits and stay within them. Keep in mind a golf sim is an expensive set of equipment, so don’t do anything that will put you, your friends, or the business at risk. And it should go without saying, but never drink and drive.
That being said, here’s 10 drinking games you can try with your buddies next time you’re looking to kick it up a notch in the golf sim.
Beer Handicap
Though this one is nice and simple — subtract one stroke for every beer drank — it’s also one of the most strategic. Are you going to spread it out to find your “swing oil” sweet spot game and improve it via some well-timed beers? Are you going to risk playing a great 16 and then start pounding beers on the last 2 holes? Hopefully it’s not such a bad round that your beer handicap is your only chance!
Wolf
Each player takes turns being the Wolf at the beginning of each hole. Every other player will tee off first, and the Wolf chooses who they pair with for the hole, if the Wolf’s team wins, everybody else drinks. Choose your teammate wisely!
Unlimited Mulligans
Unlimited mulligans but, of course, there’s a catch…you shotgun a beer before playing the redo. Another one to be strategic with — use your mulligans too early and they’ll catch up to you later in the round.
Three Putt
As the saying goes… “Drive for show, putt for dough.” Here’s another reason to practice putting, though. Drink for every three putt. Another drink for anything over.
Even or Odd
Even or Odd is one of the best golf drinking games because it’s played throughout and not all about skill. Before the round starts, each player chooses odd or even. Odds drink on the odd-number fairways, and evens drink on the even-number fairways. You have until the end of the hole to finish that beer or it gets added on to the next one. No slacking!
Chip In
One of the greatest joys in golf is showing that deft touch and holing out a chip shot. What could possibly bring you more joy? Making everybody else drink for it.
Beer Bogey
Is your group part of that envious single handicap (or even scratch!) golfer level? If you’re looking for an excuse to make things a little more competitive, try Beer Bogey. Beer Bogey requires players to take a shot each time they make a stroke over par on a hole. While tequila is fun on the first hole, being blacked out by the ninth isn’t. So, if your golf game leaves a little to be desired, maybe this one isn’t for you.
Hazard Play
Even Scottie plays from the rough occasionally, but while he’s probably going to get up and down on a bad day, you’re not on the tour, so have a drink instead. In Hazard Play, golfers who land their ball in the water or bunker (or anywhere but the fairway) have to take a drink.
Don’t Forget Your Drink
This one puts every golfer on an even playing field. This game doesn’t care how straight you hit, or what your score is. In Don’t Forget Your Drink, everyone must have a drink in their hand at all times unless they’re taking their shot. If you’re caught without it, chug it! If you’re good about keeping your glass in hand, you’re probably drinking anyway. Win-win!
Hole-In-One Hammer
It’s arguably easier to hit a hole-in-one in indoor golf than outdoors, but the odds of someone making a hole-in-one are so slim, it’s still a celebration if it happens. Every player must down a drink, and you better buy a round at the bar!
There you have it. 10 fun drinking games you can try next time you’re in the golf sim. Playing one of these games could seriously elevate your simulator experience. Ready to give it a shot? Search for your nearest indoor golf spot, and remember you can filter for places with bars or BYOB options! Whatever you decide, remember again to drink responsibly.
And if all the above sounds too complicated, just keep it simple: Shotgun before each par 3 for the hell of it!