What Do Pro Golfers Drink on the Course? (And What You Should Copy)

Watch a tour broadcast closely and you will notice the same routine on almost every tee box: a sip from a bottle that is clearly not plain water. So what do pro golfers actually drink on the course — and what should the rest of us copy?

The short answer: water plus electrolytes, on a schedule

Professional golfers treat hydration as part of the job. A tour round means 4-5 hours outside, often in heat, walking six-plus miles while trying to keep a repeatable swing and a steady putting stroke. Most tour players alternate between plain water and an electrolyte drink, sipping every few holes on a schedule instead of waiting until they feel thirsty. Bryson DeChambeau has been famously open about drinking electrolyte-loaded water all round long, and hydration sponsors have become as common on tour bags as glove sponsors.

What the pros avoid

Two things, mostly. First, sugary sports drinks — a 32g-sugar bottle produces exactly the blood-sugar spike-and-crash that shows up as loose swings and short attention on the closing holes. Second, alcohol during competitive rounds: the 19th hole is for after the scorecard is signed. The research on why this matters is summarized on our Science page — dehydrated golfers lose distance, accuracy, and judgment well before they feel thirsty.

The protocol worth copying

• First tee: 16oz of water with one serving of electrolytes. Start hydrated instead of chasing it.
• The turn: refill and repeat. Two servings covers 18 holes.
• Hot days or walking: add plain water between electrolyte servings.

The full on-course plan — including what to drink the night before an early tee time — is in our golf hydration guide.

What should be in the bottle

For golf specifically, the minerals that matter are sodium (sweat loss), potassium (muscle function), and magnesium (the anti-cramp, anti-tension mineral most mixes underdose). We compared the popular options head-to-head in best electrolytes for golf. Brdy Juice was built to that spec: 350mg sodium, 175mg potassium, 210mg magnesium in three absorbable forms, plus B vitamins — zero sugar, zero caffeine, Iced Tea Lemonade flavor.

Want to test the pro protocol before committing to a full bag? The 5-serving sample pack is $9.99 with free shipping — enough for two full rounds.