The article below was written by Matt Chivers of National Club Golfer.
Golf is a massively popular sport among professional footballers. More and more have become involved in the game both during and after their careers.
They often pop up in celebrity Pro-Ams before tournaments get underway and if you’re Gareth Bale, they can become invested in the sport on a regular basis.
Footballers are often the envy of mere mortals who can barely hit the crossbar from 12 yards, but it is common that they excel with a golf club in their hands too.
Events such as the Reignwood Icons of Football event on Sky Sports are where footballers jump at the chance to hit the golf course. The event in Bangkok is held from March 1-2 and sees two teams of 12 players captained by Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia compete.
Westwood is captaining Team England and Garcia is captaining Team World with the likes of Luis Figo, Gianfranco Zola and Carlos Tevez playing. Each player will take on the richest hole in golf – the par-3 12th hole at Robinswood Golf Course with a $10 million pot on the line.
Without further delay, let’s go through some of the most passionate golfers among England footballers and discover what handicap each former player has.
Footballers golf handicaps
Jimmy Bullard
Handicap: Scratch
The former Hull City, Wigan and Fulham star suffered terribly with injuries throughout the latter stages of his career, giving him plenty of time to hit the course. Bullard turned pro in 2013 after persistent knee injury troubles and appeared on the EuroPro Tour as recently as 2013.
He is now seen on the golf course more than ever. He is a presenter on Tubes and Ange Golf Life, a golf YouTube channel set up by Peter ‘Tubes’ Dale, a cult star from the now-defunct Soccer AM of Sky Sports.
John Terry
Handicap: 7.5
Former Chelsea and England defender John Terry played in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth in 2023 where his handicap was down on the list at 7.5. However, it was also revealed that his handicap had gone down as low as 1.1.
Phil Jones
Handicap: 21-32?
It isn’t clear what former Manchester United and England defender Phil Jones plays off, but he is a very keen golfer and couldn’t find time while playing at Old Trafford for 12 years.
“I love everything about the game. I love the competitive streak you can have with friends, and I’ve played in a few pro-ams post-career. You always get those little jitters and those little nerves before the start of a game, and I don’t think there’s anything that can relate to that,” he told the Mirror.
Jermain Jenas
Handicap: 3
Former England and Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas is a very decent golfer. At the 2023 BMW PGA Championship pro-am, his mark was 3 so he has spent much time on the course since retiring in 2014.
Paul Ince
Handicap: 7
A general on the pitch and clearly one on the fairways, Paul Ince plays off 7. He played for England, Manchester United, Liverpool and Inter Milan during his illustrious career.
Joe Hart
Handicap: 14
Joe Hart was England’s No.1 goalkeeper for many years and won two Premier League titles and two FA Cups with Manchester City. The towering stopper from Shrewsbury plays off 14 – pretty solid.
Robbie Fowler
Handicap: 7
According to a few reports from the last 12 months, Robbie Fowler plays off 7, another single-figure former footballer. He is a legend of Liverpool, scoring over 260 goals in two stints for the club.
Paul Scholes
Handicap: 4
Paul Scholes is a very handy player. He has been seen at many celebrity pro-ams down the years and is a popular figure in Manchester having won 11 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues.
Lee Sharpe
Handicap: Scratch
Lee Sharpe is another former Manchester United player who loves golf. He has been down to scratch for a while now and also joined forces with American Golf in a line of clothing with Stromberg.
Teddy Sheringham
Handicap: 4
It seems Teddy Sheringham has the same mark as Paul Scholes, according to different reports. He is a massive lover of the game and has been since retiring from a career that saw him win three Premier League titles, a Champions League and an FA Cup.
Theo Walcott
Handicap: 10
Theo Walcott is one of many former footballers to have played in the BMW PGA Championship pro-am at Wentworth. It seems he plays off 10 and has enjoyed the game since spending his career at Southampton, Arsenal and Everton.
