Pub Golf: The Tradition Taking Over Sydney

As semester stress builds and assignment deadlines begin piling up, UTS students are always looking for new ways to celebrate the end of exams, birthdays, or simply a Friday. Enter Pub Golf: a social challenge that has become something of an unofficial rite of passage among university students.

Despite the name, there are no clubs, tees, or golf carts involved. Instead, participants make their way through a series of pubs, with each venue representing a "hole" on the course. Every hole comes with a designated drink, a par score (expected sips to finish the dink), and often a ridiculous rule designed to test participants' ability to survive the day with their dignity intact.

This is a tried and tested route that includes a trip across Sydney Harbour winding its way back toward the city and ultimately finishing within walking distance of the UTS campus.

The Course

Hole 1: The Occidental - Espresso Martini Par 2

The day begins at The Occidental, the participants are tasked with finishing a Espresso Martini in 2 sips. The most sips needed to complete this has to talk to a stranger about the weather.

Hole 2: The Royal George - Schooner Par 3

The second pub stop sees players tackle one schooner in 3 sips, while attempting to survive a notoriously unpopular challenge: no bathroom breaks for the duration of the stop.

Hole 3: Hotel CBD - Spirit & Mixer Par 2

A spirit and mixer marks the third hole, and the drink needs to be finished in two sips. The challenge for this hole is that the loser needs to take a picture with a stranger.

Hole 4: P.J. O'Brien's - Guinness Par 4

No pub golf course would be complete without an Irish pub. Players take on a pint of Guinness while attempting to drink in 4 sips. The loser of this round needs to pretend they know someone from high school and have a conversation with them about what they are up to now.

Hole 5: The Belvedere Hotel or 3 Wise Monkeys - Schooner Par 3

Back to a schooner, but with the addition of the infamous "Buffalo" rule, which usually leaves participants constantly second-guessing how they're holding their drinks. The rules of buffalo stops all players from drinking with their dominant hand. If you are caught by someone else saying buffalo you must finish the rest of your drink in one go.

Hole 6: Sanctuary Hotel (Sank) - Midori Lemonades Par 2

This hole provides a much-needed half-time break from the drinking. Players face off in a game of pool, with the loser of the game having to buy a round of Midori Lemonades for the group.

Hole 7: Hollywood Hotel or Surry Hills Hotel - Shot, No Reaction!

This hole swaps beer for a shot, providing a much-needed change of pace as fatigue begins to set in. Players need to finish their shot without making a reaction. If you do, you're buying the next round of drinks.

Hole 8: Keg and Brew - Spritz Par 3

At this stage of the course, players take on a spritz, with the loser facing one of the more awkward challenges of the day: asking a stranger to be their plus-one to a fake wedding.

Hole 9: The Beresford - Vodka Red Bull, Par 2

A Vodka Red Bull provides another burst of energy as players approach the final stretch. The loser of this round has to take a picture with the bouncer, making for either a great photo or a very awkward conversation.

Hole 10: The Clock - Fireball Shot, No Reaction!

The final stop brings players to The Clock for a Fireball shot to finish the course. Once the drinking is done, the bottom of the leaderboard (whoever has the highest amount of sips overall) faces the traditional punishment: downing a schooner before the celebrations can officially begin.

More Than Just a Drinking Game

Whether you're chasing a birdie, aiming for par, or simply trying to make it to the ninth hole, pub golf remains one of Sydney's most talked-about student traditions — and one that continues to find a home among UTS students.