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

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a golfer will be looking for a beverage before they hit the 18th hole.

OK, maybe it’s not universally acknowledged, but drinking is definitely a big part of golf culture.

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

Now, I must admit to you that I’m not a golfer, unless Putt-Putt counts. I am, however, plenty familiar with cocktails, channeling Ina Garten to make a mean cosmopolitan or espresso martini.

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

After months of looking on from the sidelines, I decided it was time to try the drinks for myself and rank them. In the end, I was a fan of all the beverages I tried, but my favorite was the most refreshing drink.

I went straight to the source

In my quest to taste drinks popular with golfers, I decided that to get the full experience, I needed to go to a real course.

I headed to Atlanta Country Club, a private members’ club often listed as one of the best courses in Georgia. I tried drinks throughout the clubhouse, where ACC members spend time; host weddings, business meetings, and corporate events; and chat about their golf game.

Tyler Zimmerly, the head bartender at ACC, who has worked there for six years, prepped my drinks, telling me an ideal golf drink can’t be too heavy or too alcohol forward.

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

A spritz off

First, Zimmerly prepared an Aperol spritz and a Hugo spritz for me.

They’re not usually the drinks golfers reach for on the course itself, but he said they’re a go-to for members when they come inside to relax after making par.

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

I had tried both spritzes before (no way would I have missed the spritz crave), but I had never had the opportunity to try them back-to-back to see which I liked better.

The Aperol spritz was up first.

I’m not usually partial to an Aperol spritz, as I find Aperol bitter. Zimmerly’s was good, though. The prosecco-to-Aperol ratio was perfect, so the drink felt refreshing yet strong enough that I sipped it slowly. It held up fairly well in the Atlanta heat, which is a must for any golf drink.

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

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

A Hugo would be refreshing whether you’re on the course or relaxing at the club after a round of golf, but I could see how the fresh mint garnish would make the drink trickier to prepare on the course itself.

For me, it was no contest between the Aperol and Hugo spritz, as the latter was tastier and easier to drink.

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

It was time for a transfusion

After I got 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 up was the transfusion, which is That Girl in the golf drink world. Search “golf cocktails” on TikTok or Instagram, and you’d be hard-pressed not to see a video of a transfusion.

Food and Wine reported that the exact origins of the drink are unknown, though it’s been a staple on courses since the 1950s.

The transfusion is famous for its flavor, as it relies on grape juice.

Zimmerly told me that although ginger ale is standard in transfusions, the ACC makes them with Fresca for a slightly lighter taste. He told me “the ease of the drink” is part of what makes a transfusion so appealing for golfers.

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

I took my first sip of the transfusion and was immediately hit with the grape flavor. It wasn’t overpowering, balancing well with the soda and alcohol, but because it was such a novelty in a cocktail, the grape flavor was what I picked up on most.

It almost recreated 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 made another transfusion at home with ginger ale instead of Fresca, and my takeaway was the same — it was good, but the grape juice was almost distracting from any other flavor.

I see now why so many golfers debate about the grape juice-to-ginger ale ratio in an ideal transfusion; I definitely land on the pro-ginger ale-heavy side. I couldn’t see myself craving a transfusion outside a golf setting, but I get why it’s a favorite for golfers mid-game.

Water hazard season

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

Water hazards are famous for being electric blue, as they contain a sports drink.

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

I usually only reach for a blue sports drink when I’m sick, so I was a bit skeptical, but I loved the water hazard. I let out a sigh after my first sip, letting the crisp, welcoming flavor wash over my tongue. The hydrating ingredient didn’t take over, blending smoothly with the lemonade and soda. The vodka taste was there, but it was subtle, making the beverage almost too easy to drink.

Zimmerly told me the lemonade was key to keeping the sports drink from being 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 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 go down so fast.”

For me, one drink stood out from the pack

No surprise, I loved all the drinks a professional bartender made for me. Still, I did like some more than others.

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

My general preference

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

My preference for a golf course beverage

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. Plus, the sports drink makes it extra fun for golf, almost like you’re drinking on theme.

Zimmerly, on the other hand, recommends starting with a transfusion if you’re going to dip your toe 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. That would be the one, hands down, I would recommend all day long.”

The jury is still out on whether golf will become my passion, but I know what I’ll be drinking if it ever does.

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