Cigars and Golf: A Beginner's Guide to the Course Smoke

Few pairings feel as natural as cigars and golf. Four-plus hours outdoors, a relaxed pace, good company, and time to think — it's practically built for a slow smoke. But a cigar on the course has its own quirks: wind, pacing across 18 holes, and a bit of green-side etiquette. Get the basics right and a cigar turns an already-good round into something you'll want to repeat every weekend.

Here's how to enjoy a cigar on the course like you've been doing it for years.

Cigars and golf: picking the right stick

The course is a different setting from your patio, so choose with it in mind. You want a cigar that's flavorful outdoors, long enough to last, and won't wear you out by the back nine.

• Strength: medium is the sweet spot. Outdoors, smoke and aroma blow away fast, so a very mild cigar can taste like not much. A medium cigar reads clearly in the open air. A full-bodied bruiser, on the other hand, can leave you light-headed when you've got holes left to play and a drink-and-snack stomach.
• Size: reach for a robusto or toro. These give you roughly 45 minutes to an hour-plus of smoke — enough to carry across several holes without constant relighting. (Not sure on sizes? Torpedo vs robusto breaks down the popular shapes.)
• Wind matters. A slightly bolder cigar with a sturdier wrapper holds up better in a breeze than a delicate one.

If you want specific, widely-loved names, our best medium-bodied cigars guide is a great place to start, and how to choose a cigar walks through matching strength and size to the moment.

Beating the wind

Wind is the one real challenge of a course cigar, and it's easily managed:

1. Light it thoroughly. A rushed light blows out fast. Use a windproof butane torch lighter and toast the foot evenly before you take your first puffs. (New to lighting? How to light a cigar covers the technique.)
2. Keep it alive between shots. A gentle puff every few minutes keeps the ember going. Long gaps — lining up a putt, hunting for a ball — are when cigars die.
3. Don't panic if it goes out. A quick re-toast brings most cigars right back. How to relight a cigar shows you how to do it without turning it bitter.
4. Cup it. When the wind really kicks up, shield the foot with your hand as you puff.

Pacing it across 18 holes

A cigar is meant to be unhurried, and golf gives you the perfect rhythm. Don't race it. Puff between shots, set it down while you swing, and let the round set the tempo. One good robusto or toro typically carries you through most of a round.

Where do you rest it between holes? Not in the wet grass — that's how you ruin a cigar. Use:

• The cart's built-in ashtray, if it has one.
• A magnetic or clip-on cigar holder for your cart or bag.
• A cigar tube to stash it safely if you need both hands for a tricky shot.

Bringing two cigars is smart — one as a backup if your first won't relight well, and one to share if a playing partner eyes it enviously. A protective tube in your bag keeps the spare fresh; for longer days, knowing how to store cigars without a humidor helps it survive the round in good shape.

Course etiquette

On most courses, a cigar is welcome — it's a bit of a tradition. But good manners keep it that way:

• Check the club's rules first. Some courses and clubhouses have restrictions; a quick ask at the pro shop saves any awkwardness.
• Mind your smoke. Be aware of where it drifts, especially toward a partner about to swing, and never blow it toward someone's face. The same courtesy you'd use in a lounge applies here — cigar etiquette 101 is a handy refresher.
• Keep pace. Your cigar should never slow the group behind you. Smoke between shots, not instead of them.
• Pack out your butts. Use the cart ashtray and never leave a stubbed cigar on the course. Let it die on its own when you're done rather than crushing it.

The 19th hole

When the round wraps, the cigar tradition often continues at the clubhouse or with a drink. A medium cigar pairs beautifully with the classics — our cigar and drink pairings guide covers what goes well with what, whether you're reaching for a bourbon or keeping it alcohol-free.

The takeaway

Cigars and golf are a natural fit, and enjoying one on the course is simple once you know the ropes: pick a medium-bodied robusto or toro that stands up to the open air, light it well and puff gently to beat the wind, let the round set your pace, rest it somewhere dry between holes, and stay courteous with your smoke and your speed. Bring a spare, check the club's rules, and let the cigar do what it does best — make a good walk even better.

To remember which cigars played best on the course, the Casa DNC app lets you log and rate every smoke, so your go-to round-of-golf cigar is always easy to find again.