Are Pro Golfers Able To Smoke And Drink On The Golf Course?

Smoking, drinking, and playing golf. For some golfers, these three activities go hand in hand with each other. Many amateurs golfers enjoy smoking a cigar or having a drink while on the golf course, but what about the professionals?

This begs the question, can professional golfers smoke and drink on the PGA Tour?

They could (and did) in the past, but you rarely see it anymore. Is there a rule against smoking or drinking? What about spectators? Can they smoke and drink while watching professional golf tournaments?

In the article below, we are going to cover all you need to know about smoking and drinking at a professional tour event. We have a lot to cover so let’s take a look!

Can PGA Tour Players Smoke During Their Round?

Smoking is allowed on the PGA Tour, but it is generally frowned upon in our current era of professional sports and by the tour.

The PGA Tour’s official stance on this matter is as follows:

“Currently, the PGA Tour does not have a policy against chewing tobacco or cigarettes. However, we do ask our players to be a little more discrete, keeping in mind that they may be being watched by a young audience both on the golf course and television” (Source).

The PGA Tour wants to protect its image as an upstanding, gentlemanly tour and having golfers smoking in front of television cameras is not a good look for the sport. This is why the PGA Tour has a comprehensive policy to guide player behaviors.

The most famous professional golfer who was an avid cigarette smoker on the PGA Tour was none other than Ben Hogan, a nine time major championship winner.

Being labeled as a smoker can also affect a golfer’s image and endorsements, which is something each golfer has to keep in mind.

Ben Hogan famously smoked Chesterfield unfiltered cigarettes for decades on the PGA Tour in the 1940s-1960s.

Many players in the early days of the PGA Tour would smoke cigarettes or cigars on the golf course.

It’s important to note that many decades and eras ago smoking was seen as a status symbol and something that was encouraged.

Not so much today because we know now how bad cigarettes are for your body and overall life expectancy.

You rarely see professionals in the modern game smoke cigarettes, vapes, or cigars, but two of the more notable players to be seen smoking on the course are Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Can PGA Tour Players Drink Alcohol During Their Round?

Following the same criteria as smoking on the golf course, while playing, there is nothing in the Rules of Golf or the Anti-Doping Manuel from the USGA that prohibits drinking during a PGA Tour round (Source).

But like smoking, drinking is definitely frowned upon by the PGA Tour and excessive drinking can lead to a suspension or disqualification from the tournament or the tour at large.

It is one of those grey areas where there might be professional golfers on tour who do drink while they are playing, but the public would have no way of knowing.

One such professional who did not drink directly on the course, but who has admitted to being hungover while playing is John Daly.

Long John as he was called had a reputation for drinking and gambling in casinos before and during tournament weeks.

We now know drinking alcohol is not a performance enhancing drug, so it is highly unlikely that many PGA Tour players drink during tournaments.

They are there to compete at the highest level to earn potentially millions of dollars and win tournaments. You can’t do that if you are inebriated.

Can Golf Spectators Drink At A PGA Tournament?

Yes, spectators over the age of 21 can drink alcohol at professional golf tournaments.

Professional golf, just like other professional sports is a spectator sport and an entertainment product. If you have ever attended a professional golf tournament, then you know the drinks are flowing and money is being spent.

The PGA Tour does have a policy that unruly and over-served fans can be thrown out of the golf tournament, and it has happened in the past especially in high profile tournaments like the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the Ryder Cup.

If you have never watched the Waste Management Phoenix Open on TV then let me tell you that is the biggest party event on the PGA Tour.

At the famous 16^th par 3 holes, if a golfer makes a hole in one the crowd will shower the green with beer cans.

As always, please drink responsibly at a golf tournament.

Can Golf Spectators Smoke At A PGA Tournament?

Yes, spectators can smoke at golf tournaments if they are of legal age and the golf course permits it.

As someone who has attended multiple PGA Tour events, I have seen plenty of people smoking cigarettes, vapes, and cigars throughout the golf property.

There are no designated smoking areas at most golf tournaments and if you aren’t blowing smoke in other people’s faces, smoking tobacco is permitted at most events.

So, if you ever attend a professional golf tournament expect to see the drinks flowing and smoke in the air!

Hopefully you liked this article and found it informative. Check out our other blog posts if you liked this one!