There’s nothing better, when enjoying a round of golf with friends, than to share a nice dram of whiskey to warm the soul. It’s a simple pleasure, but there’s an art to doing it correctly. Follow these five simple steps, and you’ll impress your friends and enjoy a delightful, on-course whiskey experience like the classy golfer you are.

1. Use A Flask

As the headline of this article suggests, using a flask should be a prerequisite to a pleasurable golf-whiskey experience, so let’s get that out of the way real quick. Don’t be the guy who drags an entire bottle of whiskey onto the golf course. It’s a recipe for over-drinking, it’s hard to share with others, and most self-respecting golf courses won’t allow it, anyway. Opt for a hip flask instead.

2. Opt For A Smaller Flask

There’s the pragmatic reason — a smaller flask makes it easier to transport — but there’s also another reason why smaller flasks are generally better. As Dewar’s Master Distiller Stephanie Macleod noted last week, larger flasks means more air will linger in the “headspace” of the flask. That air will become stale, and it won’t take long for it to negatively affect the taste of your whiskey.

Of course, the downside is that a smaller flask means you won’t be able to transport as much whiskey. Something around 5 ounces is probably right in the sweet spot.

3. Don’t Leave Whiskey In The Flask In Between Rounds

This is a big time rule. Flasks are designed for the short-term. If you leave whiskey in there between rounds, it’ll taste terrible the next time you reach for it.

4. Always Use A Funnel

Another seemingly obvious point, but important enough to emphasize. Most flasks will come with a funnel, and if they don’t, they’re incredibly cheap to buy, so use them! If you try to fill your flask without one, you will inevitably make a mess, waste valuable whiskey and probably ruin your nice flask in the process.

5. Clean Your Flask Thoroughly

Don’t assume the flask is clean, either when you first buy it or when it’s empty after the round. Give it a proper clean with soap and water, and let it soak. You want the flask as clean as possible for the most enjoyable whiskey experience.

To receive GOLF’s all-new newsletters, subscribe for free here.

Golf and whiskey are two things that are indelibly linked, and if you’re a fan of one, you’ve no doubt crossed paths with the other at some point.

But whiskey, like golf, can be an intimidating hobby to take an interest in. There are lots of nuances which can make things confusing. But no longer, thanks to Dewar’s Master Distiller Stephanie Macleod, who we called to help give golfers a crash course on the whiskey basics.

1. Whats the difference between single malt and blended whiskey?

When it comes to whiskey, there’s one big distinction you need to know: The difference between “single-malt” and “blended” whiskey. In a nutshell, single-malt whiskey means it was the product of one distillery. Blended whiskey, the kind which Dewar’s specializes in, takes a number of different single-malts and mixes them together. That’s a “blend,” a process that unlocks some really unique flavors:

“Each malt has a different flavor profile,” says Macleod. “Blending lightens the effect of the malt whisky, and we also blend based on the type of the cask we mature the whiskey in, so there’s a real level of complexity from the blended scotch.”

2. Are there any whiskey ‘taboos’?

Some people can get pretentious about whiskey, but if they are they’re doing it wrong, says Macleod. There’s no wrong way to enjoy whiskey, so even if you’re new, don’t fret.

“Make it into a cocktail, have it neat; there are no rules to drinking scotch whiskies. We want people not to be bound by things they may have heard in the past. Scotch whiskies have been made to be enjoyed. They made whiskies for comfort, it’s made to be enjoyed and shared.”

3. What’s the best way for a golfer to use a whiskey flask on the course?

Whiskey flasks are a great way to bring a nib of whiskey to the course — but make sure you do it right, or you’ll ruin the experience.

“Make sure the flask is clean, but there’s nothing worse than something having been in there, like a liquor and it taking away from the whiskey,” says Macleod. “I’d recommend finding a flask that isn’t too large, because every time you increase the headspace in the flask, that air becomes a bit stale and can affect the whiskey. A small flask is better unless you plan to drink on the golf.”

4. What’s a good kind of whiskey for a cold day on the course?

Golf is best in the fair weather, but it also has a certain charm in the cold, when the wind is blowing and the rain is pouring. And on those days, there’s nothing better than the right dram of whiskey to warm you up on the course, says Macleod.

“We generally associate the winter with a heavier profile in whiskies,” she says, “so look for a whisky with deeper, warming flavors. Whiskies finished in sherry cask give a kind of trickly, warming sensation.”

5. What’s a good kind of whiskey for a hot day on the course?

The sherry casks may be especially great for cold weather, but what about for warm weather?

“I look for lighter, brighter notes in warm weather. Notes of lemon and honey,” says Macleod. “Dewar’s 12 is a good option. You can also enjoy your whiskey in a mixed drink with ice.”

6. What whiskey should you drink to celebrate a good round?

If you’ve just had a round to remember, celebrate with a whiskey to remember. Something on the older side.

“I’d suggest going for an older age statement whisky. Something special that’s been aged in a barrel for a long time. Our Dewar’s 32 was aged in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. It’s a rich whiskey for a special occasion.”

7. Does older whiskey mean better whiskey?

But it’s a misconception that older whiskey automatically means better, says Macleod. Older simply means it’s been aged in the barrel longer, so will take on more of its flavor — for better or for worse.

“It depends on the cask. Not all casks are created equally. The right cask is very important for flavor. We also lose a certain amount every year. That’s why we charge more for an older whiskies. There is a monetary element to a whisky being older, but you shouldn’t discount a whisky just because it older.

To receive GOLF’s all-new newsletters, subscribe for free here.

Like most golfers, I love good whisky. It’s something of a recent fascination of mine, and it’s a good one, considering how well it goes with my other great passion: The game of golf.

Indeed, good whisky and good golf are intertwined in so many ways, and if you’re thinking about combining the two in the form of a holiday present for the golfer in your life (or maybe even yourself!), here are a few options for you to consider.

I’ve always been a big golf guy, but more recently, I’ve also become a big whiskey guy. Maybe that means what I actually am is a big Scotland guy, which makes sense given my general Britishness.

But anyway, taking an interest in whiskey means you’re always on the hunt for good whiskeys. And because the golf course is such a wonderful place to enjoy a nice dram, my ears always perk up when I find a nice bottle that won’t cost an arm and a leg, and therefore won’t make me feel bad if I want to throw some of it in a flask for a round with friends. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Whisky Advocate named a $36 bottle of Dickel the best whiskey of 2019.

It fits all the criteria for a good in-round whiskey, with tasting notes ranging from peanut, caramel apple, and orange marmalade, according to the magazine:

The mouthwatering peanut aromas evoke memories of cracking open a school lunchbox while the palate delivers abundant fruit: orange marmalade and caramel apple. Fine bitter-sweet balance suggests burnt sugar, Mexican chocolate, chocolate-covered almonds, and toffee. Indeed, sweet nuts, like French burnt peanuts, candied pralines, and marron glacé, seem to be the common thread here, lending this a consistent chord from initial nose through the drying, pleasantly spiced finish.

It’s aged 13 years and it’s technically not a bourbon, it’s a Tennessee Whiskey, which means the makers filter the spirit through charcoal before putting it in a barrel for added flavor. It’s also “bottled-in-bond,” which means the same distiller who distilled the whisky is the one who extracted it from the barrel. A couple of fun facts to tell your golf buddies the next time you debut one of these bottles on the course.

The following article is part of a paid sponsorship.

***

Feeling tired from the monotony of another long weekend? Try this scenario on for size: After waking up to a glorious sunny morning in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, you head over to your local club to play a round at a Tom Fazio-designed course that is heralded as one of the best in the country. The tee times are spaced in 12-minute increments, so you breeze around without seeing a soul and feel like you have the place to yourself.

After your round, you amble to your community’s Q Club, where you enjoy a poolside lunch with some neighbors. When you’ve finished, you lounge on a chair in the sun for a few extra minutes before heading home (to your expansive, luxurious abode, which offers a sweeping vista of the sparkling Sea of Cortez) and pouring yourself a drink, with nothing to do but sit, enjoy the gentle breeze, wait for yet another incredible Mexican sunset to paint the sky, and consider your options for the following day. More golf? Beach club, perhaps? The choice is yours.

If this all sounds like a dream, it’s not — it’s reality for homeowners at Querencia Private Golf & Beach Club, a close-knit, elegant community in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, where buying a beautiful home or condo entitles you to access incredible amenities, like the Tom Fazio golf course mentioned above, a sprawling clubhouse, which boasts outdoor grass tennis courts, pickleball and basketball courts, a youth center, an infinity pool and waterslide, and two full-service restaurants.

The members-only golf course offers staggering views of the Sea of Cortez on every hole of the front nine. The course was Tom Fazio’s first-ever project in Mexico. “Once I experienced this land, I knew it was an extraordinary setting for world-class golf,” he said. “I’ve designed the course to maximize views of downtown San Jose del Cabo and the Sea of Cortez and provide a fair balance of risks and rewards.” You can even opt to motor yourself around the course on a GolfBoard instead of a traditional golf cart. A 12-acre practice facility is also available to help you hone your game before or after your round.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Querencia’s expansive 1,800 acres of coastline property offers a multitude of other activities to pursue. You can surf right off of Querencia’s private beach club, snorkel or scuba dive in one of the world’s healthiest coral reefs, traverse six miles of off-road trail on a mountain bike, trek from the mountains to the sea on an invigorating hike, or fish for dorado and yellowtail off the southern Baja coast. The Querencia community concierge can also curate an exclusive itinerary suited to your needs, including vineyard tours, whale watching and excursions into quaint downtown San Jose del Cabo.

Good living? More like great living.

If you ever wanted to live in the home of the man who created one of the biggest sports brands on the planet, now is your chance. And here’s a bonus — it comes with a golf course in your backyard.

Nike co-founder Phil Knight has listed his golf course home in La Quinta for a cool $1.55 million, according to the LA Times. The 4,437-square-foot home sits off the 12th fairway of the Mountain Course at the La Quinta Resort and Club in La Quinta, Calif. It has three bedrooms and three baths, and you can relax by the pool as you watch the action play out on the course in front of you.

According to the LA Times, Knight also sold land a few miles away from this home at La Quinta’s Madison Club for $2 million earlier this year.

Check out photos of Knight’s place below, and get your bids in now if you want to call this your own in the future.

Rory McIlroy, fresh off his $15 million FedEx Cup victory, arrived at the 2019 Omega European Masters in Switzerland sporting a new wristwatch: The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra “Ultra Light.”

Rory first shared the post on Instagram, and was spotted wearing it throughout his practice round with Justin Timberlake.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1tL_qAIUoN/

According to the website, the watch is the first in Omega’s history to utilize Gamma Titanium. When the crown is mounted on a fabric strap, the watch weighs just 55 grams. The recommended sale price is $48,600, and the watch itself comes in 27 different variations, and will start hitting stores in 2020.

#OMEGAGolf
Designed for sporting comfort. Introducing OMEGA’s Seamaster Aqua Terra “Ultra Light“. https://t.co/cOGdHO1Wa4 pic.twitter.com/xml0gn9pHx

— OMEGA (@omegawatches) August 27, 2019

Bryson’s DeChambeau has come under a lot of criticism in recent days, much of it overblown, but I won’t get into all of that. Instead, I want to focus on a new drink DeChambeau just created which, quite frankly, sounds delicious.

I learned of it last week, when Bryson was pouring drinks for people at a promotional event at the Grey Goose 19th hole during The Northern Trust. DeChambeau and Grey Goose are teaming up for a partnership that DeChambeau says will show people a “different side” of him.

“A lot of people know me as analytical, and I do a lot of fun and different stuff out on the golf course that people think is weird and unique, but I’m still a person,” he said. “I need some time to relax and have fun.”

Although the name of the drink he invented — “The DeChambeau” — needs a bit of work, in my opinion. “Smashed Factor” is my suggestion, but either way, the drink was a sugary delight. Here’s how you make it, according to Bryson himself:

Step One: Highball Glass

Self-explanatory.

Step Two: Ice

Lots of ice, actually, in small cubes preferably, filled to the brim.

Step Three: Grey Goose L’Orange

Bryson didn’t give exact measurements for the drink — he’s more of a feel player when it comes to bartending — but it looks like he poured about a shot’s worth. About 1.5/2 oz.

Step Four: Cranberry Juice

Once the orange-flavored vodka is in there, begin pouring in the cranberry juice (which is full of health benefits, by the way), until the glass is about half full.

Step Five: Club Soda

Once the glass is about half full with your vodka/cranberry-juice mixture, add club soda until the glass is 75 percent filled.

Step Six: Orange Juice

Just a splash, enough to top it off.

Step Seven: Stir/Serve

Just a sneaky stir. Then enjoy!

It’s only fitting that the voice of Mr. Incredible has a vacation home that’s – well, you know.

The actor is Craig T. Nelson, an avid golfer and star of an array of TV shows and movies, including Disney’s hit “Incredibles” franchise. The home is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 2,738-sq. ft. Hawaiian-style abode tucked into the trees just off the beach on Kauai’s Na Pali coast. (More details here.) Its backyard features a chipping green that was designed more than two decades ago by one of golf’s acclaimed architects. And now the home is on the market, so get your checkbook ready. The price: $14 million.

Nelson, 75, grew up playing the game and remains a ravenous golfer – he carries a 6 handicap – but said in a phone call Tuesday that he’s ready to move on from his tropical digs.

“At this time of life, we’ve really enjoyed it and it’s time to downsize,” Nelson said. “It’s sort of like how you come to grips with losing distance in golf and you have to work around it. It’s the same thing in life.”

The land was previously owned by the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, and Nelson built his home there from scratch. Shortly after moving in, Nelson befriended Robert Trent Jones Jr., who also has a home on the island, and RTJ designed Nelson’s green – in his own unique way.

“Robert Trent Jones came over to the house, and I said, ‘I’ve got this piece here that would make a great short game area,’” Nelson said. “He designed it, and he said, ‘Here.’ He had designed it on a napkin. I had it built to his specifications.”

The backyard practice hole is complete with a European-style pot bunker and a seashore-paspalum grass green. Nelson can’t quantify the number of hours he’s spent out there, but said that 4-to-6 hour practice sessions and games among friends were a regular feature.

“You can hit a 100-yard shot, but the trees have grown up so you have to decide if you should go over or under,” he said with a laugh.

In addition to his work on “The Incredibles,” Nelson also recently played Zeek Braverman on NBC’s “Parenthood.” Viewers of a certain age may know him first and foremost for his eight-season run as Hayden Fox on ABC’s “Coach.”

In 1994, he treated himself to a Hawaiian vacation home, and he’ll leave it with some 25 years of fond memories.

“Playing golf on the Na Pali coast is one of the most extraordinary things I’ve ever done. It really does bring you down to a place where you appreciate what you’ve been given and hopefully you give it back, too,” he said.

For backyard golf, you can certainly do worse. Check out more images below.

To receive GOLF’s all-new newsletters, subscribe for free here.

Nothing ignites the golfer’s spirit quite like teeing it up alongside the ocean. As such, we’ve identified the 17 best examples of oceanside golf in the U.S. We decided on no bays, gulfs, sounds or fjords on this list, just the greatest holes in American golf that play next to the Atlantic or the Pacific.

Cypress Point Club, Pebble Beach, Calif.
16th hole, par 3, 231 yards

Many experts say this is the greatest hole in golf, period. Never mind one of the finest par 3s on the planet. Giving Alister MacKenzie this otherworldly plot of land established a standard that other architects might rightly call unfair. Play this one and you instantly have your eternal go-to golf story.

Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach, Calif.
8th hole, par 4, 428 yards

Jack Nicklaus has long proclaimed this to be the greatest second shot-par-4 in golf. Who are we to argue? Of course, it’s also home to one of least inspiring tee shots in golf, but it is still one of the greatest holes in the game thanks to that stunning approach. From a tee perched by the Pacific, the drive is blind and must be struck no more than 240 yards to hold up short of a gaping abyss. That leaves a 175-to-190-yard shot over an ocean-battered gap in the cliffs to a small green ringed with five bunkers. Yeah, good luck with that!

Mauna Kea Golf Course, Big Island, Hawaii
3rd hole, par 3, 272 yards

Robert Trent Jones’ single most dramatic hole is this gargantuan 272-yarder that asks for a smash across the pounding Pacific surf from an isolated tee box set into 5,000-year-old black lava rock.

Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach, Calif.
18th hole; par 5, 536 yards

Pebble is good for two spots on the list, thanks to its epic par-5 closer, with the Pacific running all the home up the left side. The old cypress in the center of the fairway is one of the most famous trees in the game.

