The 31 most golf-obsessed celebrities

For some, the idea of getting a small ball into a small hole with a club might sound less than thrilling compared to a walk in the park. But for others, like these celebs, golf is downright addictive — pulling them in, course after course, regardless of how humbling the game can be.

Bill Murray is an enthusiastic golfer who loves the sport so much, that he wrote the book 'Cinderella Story: My Life in Golf.' The ‘Caddyshack’ actor is often seen entertaining fans with his antics at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament.

NBA legend Charles Barkley is known for his love of golf, but also for his unique, often critiqued swing. Despite this, Barkley remains an enthusiastic golfer, participating in tons of tournaments and charity events.

Alice Cooper, the Godfather of Shock Rock, is an avid golfer. He also wrote a book: ‘Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: How a Wild Rock ‘n’ Roll Life Led to a Serious Golf Addiction’ where he explains how golf helped him maintain sobriety.

Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones is a passionate golfer who loves hitting the course with her husband, Michael Douglas. Together, they’ve hosted charity golf tournaments, and in 2016, she admitted that she makes him “drop his pants” when he “ducks a shot.”

Former President Donald Trump’s passion for golf is well-known. Often seen on the course, he’s played throughout his life and even owns several golf properties worldwide. This was also the place where he almost lost his life, when an suspected assassin was arrested while lurking in bushes at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

While most US presidents have played golf, only once did it make its way up to a presidential debate. In the infamous one that led to Biden's dropping out of the race, he claimed he had a six handicap in golf and could beat Trump if he carried his own clubs. “I've seen your swing,” Trump retorted. “That's the biggest lie that he's a 6 handicap."

Mark Wahlberg’s golf obsession is well-documented, with the actor boasting a custom-built golf course in his backyard, which he just sold for $55 million. But he’s still golfing, even criticized for taking a 20-min private jet flight from Dublin to Clare in Ireland for a quick round.

Former 'Saturday Night Live' star Kevin Nealon is a golf enthusiast who has hosted his own charity golf tournament. “Golf reveals a lot about your character,” he told Golf magazine, recounting the time he hit a woman with a ball during a Pro-Am tournament.

Although the Green Bay Packers drafted his dad, McConaughey gravitated toward golf. His dad, with many injuries from football, approved. The actor said his first major splurge after a Hollywood payday was a box of Titleist Balata 100 golf balls.

Actress Jessica Alba has a deep love for golf. Alba often shares her golfing adventures on social media and participated in the 2014 Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am tournament.

The sitcom star made a documentary about trying to make the cut for the AT&T Pebble Beach tournament and isn’t shy about his frustrations. In Golf Digest he wrote: “Here’s the beauty of playing Augusta: Even after six-putting, the smile never left my face.”

Celine Dion’s love for golf runs deep, having owned Le Mirage Golf Club in Quebec with her late husband René Angélil for 23 years. She’s definitely intense about the game and her son has also gotten quite into it.

Justin Timberlake isn’t just a talented singer and actor; he’s also an avid golfer. Timberlake once owned a golf course in Tennessee and frequently participates in celebrity golf tournaments. Here, he's seen teaching his son Silas the game in 2022.

The actor has been called Hollywood's best golfers and had a handicap of 1 while he was at his best. "Yes I am a little bit addicted, but I’ve had a few addictions in life and golf is definitely the one that has been the greatest. It is self-preserving; most of the others weren’t," he told RSNG.

Actor Samuel L. Jackson is known for his love of golf. He even has a clause in his film contracts allowing him to golf twice a week during production, proving that this hobby is a serious commitment for him. When filming ‘Star Wars,’ he carried a lightsaber in his golf bag to practice his moves on the course.

Outside of Basketball and acting, Nicholson has another obsession: golf. He only took it up when he was 50, but in 2020 he told Golf Digest, “I’ve spent more time playing golf than anything else the last 18 years.”

Nelson is a huge golf fan and even bought the Pedernales Country Club in Texas. In 1991, he was forced to sell it after tax troubles, but eventually got it back. McConaughey says when the two golfed together, Willie smoked the green “before, during and after.”

Image: 'Willie Nelson on movies, music, & golf,' Boyd Matson / YouTube

NFL legend Tom Brady enjoys spending his downtime on the golf course. He’s participated in various celebrity golf events, including the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he can’t help but show his highly competitive side.

Basketball legend Michael Jordan is also a pretty amazing golfer. He’s built his own exclusive golf club in Florida, The Grove XXIII, and is often spotted playing rounds with other celebrities and athletes.

‘Friday Night Lights’ actress Minka Kelly has been spotted on the golf course numerous times, showing off her swing. She’s also a fixture on the celebrity golf tournament circuit.

The Olympic swimmer has landed a Golf Digest cover, a Golf Channel show, and a sponsorship deal with Ping. “It’s the most humbling sport I’ve ever played in my life,” he told Golf World.

The Maroon Five singer told Golf Digest that the originally hated everything about golf because it was so proper, but got sucked in after he saw all of his “buddies having so much fun together going golfing.”

Justin Beiber remembers trying to scrounge up $20 to play a round of golf before he was a global pop star. More recently, he was photographed relieving himself behind a tree on a Los Angeles course.

The fabulously grumpy comic is a big golfer, and was reportedly seen complaining about paying $11 (why not $10?) for a bucket of golf balls. There have also been a lot of great golf scenes on ‘Curb' like when the weatherman was saying it was going to thunderstorm so he'd get the course to himself.

Image: ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ HBO

Comedian George Lopez’s love for golf is no joke. Lopez hosts his own annual charity golf tournament and has been seen swinging his clubs on various courses, including Pepple Beach, where he reportedly has a home.

Rapper Snoop Dogg is known to hit the golf course now and then. His laid-back attitude and unique style make for an entertaining presence on the green. The golf world also went nuts when they found this picture of him and Tiger from back in 2004.

Image: Golfdigest/Twitter

Soccer superstar Gareth Bale is an avid golfer with a strong passion for the sport. He reportedly has a handicap of two and was nicknamed “The Golfer” by his Real Madrid teammates.

Cameron Diaz is an avid golfer who learned to play on the set of ‘There’s Something about Mary.’ In a 2011 interview with Star Pulse she said golf is kind of like a very addictive substance and that she was very excited to be getting her clubs fitted.
Image: 'There's Something About Mary,' 20th Century Studios

Actress Kathryn Newton has a backup plan if the whole acting thing doesn’t pan out: golf. An accomplished golfer in her own right, Newton is no stranger to the links. She was a three-time high school championship winner and was offered a golf spot at USC but turned it down to focus on her acting career.

Adam Sandler, star of the iconic golf movie ‘Happy Gilmore,’ continues to bring the film’s legacy to life through Pro-Am appearances. While he’s actually now serious about the game, he sometimes takes a Happy Gilmore running shot to make fans happy.

The ‘Legend of Bagger Vance’ actor loves golf. He’s participated in multiple celebrity golf tournaments and even filmed a series of golf lessons with professional golfer Darren Clarke to improve his skills.

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