There is no denying that it appears drinking alcohol can absolutely help. Just looking at Joel Dahmen in the Netflix documentary series “Full Swing” seems to be proof enough, right?  Golf can be an incredibly stressful and frustrating game.  A drink or two to ease the nerves may be just what you need to put a smooth, confident swing on the ball.  A better place to continue this conversation may be what does “better” mean to you.  Does better mean to break 90? Break 80? Scratch golf?

What’s your golf history?

Did you play high school golf growing up?  I can assure you I’ve known of some ex-college and pro golfers that can throw them back and still shoot under par.  Are you new to golf in your adult life?

I think it’s safe to say if you played college or pro golf you have some pretty good foundational muscle memory from when you were growing up competing, and you can probably get away with some heavier drinking in a round of golf.  Maybe you are even a golfer that plays 2+ times per week and you are always drinking when you play.  Chances are you’ve learned your golf feels while drinking and you’ll actually play your best while drinking.

Are you actively trying to set new golf records?

If this is you, chances are you aren’t an ex-college, or pro golfer and you are looking to grow your game.  If you don’t play as often, and/or you picked up the game later in life, it’s probably going to be harder to improve your play over the long term while drinking heavily.  One of the issues you may face is fatigue over the course of 18, 36, or even 54 holes is going to be a factor in your performance.  When we are fatigued we tend to take a path of least resistance which often comes out as a lazy uncoordinated and unfocused swings, and those are the swings we need to get rid of to play our best golf!

Quantity and it’s impact on “better.”

If you are just determined to play “better” than your buddies while also outdrinking them, I guarantee you can do that but you’re going to have to work really hard at your drinking tolerance while golfing.  Now if you have a higher standard you may want to consider practicing a little more sobriety to help groove some better movement patterns as well as golf endurance.  We all know there is an upper limit to alcohol and coordination.  Most people will probably fair best in that 1-2 drink sweet spot while playing golf and progressing.  Walking the course is also a great way to put those drink calories to good use!

Conclusion

Golf is meant to be fun whether it’s in a super competitive environment or just messing around laid back with your friends.  So make sure whatever you do you’re having fun!  If you find more fun in challenging yourself to play better it might be worth considering some more sober rounds and practice habits.  Even if it initially sets you back, allowing yourself to improve your overall golf fitness will be key to playing better in the long term golf.