Top 10: Footballers who play golf

Footballers have a long history on the links, a perfect pastime when you’ve finished training by 1pm on a Monday…

It’s obviously a great way for players to waste a few hours without having coaches, club doctors and the manager losing the plot; and let’s be honest golf is the perfect sport to keep players active without risking injury.

Top 10: Most common mistakes made in golf

So we’ve put together (so you don’t have to) a list of the top 10 players (and former players) who love thrashing about on our beloved links.

Enjoy.

1. Jimmy Bullard

Handicap: +1

The former Hull City 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.

2. Andrei Schevchenko

Handicap: 2

The former Ukrainian international and AC Milan star owns a home in the exclusive Wentworth Estate and is a member of Wentworth Golf Club. Sheva – as he is often known – has even played in Challenge Tour events. Maybe he had some time to seriously improve his golf game as a bit of benchwarmer at Stamford Bridge…

3. Alan Hansen

Handicap: 3

The pundit and former Liverpool star man one turned out for the Scottish Boys Team as a youngster, after making the decision at 15 to concentrate on his golf, turning down a professional contract at Hibernian at the time as this would have prevented him from playing competitive golf.

4. Dwight Yorke

Handicap: 4

The former Manchester United legend once formed one of the most deadly strike partnerships in Europe alongside Andy Cole. The Trinidadian is reportedly good friends with Sergio Garcia and was introduced to the sport whilst at Aston Villa by Dean Saunders. The Belfry being minutes away from the Villa training ground.

5. Jamie Redknapp

Handicap: 4

Redknapp cites his dad as his golfing influence, telling Sky Sports: “We used to play at a club close to where we lived near Bournemouth. We used to pitch up when the golf club had closed and play a few holes.”

Surely ‘Arry wasn’t that tight Jamie?

6. Gary Lineker

Handicap: 5

7. Matt Le Tissier

Handicap: 5

‘Le God’ as he is known on the South coast can be found in many a Pro-Am. “My biggest indulgence is my golf clubs,” Le Tissier told the Telegraph in 2013. “I like to have nice clubs and the latest driver, I have numerous putters that I snap regularly.”

8. Alan Shearer

Handicap: 6

The Premier League’s all -time top scorer spends a lot of time on course with his foundation. The former England international hosts charity golf days at his club – Close House, Northumberland.

9. Teddy Sheringham

Handicap: 6

Champions League winner Sheringham states the person he’d most like to play golf with is Bobby Moore, and if he had a choice between the Ballon d’Or or a golf Major he’d choose the Masters…read into that what you will.

 

10. David Platt

Handicap: 7

Former England international and Manchester City assistant manager has run his own golf events business – Major Golf – running trips to Major golfing events since 2009. Fellow former pro Dwight Yorke enlisted the help of Platt to organise a tournament in his home country of Trinidad.

Golfing stereotypes: The Sponger

Notable mentions:




Peter Schmeichel – The former Manchester United stopper plays off 9 and regularly appears in Wentworth Pro-Am’s.

Vladimir Smicer – A scorer in the 2005 Champions League final – current handicap of 9 and recently caddied at the Madeira Islands Open for Adam Rajmont.

Andrew Cole – Not quite as good as his deadly duo other half Yorke – currently plays off 12 and has hosted a few golf days in his own honour.

Carlos Tevez – Managed to get plenty of time to golf after being frozen out of the Manchester City set-up in 2012 – currently plays off 13 and caddied for Argetine Andres Romero at The 2012 Open.

Julian Dicks – The former West Ham defender briefly turned professional after retiring from football aged just 29. Dicks had to retire from golf citing his dodgy knee as the reason.