Gareth Bale Makes Debut As Golfer In Video Game

Gareth Bale watches his second shot from the fairway

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 17 September 2023

Gareth Bale's love affair with golf continues to deepen as the former Wales international and Real Madrid galactico has been made available as a golfer in a video game, with the 34-year-old making his debut in PGA Tour 2K23.

Bale, whose handicap is 0.5, this week underlined his golfing skills playing at Wentworth in the BMW PGA Championship pro-am alongside Rory McIlroy after retiring from football earlier this year after the World Cup.

His passion for the game even became a sore point as Madrid fans mocked his priorities prompting an infamous banner saying: 'Wales, Golf, Madrid - in that order' , which Bale posed in front of on international duty. But now the retired superstar can devote himself entirely to golf after previously building a replica of the famous 17th hole “Island Green” from TPC Sawgrass in his garden in Wales.

A post shared by Gareth Bale (@garethbale11)
A photo posted by on

Bale's golfing resume continues to expand after he impressed alongside Jon Rahm in the pro-am before the Farmers Insurance Open. The ex-Tottenham winger also later made his first hole in one at Torrey Pines.

Now fans have the chance to play golf online as Bale, where the former footballer is decked out with TaylorMade gear and clubs. Bale joins the likes of Tiger Woods, Nelly Korda, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Rahm, Lydia Ko, Tony Finau, Brooke Henderson and Xander Schauffele, as well as celebrity guests, including Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, John Cena and the Dude Perfect crew on the PGA Tour 2K23 roster.

Gareth Bale lifts the Champions League — Gareth Bale won the Champions League five times with Real Madrid

In addition to appearing as a playable golfer, Bale provided guidance to VctryLnSprts to design his dream course, The Elevens Club, using PGA Tour 2K23’s Course Designer. Featuring many of Bale’s preferred elements, such as big trees, undulating fairways and greens, water hazards and a scenic waterfall on the eleventh hole, The Elevens Club is available and free to all players.

James Nursey is a freelance contributor to Golf Monthly after spending over 20 years as a sports reporter in newspapers. During a 17-year career with the Daily Mirror, he covered mainly football but reported from The Open annually and also covered a Ryder Cup and three US Opens. He counts a pre-tournament exclusive with Justin Rose at Merion in 2013 as one of his most memorable as the Englishman went on to win his first Major and later repeated much of the interview in his winner’s speech. Now, after choosing to leave full-time work in newspapers, James, who is a keen single-figure player, is writing about golf more. His favourite track is the Old Course after attending St Andrews University but has since played mainly at Edgbaston, where he is a long-time member. James’ golfing highlights include previously winning the club championship and scratch knock-out there. He is also an active member of the Association of Golf Writers and Press Golfing Society but his favourite round is playing the game with his young children. James is currently playing: Driver: Ping G400 3 wood: Ping i20 Hybrid: Ping i20 Irons: Ping i500 4-SW Wedges: Ping Glide forged 50, 56 Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Ball: Titleist ProVIx

Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter