Why do so many footballers play golf?

Why do so many footballers take up golf, either during their careers or after they have retired? Ex-Premier League footballer and current PGA Professional Peter Odemwingie has spoken to Golfshake to explain the romantic relationship between football and golf.

In April 2019, former Nigerian international, Odemwingie announced his retirement from football. After featuring in FIFA World Cups, Champions League campaigns, UEFA Cup runs and making 129 appearances in the Premier League, today, Peter is a PGA professional.  

It feels so common that we see footballers hitting local courses on their days away from the training pitch, as well as retired players picking up clubs.

Jimmy Bullard, Tyrone Mings, Matty Cash, Gareth Bale and John Terry are just a molecule of the footballing names that have embarked on a golfing journey, either post-retirement or amid their footballing careers.  

(Gareth Bale - Image by Kevin Diss Photography)

Every June we see countless footballing icons flock to Portugal for the Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Tournament, including Louis van Gaal, Gary McAllister, Steve Bruce, Mick McCarthy, Alan Shearer, Kenny Dalglish, Alan Brazil, Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce - the list goes on! 

Not long ago we had the first of four events in the Reignwood Icons of Football 2026 series, where Danny Willett and Thomas Bjorn captained their sides, consisting of some of the greatest footballers of all time.

But just what is it that brings so many footballers into the game of golf? Peter Odemwingie has taken golf and football far, and he has a few ideas. 

How Many Footballers Begin Playing Golf During Their Careers? 

"I don't think it is that common everywhere else in Europe where I played, including Asia, it's very rare to see footballers playing golf," Peter said. "But it is something that is very common in the UK.  

"You see how common it is here, you see it on TV, it is a part of the culture, there is more interest in the sport here in the UK."

Peter went on to speak about how he started his golfing journey during his time in the Premier League: "After a couple of years of being in the Premier League here in England I noticed some of the boys talking [about golf], they were so excited about the game. On a Tuesday after training, they were going to play because Wednesday is a day off, so they will play a round. Some people would use this as an active recovery.  

"After hearing them be so excited about the sport I decided to try it myself, and after a few times I really fell in love with the game. Today I'm a PGA professional, I'm looking forward to the rest of my life playing golf!" 

(Peter Odemwingie is Now a PGA Professional)

What Brings Footballers to Golf?

At first thought you might not imagine that there are many similarities between football and golf, you might even see more differences than similarities, but there are in fact many things that golf and football share, as Peter describes: "When you play golf it is so easy to hit a poor shot, or for the game to embarrass you. When you watch these guys play in front of thousands of people and they can literally put it close to the pin under this great pressure, and hole putts under pressure. Something similar in football is taking a penalty in the last minute or set pieces where the move has to be perfect. This game has so much demand on the mental strength which sometimes us footballers lived through. 

"I'm not surprised lots of footballers love this game, it's such a difficult game to master and with our nature, being competitive, we want to be good at what we do, so we work hard. After training as a striker you stay behind to work on your finishing, so when you get chances to score you take them. Golf is the same, tour players play rounds of golf, being so good already, then they will go to the range and continue working on their swing."

Does The Social Aspect Bring Ex-Footballers Towards Golf? 

"Of course! The vibes around the golf course are always nice, I think somehow it reminds us of dressing rooms but in a more relaxed atmosphere."

It is quite often we hear stories of retirement that have negative sides to them, as well as the good. The loneliness is something that is often forgotten. This is the same for footballers, the switch from being around people all day, every day, to being by yourself for the majority of days, can be difficult. 

Most golfers will tell you just how great the game can be for your mental health, and this doesn't change for anyone. All people experience the same boost from playing a round of golf, the same mental reset. 

Peter, whose former clubs include West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City, Lokomotiv Moscow, and Lille, said: "It can be a bit quiet when you retire as a footballer, you sometimes find yourself by yourself and it's not what you're used to. Golf also allows you to do more socialising, the chats in golf clubs are always positive, a lot of golf people love football, they remind you of your past, your goals, the good and the bad, you have a laugh. There is a lot of excitement that golf gives you."

Ultimately, there are many factors that bring footballers from the flat ironed football pitch to the unforgiving slopes of the fairways. Social aspects, aiding recovery and the endless similarities these athletes encounter in both sports is just part of it.

Golf has truly adopted its role as the footballer's second sport. If you ever find yourself pondering on what your favourite players are getting up to on their days off, the chances are they’re teeing up their next drive.