Best Cigars for Golf: Quick Smokes That Fit the Round

I'm a terrible golfer. Like, embarrassingly bad. But I play once or twice a month because my buddy Dave has a membership and the cigars-on-course experience is the only reason I keep saying yes when he texts at 6 AM on a Saturday. After three years of figuring out what works between tee boxes, I've got strong opinions about golf cigars.

The short version: your lounge favorites don't belong on a fairway. You need something that finishes in 30 minutes, doesn't make you dizzy in the sun, and won't fall apart when you're holding it between your fingers during a swing. Different game entirely.

The Picks

1. Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story

There's a reason you see these on every golf course in America. The perfecto shape — tapered at both ends — means it sits on a cart dashboard without rolling, holds ash like it's glued on, and the tapered foot resists wind better than a straight cut. Cameroon wrapper gives you cream, cedar, a little sweetness. Done in 30 minutes. Three holes, give or take.

I bring three of these per round. One for holes 2-5 (never light on the first hole — you're still fussing with your bag and finding your rhythm), one around the turn, and one for the back nine when my score stops mattering. At $7-8 each, that's a $24 day of cigars. Cheaper than the round itself.

The only downside is everyone smokes these on golf courses, so it feels a bit predictable. But predictable works when you're focused on not slicing into the trees.

2. Ashton Half Corona

Even shorter than the Short Story. Twenty-five minutes, max. Mild as a glass of milk. The thin ring gauge means it smokes cool even in August heat. I've gone through two of these on a hot front nine and felt zero nicotine.

If your usual rotation is medium-full stuff, this will bore you. I'll be honest. But that's kind of the point — the cigar shouldn't be competing with your swing thoughts. It's background pleasure, not the main event.

3. Perdomo Champagne Puritos

Twenty minutes. Three bucks. You can literally toss one if you need to rush a shot or the group ahead finally lets you play through. I keep a tin of these in my golf bag's side pocket for exactly that scenario — holes 16, 17, when you want something in your hand but don't have time for a real smoke.

4. Oliva Serie G Cameroon Special G

This is the one I actually look forward to on the course. Short and fat, more flavor than anything else on this list — leather, nuts, a bit of pepper. It's the cigar I grab when I've already accepted my score is garbage and I want something that actually tastes interesting for the last few holes. Medium body, which means I skip it on the hottest summer rounds but love it in October golf weather. Around $5-6.

5. My Father La Opulencia Petit Robusto

Look, this is probably too much cigar for the course. San Andrés wrapper, dark chocolate, coffee, medium-full body. I smoked one on a July afternoon last year and got lightheaded by the 8th hole — my fault entirely, should've eaten more breakfast.

But on a cool fall morning? When you're already seven over and just walking the back nine with no pressure? This is the pick. It's the cigar that says you've stopped trying to play golf and started trying to enjoy being outside. $9-10, so I don't bring more than one per round.

6. Romeo y Julieta 1875 Petit Julieta

The disposable golf cigar. $4-5, mild, inoffensive, done in 20 minutes. Not going to wow anyone. But here's the thing — if you hit a terrible drive and slam your cigar into the cart in frustration (I've seen it happen, I've done it), you're out four bucks instead of ten. Zero commitment. Sometimes that's exactly what golf requires.

How I Plan a Round

I pack three cigars minimum for 18 holes. The math: a full round with a foursome takes about 4-4.5 hours. Each short-format cigar lasts 20-35 minutes. You're not smoking continuously — there are gaps between sticks. My usual approach:

• Hole 2: light the first one. Something reliable. Short Story or Ashton.
• Hole 7 or 8: second cigar after a water and snack at the turn.
• Hole 14-15: third one if I'm feeling it. Usually a Puritos because I'll finish before the clubhouse.

Don't light anything new on 17 or 18. You'll waste half of it and then you're carrying a half-smoked cigar into the pro shop like a maniac.

Things I Learned the Hard Way

You'll smoke faster on the course than you think. Between shots, while waiting, while riding — you puff more often than in a lounge where you're relaxing. A 40-minute cigar becomes a 30-minute cigar on the course. Plan accordingly.

Sun plus nicotine is sneaky. A cigar that feels mild in your air-conditioned living room will feel noticeably stronger on a 90°F fairway. I've made the mistake of bringing a Liga Privada on a July round. Never again. Go milder than your usual preference.

Wind is constant on courses — all those open fairways. Perfecto shapes handle it better than straight cuts. If you're using a straight cigar, keep your cut shallow. A smaller opening means less wind-driven acceleration of the burn.

Get a punch cutter for the course. One-handed operation, fits on a keychain, doesn't need a flat surface or steady hands. Guillotines are great at home. On an uneven tee box? Not so much. And grab a cheap double-torch lighter — single-flame works indoors, but out on the fairway you'll be cupping your hands for thirty seconds trying to get a light.

One more: get a $10 cigar clip that attaches to the cart. Beats resting it on the dashboard (where it rolls into the footwell) or holding it in your mouth during your backswing (where it falls out — ask me how I know).

The verdict: the Fuente Short Story is king of the golf course for a reason. Pack three, bring water, go mild. Save the fancy stuff for the 19th hole. For more short-format mild options, or if you need a wind-proof lighter recommendation, I've got you covered.