Golf is a hobby that lots of people like to try out. Yes, this even includes celebrities. So, obviously there will be celebrity golfers that take a shot at the sport. In honor of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am going on this weekend, let’s look at some of the notable celebrity golfers in the field.
Related: Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2019
Wayne Gretzky
Handicap: 9
Gretzky’s daughter, Paulina, is engaged to pro golfer Dustin Johnson (if you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years). This gives Gretzky the opportunity to spend a lot of time with DJ on and off the golf course.
He said back at his home in Los Angeles he can jump in his golf cart at 9 a.m., drive over to the course, and be home by 12:15 p.m. The Great One is still just as efficient off the ice as he was on it. Gretzky also mentioned that he loves flying down to see his daughter and DJ in Florida to play at the Bear’s Club in Jupiter, FL.
The former NHL star has said that his favorite courses to play were Augusta National, St. Andrew’s, and Pebble Beach. Well, come on Wayne I think those are the three easiest choices in the world!
Justin Timberlake
Handicap: 4
The pop sensation is always electric when he plays at the Pro-Am. Back in 2017, he managed to attract one of the biggest crowds at the event with his exciting play. Timberlake chipped in on back-to-back holes and almost aced the iconic 7th hole at Spyglass during his round.
Timberlake has made some good friends through the sport. Fellow celebrity golfer Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air) has become a frequent golf partner for JT when their schedules match up. They could be seen performing “The Carlton” dance on the golf course that day.
PGA Tour professional Justin Rose meets up and plays with Timberlake throughout the year. He even played with him at the Pebble in 2017 for this same event.
Tony Romo
Handicap: 0
Romo hung up the cleats last year and moved on to life in the booth. He has arguably turned into a bigger celebrity as an analyst for CBS than he was as an actual player. Romo has always spent a lot of his free time on the golf course and sometimes even throws down some money with good friend Jordan Spieth.
Related: 10 Facts about Jordan Spieth
Tony tried to qualify for the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills last June but came up short. He shot a 5-over 77 at Gleneagles Country Club which didn’t turn out to be good enough to make the cut. Another example of a celebrity golfer falling short at a professional tour event.
Romo made his PGA Tour debut last year on a sponsor invite at Corales Punta Cana Resort & Club Championship. He ended up finishing in last place with round scores of 77 and 82. Tony will be playing in the AT&T Byron Nelson in Dallas this year on a sponsor exemption invite.
Out of the bunch though, he might be the best golfer and could have a legitimate shot of qualifying for a pro event one day. Think about it. He is only 38, in great shape, and has been a professional athlete for the last 14 years. He has the health and the mentality that could give him a competitive edge over most of the other celebs gunning for a shot at professional golf.
Alfonso Ribeiro
Handicap: 3
That’s right. Carlton Banks can play. I mean what do you expect after spending so many years in Bel Air? When asked in an interview with the Postgame if he ever played Bel Air Country Club often, Ribeiro said “I Can’t be rolling around Bel Air Country Club. It’s too right on point.”
Ribeiro hadn’t hit a golf ball till he was 18 years old but now he typically places in the top 25% of any celebrity tournament he attends. Alfonso plays also spends time playing with other celebrities.
As mentioned before, he plays with his good buddy Justin Timberlake all the time and claims he can beat Will Smith on the links.
Darius Rucker
Handicap: 7
Darius Rucker started playing at age 14 and tries to get out three to four times a week especially when he’s home in Charleston, SC. Although he is busy playing music, he likes to think of it as his nighttime gig. This leaves plenty of time for golf during his days.
The celebrity golfer said that he posts about half of his rounds away from home when he’s on tour. “It is not unusual to see the tour van parked in a golf course parking lot”, said Rucker.
Every year on the Monday after the Masters, Rucker and his band, Hootie & the Blowfish, host a charity golf tournament. This upcoming tournament is the 25th year and the event has evolved into one of the top Pro-Am tournaments in the country.
Darius was also recently named the PGA’s brand ambassador as he has struck up quite a few great relationships with people on the tour.
Aaron Rodgers
Handicap: 9
Another NFL quarterback that made the list. Rodgers loves the sport of golf and even twitted out that he wanted to play with Korean golf sensation, Ho-Sung Choi at the Pro-Am. Well, Mr. Rodgers, your wish is their command as they were paired up for the tournament this weekend.
Rodgers also had the opportunity to play a round with the President back in 2016. He said it was his “best round of the year” in an interview with former Green Bay Packer A.J. Hawk.
Jake Owen
Handicap: 3
Owen was pursuing his dream of becoming a professional golfer when he attended Florida State University to play the sport. A serious shoulder injury during a wakeboarding accident forced him to put his dream on hold.
Jake then turned to learning to play the guitar which eventually evolved into his illustrious music career. “I always believe that when one door closes, another one opens up”, said Owen about finding his niche in country music.
Owen got his shot at the Web.com tour last year but ended up posting a 14-over 86 in his debut. He is also paired with Jordan Spieth once again at this year’s event.
Colt Ford
Handicap: 3
You might be surprised at this one, but Colt Ford can play. Like Jake Owen, Ford pursued a professional golf career back in the 1990s before turning to a career in music. He managed to qualify for a Web.com Tour event where he ended up missing the weekend cut by two shots.
After the pro tour hopes trickled away, Ford spent time as a teaching pro at several clubs around Georgia. He even helped pro golfer Kevin Kisner back during his time in college. So, I don’t even know if you can call him a celebrity golfer. You might have to call him a former professional.
Ford shot a 66 in his opening round at Pebble Beach back in 2015 for the Pro-Am.
