Cigars and golf: how to get properly equipped and smoke on the course
Windproof lighters, cases for walking, formats suited to 18 holes, and etiquette rules: the complete guide for the cigar-loving golfer.
Few leisure activities go together as naturally as the cigar and golf. On the fairway, between two shots, while partners recap the previous hole, a cigar is lit with the inevitability of an object that belongs to the landscape. Not everywhere, however: each club sets its own rules. But where it is accepted, it is part of the golfing ritual just as much as a leather glove or a scorecard. Yet, you must be equipped for the course and not for the lounge: cigar smoker equipment designed for the indoors quickly shows its limits when faced with wind, sun, and several kilometers of walking.
This guide answers the practical questions asked by the golfer-smoker: which lighter resists the wind, which case protects cigars in a golf bag, which format to choose for 18 holes, and, above all, how to smoke without bothering your partners or damaging the course.
Why golf and cigars go so well together
Both practices share values that explain their convergence. Slowness, first of all: a round of 18 holes lasts on average four to four and a half hours, which is exactly the time to savor two or three fine cigars without ever rushing the pace. The setting, then: trees, a clear sky, moving air, an environment that lends itself to open-air enjoyment much better than an urban terrace. Sociability, finally: golf is a conversational sport, and the cigar remains one of the best excuses to extend a discussion.
A matter of rhythm
Golf alternates between a few seconds of intense concentration and long minutes of walking, waiting, and exchanging. This tempo resembles that of a tasting: a puff, then a pause of a minute or two to let the cigar breathe. An attentive smoker takes about one to two puffs per minute; on a course, the game naturally imposes this steady rhythm.
The tradition often continues at the "19th hole", the clubhouse where you recap the round. Many golfers actually save their finest cigar for this moment, once the scorecard has been signed.
The course's constraints for the smoker
Smoking on a golf course poses challenges that the lounge smoker does not know. The terrain is exposed, the walking is long, and you play with your hands: the cigar must be able to be set down, picked back up, and sometimes relit without it disrupting the game.
The wind: torch above all
This is the number one constraint. A soft flame, perfect in the lounge, becomes unusable as soon as the breeze picks up. On a course, you need a torch lighter, ideally double or triple jet: the flame emerges under pressure, remains straight and concentrated, and heats the foot of the cigar even when the air is moving. A visible fuel level avoids the unpleasant surprise of an empty lighter at hole 12. To compare models, browse our selection of cigar lighters.
The move that changes everything: light with your back to the wind, with the cigar and the flame protected by your body and cupped hands. Heat the foot without touching it by rotating the cigar, then only take a puff once the surface is evenly glowing.
Transport: protecting cigars while walking
A cigar slipped into a pants pocket has little chance of finishing the round intact. It requires a rigid case or individual tubes capable of absorbing the bag's impacts and protecting it from dry air. Store the case in a side pocket of the bag, on the shade side, and never in the trunk of a car in the middle of summer: the heat climbs very quickly in there. Find suitable models among our cigar cases.
Ash: leaving nothing behind
A green is a surface maintained to the millimeter; an ember can leave a lasting mark. The golfer-smoker therefore carries a pocket ashtray or uses the one in the cart, and never leaves a butt on the course. At the end of the round, the finished cigar goes into a clubhouse ashtray, not at the foot of a tree. For the club terrace or the home, also see our selection of cigar ashtrays.
Which cigar to choose for a round of golf?
The golf cigar obeys three criteria: a duration compatible with the game's pace, an intensity suited to the exertion and heat, and a robust wrapper capable of enduring the open air.
Duration: think in number of holes
With an average pace of 13 to 15 minutes per hole, each format is easily translated into "smoked holes." A Robusto accompanies three to four holes, a Toro four to five, and a Churchill a good portion of the back nine. Many golfers choose a short format for the outward journey and a longer format for the return, when the game becomes more relaxed.
| Format | Indicative duration | On the course | For whom? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petit Robusto | 30 to 40 min | 2 to 3 holes | Nine holes, fast round, first time |
| Robusto | 45 to 60 min | 3 to 4 holes | The versatile choice, easy to relight |
| Toro | 60 to 75 min | 4 to 5 holes | The entire front nine at a steady pace |
| Churchill | 90 min and more | 6 to 7 holes | The back nine, or the 19th hole at the clubhouse |
Intensity: prefer a medium profile
Under the sun, after walking several kilometers, a very full-bodied cigar can quickly become tiring, especially since one often smokes it without having eaten much. A light to medium profile is better suited to the outdoors. The Montecristo Open line, designed for leisure moments outdoors, illustrates this search for a milder profile well; a Romeo y Julieta or an H. Upmann in Robusto format are also appreciated references on courses. Save the stronger cigars for the clubhouse, after a meal.
Wrapper: robust and well-preserved
A thin wrapper, exposed to the sun and wind, dries out and can crack. Prefer cigars with a supple and well-oiled wrapper, taken out of the humidor that very morning and transported in a case. A properly preserved cigar, between 65 and 72% humidity, withstands a few hours outside much better. If your stash lacks stability, checking your cigar humidor before the golf season is a must.
Good to know: in golf, the cigar often goes out while playing a shot or searching for a ball. This is not a defect. Before relighting, blow gently through the cigar to clear the cold smoke, then heat the foot again. A cigar extinguished for less than half an hour will relight without any problem.
Cigar etiquette on the course
Golf is a sport of courtesy, and the cigar must blend in without ever causing a disturbance. A few simple rules make the difference between a popular smoker and one you avoid playing with.
The 4 rules of the golfer-smoker
Summer and fire risk: during periods of drought, the tall grass in the rough and the undergrowth bordering the courses ignite easily. Prefectural orders may then prohibit smoking near wooded areas, and clubs often enforce their own restrictions. Check before heading out and be extra vigilant with embers.
One last point of etiquette, often forgotten: the cigar should never slow down the game. Do not relight when it is your turn to play; do not look for your lighter while the next group is waiting. Prepare your cigar during dead time, not during your turn.
The golfer-smoker's kit
For a complete round, four pieces are enough, and they all fit into a single pocket of the golf bag. The essential thing is to choose them for the outdoors: robust, compact, and easy to use with one hand.
For cutting, the punch is favored by many golfers: it cuts a round and moderate opening that limits overheating when the wind fuels the combustion, and it slides into a pocket without risk. A small guillotine remains an excellent option for thicker formats. Discover our models of cigar cutters and our entire range of cigar accessories.
Preparing your kit the day before a round
A perfect gift for a cigar-loving golfer
A golfer who enjoys cigars is one of the easiest people to shop for: a rigid case, a torch lighter, or a cigar gift box combining the course accessories will always be a hit. For a birthday, a tournament victory, or retirement, also consider personalization: a case engraved with his initials or the date of a beautiful round becomes a lasting memento.
Find our ideas for engravable items in the selection of personalized products.
Frequently asked questions about cigars and golf
Am I allowed to smoke a cigar on a golf course?
Which lighter to choose for smoking while golfing?
Which cigar format for an 18-hole round?
How should you carry your cigars in a golf bag?
Where should you place your cigar while taking a shot?
Which cigar cutter should you take on the course?
What gift to give a golfer who enjoys cigars?
Conclusion: two lifestyles that complement each other
Cigars and golf share an appreciation for taking one's time, being outdoors, and conversation. To enjoy both fully, you simply need to be equipped for the course: a torch lighter for the wind, a hard case for walking, a compact cigar cutter, and a pocket ashtray so you leave nothing behind. Add a format suited to the pace of play and a few rules of etiquette, and every round becomes a moment of enjoyment, right up to the 19th hole.