Pacific Dunes, Bandon, Ore.,
13th hole, par 4, 444 yards

This hole dates only to 2001, but this Tom Doak-crafted par 4 looks like it’s been here 100 years thanks to its seamless integration into a jaw-dropping setting that features a giant natural dune, blowout bunkers and the Pacific Ocean.

Cypress Point Club, Pebble Beach, Calif.
15th hole, par 3, 143 yards

It’s a setting as stunning as a national park; it just happens to have a golf hole built on it. Alister MacKenzie has brought you through the pines and around coastal dunes, and now, as his masterwork builds to a crescendo, he gives you this: your first arresting close-up with the sea. Simply unforgettable. And almost as good as the holes that follow it.

Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Ore.
16th hole, par 4, 363 yards

Architect David McLay Kidd shaped the diagonal ridge in the field — it wasn’t in the plans — and created an astounding, option-laden test. A safe play to the lower fairway on the right leaves a semi-blind approach. The tougher tee shot to the upper left landing area leaves an easier approach. No matter which you choose, the Pacific Ocean will gobble up a wild slice.

Kapalua Resort (Plantation), Maui, Hawaii,
18the hole, par 5, 663 yards

If you’ve ever wanted to reach a 663-yard par-5 in two, here’s your chance, thanks to this downhill-plunging Coore-Crenshaw creation that features a broad fairways slope and a speed slot into the green. Pacific panoramas add more icing to this distinctive cake, where it will take clever ground game prowess — and avoiding the jungle that frames the fairway — to post a red number.

Maidstone Golf Club, East Hampton, N.Y.
14th hole, par 3, 152 yards

Up on the tee, most of the bunkers are hidden, leaving the golfer with a stunning view of the green and sea beyond. One of the most spectacular spots on Long Island, and indeed, all of the U.S.

Pacific Dunes, Bandon, Ore.
11th hole, par 3, 148 yards

If you get lost in thought while gazing out at the Pacific, this little par 3 can become a scorecard-wrecker, as it’s flanked on all sides by native grass, sand traps and dense gorse bushes.

Manele Golf Club, Lanai, Hawaii
12th hole, par 3, 202 yards

Another cliffside heart-stopper, the 12th is a dramatic forced-carry, with the pounding surf, and perhaps a few spinner dolphins, waiting below. The dramatic scene can create vivid memories. The tee box was the scene of Bill and Melinda Gates’ wedding in 1994.

Hammock Beach Resort (Ocean), Palm Coast, Fla.
9th hole, par 4, 468 yards

Heavy native shrubs — a few deep bunkers — line the entire right side of the hole, which help wayward shots avoid both the beach and a splash landing. This Jack Nicklaus design (Ed. note: Nicklaus Companies and GOLF.com are affiliates of 8AM Golf) received a remake after Hurricane Matthew hit it hard in 2016, and six holes now boast unobstructed ocean views. For our money, No. 9 is still the prize.

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort, Kiawah Island, S.C.
18th hole, par 4, 439 yards

The tee shot is demanding, and the approach, with the ocean heaving in the background, is downright knee-knocking. You can imagine the pressure Ryder Cup competitors felt during an epic duel in 1991 that came to be known as the “War by the Shore,” which came down to Bernhard Langer’s missed 6-footer on this green.

Poipu Bay Golf Course, Kauai, Hawaii
16th hole, par 4, 501 yards

Robert Trent Jones dubbed this hole “the Pebble Beach of the Pacific.” It’s the longest par 4 on the course and one of the sturdiest in all of Hawaii. A small lake lurks right off the fairway to catch tee shots, and the ocean runs all the way up the left.

Half Moon Bay Golf Links (Old), Half Moon Bay, Calif.
18th hole, par 4, 405 yards

With the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay long and left, and the ocean cliffs lurking just right of the green, the second shot here is one that will truly take your breath away.

Dunes Golf Course Monterey Peninsula
14th hole, par 3

A sweet hole that requires golfers to cross 17 Mile Drive to reach the tee. A lone cypress tree was planted during a renovation a few years ago, and it sits out near the green to make your social-media snaps that much more gorgeous.

Cypress Point Club, Pebble Beach Calif.
17th hole, par 4, 393 yards

OK, so that’s three holes from the same course, but can you really argue? The 17th is a stunner in its own right, with the Pacific on all sides, and it’s completely deserving of the anchor spot on our list.