Best Credit Cards for Golf in 2026
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Whether you enjoy hitting the green yourself or have a golf enthusiast in your life that you want to treat to some new equipment, the right credit card can help you earn rewards or enhance your experience.
Some of these cards offer exclusive access to famous courses or unique trips, while others help you save on golf course fees or new equipment.
Below, CNBC Select reviews the best credit cards for golf, as well as credit card network benefit tiers that offer golf-related perks. See our methodology for information on how we chose these options.
Best credit cards for golf
Best for frequent golfers
Other great perks: The Attune also earns 4% back in two other wide-ranging categories, including self-care and planet-friendly purchases, and offers up to $600 in cell phone protection when you pay your bill with the Wells Fargo Attune (subject to a $25 deductible).
Wells Fargo Attune℠ World Elite Mastercard®
Information about the Wells Fargo Attune℠ World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
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Rewards
Earn 4% cash rewards on fitness and wellness; 4% cash rewards on select sports, recreation, and entertainment (including live shows and sporting events); 4% cash rewards on gardening and floral stores, as well as pet supplies, boarding and grooming; 4% cash rewards on public transit, EV charging stations, and select thrift stores. Plus earn 1% cash rewards on other purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn $100 in cash rewards when you spend $500 in qualifying purchases during the first 3 months after account opening.
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
0% on purchases for the first 12 months after account opening
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Regular APR
18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable based on your creditworthiness
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Balance transfer fee
Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5.
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Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction converted to U.S. dollars
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Credit needed
Pros
- Earns bonus rewards in categories not typically seen in rewards cards
- No annual fee
- Introductory APR on purchases
Cons
- Foreign transaction fee
- No introductory APR on balance transfers
Best for PGA Access
Accessible golf perks: If you’re a fan of the PGA and the top talent on display, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the official card of the PGA of America. Chase Sapphire cardholders, including owners of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), can access exclusive PGA ticket packages through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
For the 2026 PGA Championship, occurring May 11–17, Sapphire Reserve cardholders have additional benefits. Through Sapphire Reserve Experiences, cardholders receive special shopping perks and access to a reserved experience located on the second green, featuring premium seating, complimentary refreshments, private restrooms and more. (If you’re late to the game, right now, Chase cardholders can get early access to 2027 PGA Championship tickets.)
Other great perks: On top of Chase’s exclusive PGA perks, the Sapphire Reserve comes loaded with extra benefits, like airport lounge access, Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions and a straightforward $300 annual travel credit. The Ultimate Rewards® points you earn can also be spent on flights and hotels to help cover your next summer golf trip.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater
Best for U.S Open experiences
Accessible golf perks: First partnering in 2006, American Express Platinum Card® customers can get exclusive access to U.S. Open experiences, from Amex Presale Tickets® to the Championship and on-site offers.
In years past, this has included limited-edition U.S. Open merch, access to the Cardmember Club and exclusive gifts with a purchase. With the Amex Platinum, you’ll also gain access to the Premium Events Collection™, which includes a Premium Hospitality Experience for this year’s 126th U.S. Open Championship, running June 18–21. This experience is currently sold out, but you can sign up for the waitlist.
Other great perks: On top of the direct U.S. Open benefits, the Amex Platinum offers complimentary elite status for both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, plus great perks when booking one of its 1,800 Fine Hotels + Resorts® properties. For these properties, Amex Platinum cardholders will receive a $100 credit toward eligible charges for bookings of two nights or more made through AmexTravel.com. This $100 credit can generally be used on hotel property golf courses to cover green fees, driving ranges or even pro shop purchases.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we’re here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fee
Best for golfing on vacation
Accessible golf perks: Whether it’s the reason for your entire vacation or merely a side quest, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is one of the best cards for golfing on vacation. Marriott Bonvoy members who charge their golf transaction to their room will earn 10 Marriott Bonvoy® Points for every dollar spent. Plus, at select properties, paying for golf using a co-branded Marriott credit card earns you 5 points, without a hotel or resort stay.
These points can be stacked with additional rewards the Marriott card earns and redeemed toward golf packages or stays within the Marriott Golf Collection (there are roughly 80 golf-centric resorts worldwide to choose from).
Other great perks: Marriott offers a number of experiences for golfers, from beginners to more advanced players. Marriott resorts have over 125 PGA and LPGA professionals on-site for personal lessons, various Marriott Bonvoy Family Golf Festivals and the opportunity for kids 15 and younger to play for free while accompanying a full-paying adult (after 3 p.m. year-round).
