Golf Betting Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules

Golf has always been a game of honor and integrity. Add money to the mix, and etiquette becomes even more critical. The unwritten rules of betting separate classy players from those who burn bridges with their golf group.

These principles apply whether you play for $5 or $500. Follow them, and betting stays fun. Ignore them, and you will find yourself uninvited to the Saturday game.

Settle Immediately and Completely

The golden rule of betting etiquette: settle debts before leaving the parking lot. Do not say "I will get you next time" or "Venmo me later."

Why this matters: Unsettled debts create awkward situations. Did they forget? Should I remind them? Are they avoiding payment? The longer money stays unsettled, the more likely resentment builds.

How to execute:

• Confirm final tally before leaving the 18th green
• Use Venmo, Zelle, cash, or check immediately
• Round up if you owe (pay $23 when you owe $22)
• If you cannot settle immediately, set a specific deadline ("I will Venmo you by 6pm tonight")

Exception: Regular group with a season-long ledger where settlement happens monthly. This requires trust and meticulous record-keeping.

Confirm Stakes Before Starting

Never assume everyone knows the stakes. State them clearly on the first tee:

"We are playing $10 Nassau, automatic presses at 2-down, closest-to-pin on par 3s for $5 each. Everyone good with that?"

Wait for verbal confirmation. If someone hesitates, address it immediately. Better to adjust stakes now than have uncomfortable conversations after.

What to clarify:

• Exact dollar amounts
• Press rules (automatic or optional)
• Handicap application (full, partial, or gross)
• Side games (skins, greenies, longest drive)
• Settlement method

Document it: Text the group or write it on the scorecard. This prevents "I thought we said $5 not $10" disputes later.

Pay Winners First

If multiple people owe each other money, winners get paid before debtors settle among themselves.

Example:

• Player A owes Player B $30
• Player B owes Player C $20
• Player C owes Player A $10

Proper sequence:

1. A pays B $30
2. B pays C $20
3. C pays A $10

Alternatively, net it out:

• A owes net $20 (owes $30, receives $10)
• B receives net $10 (receives $30, owes $20)
• C receives net $10 (receives $20, owes $10)

A pays $10 to B and $10 to C. Done.

Either method works. Just ensure everyone agrees before leaving.

Give Putts Fairly

In match play, conceding short putts is standard. The key word: fairly.

Concede putts you would expect to be conceded if roles were reversed. If your opponent has 18 inches left and you make them putt it, you better be prepared to putt every 18-incher yourself.

Guidelines:

• Inside the leather (length of putter grip): automatic concession
• 2-3 feet: concede if it is straight and flat
• 4+ feet: make them putt unless you are being generous

When not to concede:

• They have been missing short putts all day (it matters for their score)
• Late in the match, stakes are high, and they need it to stay alive
• They asked you to putt a similar length earlier

Conceding etiquette:

• Say "that is good" clearly before they start their routine
• Do not make them ask "is this good?"
• If you are going to make them putt, say nothing and let them putt

Never: Concede after they miss. That is insulting.

Honor the Rules of Golf

Betting does not mean bending rules. Play by USGA rules unless your group explicitly agrees to local exceptions.

Common rules disputes:

• Mulligan Money (the app) is named after the infamous mulligan, but in betting golf, mulligans should be agreed upon in advance
• Improving your lie: Do not unless playing "preferred lies" (winter rules)
• Out of bounds and hazards: Take the stroke penalty
• Lost balls: Play a provisional or take stroke-and-distance

If you break a rule and gain an advantage, own up to it. Add the penalty stroke and move on. Cheating for a $10 Nassau is pathetic.

If you notice your opponent breaking rules: Handle it tactfully. "Hey, I think that is a penalty stroke" versus "You are cheating."

Do Not Needle After Settling

You won the match. Great. You took their money. Even better. Now shut up about it.

Bad etiquette:

• Continuing to bring up the match the next day/week
• Posting about it on social media
• Telling others in the group repeatedly

Good etiquette:

• Shake hands, say "good match"
• Buy the losers a beer (optional but classy)
• Move on

Remember: You will lose eventually. Treat winners how you want to be treated when you lose.

Respect Pace of Play

Betting does not excuse slow play. If anything, betting rounds should be faster because match play allows pick-ups.

