I spent a day drinking popular golf cocktails at a country club. I understand the transfusion hype, but it wasn’t my favorite.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a golfer will be looking for a drink before hitting the 18th hole.

Okay, maybe it’s not universally recognized, but drinking is certainly a big part of it golf culture.

It makes sense! Golf involves a lot of sitting around waiting for your friends to hit a little ball, so you naturally want something to sip on in the meantime – and something to distract you from overanalyzing your own shots.

Now I have to admit that I am not a golfer unless Putt-Putt counts. However, I am very familiar with cocktails, channeling from Ina Garten to make a mean cosmopolitan or espresso martini.

I also learned about some of the drinks popular with golfers, like water hazards and transfusions, through conversations with my brother-in-law (hey, Chris) and from binge watching videos of cart girls on TikTok. I even spoke to Michael Flynn, the food and beverage director at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort, about it the emergence of the water hazard to “it” golf cocktail last summer.

After months of watching from the sidelines, I decided it was time to try and rank the drinks for myself. Ultimately, I was a fan of all the drinks I tried, but my favorite was the most refreshing drink.

I went straight to the source

In my search for popular drinks with golfersI decided that to get the full experience I needed to take a real course.

I went to Atlanta Country Cluba private members club often listed as one of the best golf courses in Georgia. I tried drinks throughout the clubhouse, where ACC members spend time; organizing weddings, business meetings and corporate events; and talk about their golf game.

Tyler Zimmerly, the head bartender at ACC, who has worked there for six years, prepared my drinkswho tells me that an ideal golf drink should not be too heavy or too alcoholic.

“It’s something that’s light, distinctly refreshing, not overly strong, but still packs a punch,” he said when I visited on a day when ACC was closed to members. “They’re there to have a good time.”

A spritz off

First Zimmerly made me an Aperol spritz and a Hugo spritz.

Usually it’s not the drinks reach golfers for the course itself, but he said they are a favorite for members when they come in to relax after making par.

“The spritzes work really well for the ladies after a round of golf, especially when it’s 90 to 100 degrees,” Zimmerly said. “It hits all the notes they’re looking for, something very light with the prosecco, which is refreshing and has a great flavor and good balance.”

I had tried both spritzes before (there’s no way I would have missed the spritz craving), but I’d never had the opportunity to try them back to back to see which I liked best.

The Aperol spritz got up first.

Normally I’m not a fan of an Aperol spritz because I find Aperol bitter. Zimmerly’s was good though. The ratio of prosecco to Aperol was perfect, so the drink felt refreshing yet strong enough that I drank it slowly. It held up quite well in the Atlanta heat, which is a must for any golf drink.

Then it was time for the Hugo spritz. The elderflower liqueur-based drink, declared the cocktail of the summer of 2025, has become more mainstream in the past year.

I absolutely loved the Hugo spritz. It had a slightly spicy bite and felt incredibly light thanks to the soda. It was almost too easy to drink; I had to remind myself to sip it slowly, especially since I had two more to try.

A Hugo would be refreshing whether you’re on the course or relaxing at the club after a round of golf, but I could imagine the fresh mint garnish would do that. make the drink more difficult to prepare for the course itself.

For me it wasn’t a battle between the Aperol and Hugo spritz, because the latter was tastier and easier to drink.

But how would the spritzes hold up to the trendiest golf drinks I had yet to try?

It was time for a transfusion

After getting my spritz fill of the day, it was finally time to try the golf course-specific drinks I’d been curious about for weeks.

First came the transfusion, that’s That Girl in the golf drinks world. Search for “golf cocktails” on TikTok or Instagram and you’ll be hard-pressed to see a video of a transfusion.

Food and wine reported that the exact origin of the drink is unknown, although it has been a staple of courses since the 1950s.

The transfusion is known for its taste, as it relies on grape juice.

Zimmerly told me that while ginger beer is routinely used in transfusions, the ACC makes them with Fresca for a slightly lighter flavor. He told me that “the convenience of the drink” is part of what makes a transfusion so attractive to golfers.

“It’s not too complicated,” he said. “It’s not hard on the stomach. You can have several of them.”

I took my first sip of the transfusion and was immediately struck by the grape flavor. It wasn’t overpowering and balanced well with the soda and alcoholbut since it was such a novelty in a cocktail, the grape flavor was what stood out to me the most.

It created almost the same experience as pausing on the playground as a kid to grab a juice box, just an adult version.

To make sure I got the full experience, I did another transfusion at home with ginger ale instead of Fresca, and my takeaway was the same: it was good, but the grape juice almost distracted from every other flavor.

I now understand why so many golfers debate the ratio of grape juice to ginger beer in an ideal transfusion; I’m definitely landing on the pro-ginger ale heavy side. I couldn’t see myself wanting a transfusion outside of a golf setting, but I understand why it’s a favorite for mid-match golfers.

Water hazard season

Finally it was time to try the water hazard, which I knew had been gaining popularity among golfers over the past year. Zimmerly told me they really took off in the ACC in the 2026 season.

Water hazards are known for being electric blue because they contain a sports drink.

“It’s another one of those drinks that’s gentle on the stomach, and it has electrolytes from the sports drink,” Zimmerly said. “It’s super refreshing.”

I normally only reach for a blue sports drink when I’m sick, so I was a little skeptical, but I loved the water hazard. I sighed after my first sip and let the fresh, inviting taste wash over my tongue. The hydrating ingredient did not take over and mixed smoothly with the lemonade and soda. The vodka flavor was present, but subtle the drink almost too easy to drink.

Zimmerly told me that the lemonade was the key to keeping the sports drink from becoming too strong. “It wouldn’t have the same fullness and flavor,” he said. “The lemonade and the Sprite add that extra balance and citrus.”

I drank my water hazard on the course in 95 degree heat, and even as the ice melted, it tasted just as flavorful and refreshing as it did after my first sip. Zimmerly said the water hazard and transfusion are ideal for outdoor drinking “because they wear off so quickly.”

For me, one drink stood out in the packaging

No surprise, I enjoyed all the drinks that a professional bartender made for me. Still, I liked some more than others.

After tasting all four drinks, I had two rankings in mind.

My general preference

1. Water hazard
2. Hugo spritz
3. Transfusion
4. Aperol spritz

My preferred golf course drink

1. Water hazard
2. Transfusion
3. Hugo spritz
4. Aperol spritz

The water hazard was by far my favorite, thanks to its unique flavor and smooth finish. Moreover, the sports drink makes it extra fun to play golf, almost as if you were drinking on theme.

Zimmerly, on the other hand, recommends starting with a transfusion if you want to delve into the world of golf drinks because of how simple it is.

“It’s the most approachable,” he said. “It has three ingredients that work and play well together. I would definitely recommend that all day long.”

The jury is still out on whether golf will become my passion, but I know what I’ll drink if that ever happens.

Golfers, what is your favorite drink on the course or after a round? Give us your suggestions on what to try next in the comments!