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is useful if you’re working toward higher levels of Marriott status because of its bonus elite night credits and the elite credit you can earn from spending with the card.
- Annual free night award every year after your account anniversary
- 15 elite night credits each calendar year and you can earn additional elite night credits through spending
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Complicated application restrictions
- Bonus rewards on grocery, dining and gas purchases have an annual limit
Rewards
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 spent
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card
Balance transfer fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Best for casual golfers
Other great perks: The cash back you earn is in the form of Citi ThankYou® Points, which can double as both travel rewards and generic cash back. You can transfer these points to any of Citi’s travel partners, but at a lower rate than Citi’s more designated travel cards, like the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card.
The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure.
- Long intro-APR for balance transfers
- High flat-rate cash-back rewards structure
- No annual fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR doesn’t apply to purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% – 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
Mastercard vs. Visa golf benefits
Both Mastercard and Visa offer golf benefits, but they aren’t tied to a specific credit card; they’re tied to the tier of credit card you have.
Mastercard credit cards
If you’re interested in the best Mastercard golf perks, you will need a World Elite Mastercard to access the most sought-after ones. Via Mastercard’s Priceless Experiences platform, cardholders can book limited-time golf experiences or special tee times. Unique experiences range from playing with rising golf pros at a private indoor simulator lounge to an in-depth five-night golfing getaway in northern England.
U.S. Mastercard cardholders can also get exclusive deals and early access to certain Golf Direct Now products, plus up to 40% off a one-year Golfshot Champions membership to track your golf analytics and the SwingU Pro performance app.
During the 2026 Cadillac Championship, happening April 29–May 3, Mastercard is also offering cardholders the chance to walk 18 holes with a PGA TOUR pro. All other times, you can enjoy a dedicated concierge who can identify available courses in your selected area and reserve your tee time for private courses.
The Citi Strata Premier® Card has competitive rewards rates and unlocks access to all of the Citi ThankYou® transfer partners, which boosts the value of your points.
- Unlocks point transfers to all of the Citi ThankYou® partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges, Flying Blue and more
- Generous bonus spending categories include dining, supermarkets, hotels and flights
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Has an annual fee
- Car rental coverage is secondary, not primary
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Balance transfer fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Visa credit cards
To offer its cardholders golf-related perks, Visa partnered with Troon, the world’s largest golf club management company. Its rewards program, known as Access Loyalty, offers several status tiers, and you can qualify for one based on the type of Visa you have. Visa Signature cards can get you automatic Silver Status, while Visa Infinite cards qualify for Platinum Status.
Previously, the partnership provided a direct discount; now it works more like a loyalty program, where higher tiers can earn more points. Points can be used to cover the cost of tee times, golf products via the Access Shop and more.
Silver Status with a Visa Signature card gives you access to more than 150 courses around the world, and you earn Access Rewards points at an improved earn rate of 1.1X points per dollar spent (previously 1 point for every $1 spent with Troon Rewards). The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a top-tier Visa Signature card that can get you access to both Visa golf perks and Chase’s exclusive PGA ticket packages.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Platinum Status with a Visa Infinite card includes everything in the Silver tier, and you’ll earn 1.2X points per dollar spent and get access to over 25 high-end, private Troon Privé golf clubs. You can play each club up to two times per year for $99 per player, per round, when you use your Visa Infinite card to book, and you can bring up to three guests at the same rate. If you’re interested in higher-tier golf perks, the aforementioned Chase Sapphire Reserve® includes Visa Infinite benefits.
Which golf credit card best fits your needs?
Before officially applying for a golf credit card, first think about the ways you’re most likely to use the card. Do you play a lot of golf yourself, or are you more interested in watching major events or professionals? Are you looking for access to some of the most famous and exclusive courses around the world, or are you mostly looking to buy golf clubs and accessories?
If there’s a specific tournament that you’re interested in, like the PGA Championship or the U.S. Open, it’s important to align yourself with the right issuers (in this case, Chase and American Express, respectively). But if you’re most interested in the savings you can earn while playing, a card like the Wells Fargo Attune can earn you top-notch cash back on golf-related purchases.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card list review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Our methodology
To determine which credit cards offered the best perks for golfers, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards, focusing on those with direct golf benefits, indirect credits and/or unique opportunities.
We compared each card on a range of features, including the application process, available rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APRs and balance transfer and foreign transaction fees. We considered how easy it was to redeem points, additional benefits like ongoing travel or merchant statement credits, and available cardholder protections, including purchase protection and travel insurance.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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