Do not:

• Debate every press decision for 5 minutes on the tee box
• Argue about handicap strokes mid-hole
• Recalculate the Nassau total after every hole

Do:

• Keep score efficiently (use an app if needed)
• Pick up when out of the hole
• Make press decisions quickly

Groups behind you do not care about your Nassau. Keep pace or let them through.

Handle Disputes with Grace

Disagreements happen. Handicap confusion, score discrepancies, who won which hole. How you handle disputes defines your character.

Best practices:

1. Stay calm. Raised voices solve nothing.
2. Check the facts. Review scorecard, confirm strokes.
3. Give benefit of doubt. If truly unsure, split the difference or call it a push.
4. Defer to a third party if needed. Another player in the group or the pro shop.
5. Accept the resolution and move on. No sulking.

If you realize you were wrong after settling: Bring it up immediately. "Hey, I double-checked and I think I owe you another $10." Integrity matters more than $10.

Do Not Pressure Others Into Betting

Not everyone wants to bet. Not everyone can afford your stakes. Respect that.

Bad behavior:

• "Come on, do not be cheap" when someone declines
• Making someone feel excluded for not betting
• Mocking lower-stakes players

Good behavior:

• "No problem, we will play for fun with you"
• Offering lower stakes: "Want to play $2 Nassau instead?"
• Including non-betting players in conversation and camaraderie

Remember: Golf is the priority, betting is the add-on.

Accept Losses with Class

Losing gracefully is the ultimate test of etiquette. Everyone can be classy when winning. Losing separates the mature players from the children.

Good loser behavior:

• Pay immediately and completely
• Shake hands and say "good playing"
• Acknowledge opponent's good shots
• Do not make excuses

Bad loser behavior:

• Complaining about luck, course conditions, or handicaps
• Paying slowly or reluctantly
• Avoiding the group after a loss
• Asking for "one more chance" for double-or-nothing

Nobody wants to play with a sore loser. Lose often enough and with enough grace, and people will respect you more than the guy who wins but acts like a jerk.

The Handicap Honor System

If your group relies on self-reported handicaps, be honest. Sandbagging is not just cheating, it is cowardly.

If your handicap drops: Update it immediately. Do not wait until someone calls you out.

If you are having a hot streak: Acknowledge it. "I have been playing well lately, maybe we should adjust my handicap."

If someone is clearly sandbagging: Address it privately first. "Your handicap seems off based on how you have been playing. Let's adjust it."

The ultimate sandbagger consequence: Getting kicked out of the group. Not worth it.

Respect the Course and Staff

Betting rounds can get loud and competitive. Do not let that turn into disrespecting the course or staff.

Do not:

• Slam clubs in anger after losing a hole
• Leave trash or divots unrepaired
• Blame the course for your bad play
• Be rude to cart staff or pro shop

Do:

• Fix ball marks and divots
• Rake bunkers
• Tip the cart staff if appropriate
• Compliment the course even if you lost

Courses that host betting groups appreciate respectful players. Be the group that gets welcomed back, not banned.

Technology Etiquette

Apps and phones are part of modern golf, but use them wisely.

Acceptable:

• Scoring apps (Mulligan Money launching Spring 2026)
• Quick Venmo settlement
• GPS for yardage

Not acceptable:

• Taking calls during someone's backswing
• Spending 10 minutes on your phone between shots
• Posting to social media mid-round

Keep your phone on silent. If you must take a call, step away from the group.

Guest Etiquette

Bringing a guest to the regular betting game? You are vouching for them.

Before inviting a guest:

• Confirm they can afford the stakes
• Explain the group dynamic and rules
• Ensure they understand pace of play expectations

As a guest:

• Be on your best behavior
• Pay immediately if you lose
• Thank the group for including you
• Do not overstep with opinions about rules or stakes

If your guest behaves poorly: You own it. Apologize to the group and do not bring them back.

The Bottom Line

Betting etiquette comes down to three principles:

1. Honesty: Play by the rules, report scores accurately, honor your debts.
2. Respect: Treat opponents how you want to be treated, win or lose.
3. Promptness: Settle immediately, keep pace, make decisions quickly.

Follow these, and you will be welcome in any betting game. Break them, and you will find yourself golfing alone.

Join the Mulligan Money waitlist for early access to an app built around these etiquette principles: fair scoring, instant settlement, and respect for the game.

Betting should enhance golf, not complicate it. Good etiquette ensures it stays that way.