You’ve practiced your short game around the green, and you’ve been bulking up to improve your ball speed. Now to perfect the most important part of your golf game: golf drinks. What follows is a list of the 10 best cocktail recipes proven to loosen up your swing and lower your score (that second part is debatable). 

Time to say goodbye to Arnold Palmer and hello to John Daly. Let’s start with a classic and see where the rest takes us…

Our favorite golf drink for 18 holes: The John Daly

Everyone knows the half-lemonade, half-sweet tea drink of choice by Arnold Palmer. But the John Daly golf drink recipe is a little bit more fun (much like his golf attire).

Ingredients:

• 2 ozs. iced tea
• 2 ozs. of lemonade
• 1.5 ozs. Vodka

Fill a large highball glass with ice, gently stir, and feel free to garnish with a lemon slice if you’re looking to add a touch of class to your new favorite golf drink.

The best golf cocktail for the hottest days: Transfusion

Delicious, refreshing, and if you make it strong enough, the perfect drink to numb the sting of a double bogey.

Ingredients:

• Combine 3 ozs. Vodka
• 1.5 ozs. grape juice
• .25 oz. lime juice

Pour this combination over ice and top with a bit of ginger ale if desired.

Make this popular golf drink for the caddie: Azalea

This is the timeless answer to everyone’s favorite April question: what’s goin’ on in Augusta? A drink that is as welcoming as Jim Nantz’s voice cascading down over the sound of a soft piano. Hello, friend.

Ingredients:

• 2 ozs. Vodka
• 2 ozs. pineapple juice
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• 1 spoonful of grenadine 

Pour into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake, and strain into a tall glass over ice. The lemon garnish is not optional. This is Augusta. Time to act like it.

A timeless golf drink recipe: Whiskey Sour

This classic cocktail belongs on the back nine. Whether you need a little extra birdie juice, or if you’re looking to wind down and enjoy the sunshine, pour you a whiskey sour and enjoy the ride.

Ingredients:

• 2 ozs. Whiskey
• 1.2 oz. simple syrup
• .75 oz. lemon juice

Combine into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously (vigorously) for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a glass over fresh ice and garnish with a lemon twist and cherry.

For the longest days at the course: Bloody Mary

If there was ever a drink that is the hair of the dog, then it is a bloody mary. Talk about something that goes down easy. If you’re feeling hungover on a Saturday morning, this is your go-to to pick right back up where you left off.

Ingredients:

• 4 ozs. tomato juice
• 2 ozs. vodka 
• .25 oz. lemon juice
• 3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
• 3 dashes of Tabasco sauce
• 1 tsp. Horseradish
• a pinch of celery salt 
• a pinch of black pepper

Combine these ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, and pour back and forth into another mixing glass three times. Then, strain into a tall glass filled with ice and garnish with celery stalk, lime wedge, and cocktail olives on a skewer.

One of the most famous golf drinks: Screwdriver

Another classic cocktail that belongs in your repertoire of go-to cocktails, a screwdriver is a perfect drink for the golfer who has completely given up on hitting their driver.

Ingredients:

• .75 ozs. Vodka
• .5 ozs. Orange juice

Mix and drink. You got this one.

When the time isn’t right for a golf cocktail: Beer

Coors Light is perfect for a Saturday afternoon with the boys. Michelob Ultra works if you’re a fan of Brooks Koepka. But ultimately, the world is your oyster. Go with your favorite light beer, and feel free to stow a six pack into the back of the cart.

Making golf bubbly: Seltzer

Lighter than beer and possibly even more refreshing. Here at Mizzen+Main, our team is partial to White Claw but we won’t say no to High Noon either. These are also the easiest drinks to hide in your golf bag. The thin cans make it easy to throw several into each section of the bag.

The most popular golf drink ever: Jack and Coke

We would list the ingredients, but if you’ve read the title of this drink, then you already get it. We’re partial to the frozen Jack and Coke for a cool down on a hot summer round of golf, but if you don’t happen to have the capabilities to create your own, a simple Jack and Coke on ice is always refreshing.

A cold weather golf drink to warm you up: The Bobby Jones

A timeless classic. Fill a cocktail shaker with 4-5 ice cubes. Add 1.5oz of brandy, 1/2oz of crème de cacao, and 1/4 tsp of grenadine. Squeeze in some fresh lemon juice and shake away. Strain this mixture into a chilled tumbler and drink to a legend.

How to sneak every ingredient into your bag

Unfortunately, many golf clubs have rules against bringing your own alcohol. And while we would never ever recommend breaking any kinds of rules…there is a very easy way to get around this.

Just put them in your golf bag. It’s that easy. If anyone asks what those lumps are, just say you needed to bring a few dozen golf balls to make it all the way through 18. No one wants to kick a bad golfer while they’re down, so trust us, they’ll let it slide. 

After that, it’s just you, the course, the clothes, and a wonderful day ahead of you. Cheers.