Bale, Terry – Football stars’ golf handicaps for Ryder Cup-style event | Golf | Sport
John Terry has been a regular out on the golf course (Image: Richard Heathcote, Getty Images)
Former Premier League stars John Terry and Gareth Bale may have retired from football, but that doesn’t mean they’ve lost their competitive edge. The pair are among a host of ex-players swapping the football pitch for the golf course as they chase success in a different sport. The connection between football and golf isn’t new. Many footballers have been known to enjoy a round of golf during their careers, while Bale’s notorious ‘Wales, Golf, Madrid’ incident hit the headlines during his time playing in Spain.
This weekend, both Bale and Terry will participate in the ‘Reignwood Icons of Football’ golf tournament. The competition, which will be aired on Sky Sports, is a team event akin to the Ryder Cup, pitting England against the Rest of the World. Terry will be playing alongside former England international strikers Andy Cole, Robbie Fowler and Teddy Sheringham. Meanwhile, Bale’s team includes his fellow Welsh internationals Ryan Giggs and Aaron Ramsey, as well as former Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko. Both Terry and Bale reached the top in their football careers, claiming league titles and continental trophies. But how good are they, and their team-mates, when it comes to golf?
Their respective handicaps provide some insight, with Terry currently playing off a handicap of 4. A few years earlier he was playing off scratch, something he defender, now 45, set out to achieve in his 30s.
“When I retired [from football] I set myself a target to get down to scratch and today I achieved it,” the former centre-back announced on social media in April 2022. “Not the most exciting post but one I’m personally pleased with.”
Bale is, at least according to the numbers shared by this weekend’s tournament organisers, the best of the bunch. In the summer of 2025, WalesOnline reported Bale’s handicap as 0.1, having previously been around three or four, although he has no intention of turning professional.
The former Real Madrid star’s friend, former British tennis No. 1 Andy Murray, has also made impressive strides in reducing his handicap. However, it hasn’t dropped as much as Bale’s, leading to questions about who is the better golfer out of the two.
Gareth Bale’s golf ability has brought questions about whether he might turn pro (Image: Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
“My handicap would suggest me!” Bale responded. “But [Andy] is a good player. He hasn’t been playing long, but he’s a very good player. I’ve played with him many times now, and he’s such a good, nice, humble guy. He’s very funny as well.”
Here are the handicaps for all the ex-footballers participating in the Reignwood Icons of Football event:
Team England: Jimmy Bullard 0, Lee Sharpe 1, Teddy Sheringham 4, John Terry 4, Jermaine Jenas 4, Robbie Fowler 6, Paul Ince 6, Phil Jagielka 6, Phil Jones 9, Theo Walcott 9, Andy Cole 10, Joe Hart 12.
Team World: Gareth Bale 0, Andriy Shevchenko 1, Dwight Yorke 1, Gabriel Batistuta 2, Gianfranco Zola 4, Ryan Giggs 7, John Arne Riise 8, David Ginola 8, Ruud Gullit 8, Nigel de Jong 8, Aaron Ramsey 10, Henrik Larsson 10.
