From Stephen Curry to Michael Phelps and Kelly Slater, Athletes That Love Golf as a Second Sport

There are a lot of activities that can be done once a professional athlete gets some time off from their hectic schedule. However, a quick survey among the top names in sports would indicate that golf is a hot favorite pastime for most of them. In fact, there have been instances where renowned athletes have gone on to take up golf professionally after retiring from the primary sport that they were involved in.

Athletes from different disciplines such as the NBA, MLB, Tennis, UFC, and more have narrated stories about how they found succor in gracing the golf grasslands to seek greener pastures. Names such as Kelly Slater, Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan, and more have expressed their unrequited love for golf. Here’s a list of a few such athletes who aspire to achieve a hole-in-one after their on-court toil. 

• Michael Phelps

After winning a record-breaking 28 Olympic medals in swimming, it might seem that Michael Phelps has had enough playtime. However, you are not a champion if you do not think differently. Thus, Phelps’ competitive nature has gotten the better of him and he, along with his wife Nicole Phelps, is spending most of their days on the golf course. Speaking about his decision to pursue golf as a second sport, Phelps stated that the sport provides a sense of competitiveness. 

Citing an example when he faced off with Jon Rahm, Phelps got excited as he narrated how Rahm gave him “a ton of shots.” An avid advocate of mental health and wellness, Phelps also commented that spending more time surrounded by greenery would, in turn, improve mental health and help an individual be more productive. 

• Kelly Slater

11x surfing World Champion Kelly Slater likes to be confined by rules! Thus, he has decided to try his hand at golf, which has a significant number of rules to follow for the athletes wanting to pursue it. In Slater’s words, “In surfing you can pretty much go naked if you want to, but golf has rules. I like a bit of order and formality now and again.” However, Slater’s stint in golf is no less than his glorious days in the waters.

Signing up for the Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament in California, Slater shocked the pro golfer Marcel Siem when he came up with an 11 under par 61. Not only that, Slater also boasts of a 275-yard average drive, just shy of the legendary Tiger Woods, who has a 323-yard average. 

• Stephen Curry 

After grinding on the court to achieve the status of the best NBA three-point shooter at 42.8%, Curry somehow still manages to hit the course and take some wild swings at the golf balls. Inspired by his father, Curry has participated once in the Celebrity Pro-Am events and twice in the Ellie Mae Classics. One of the most famous stories that showcases Curry’s love for golf is when he visited the White House. 

Back in February 2016, Curry was invited to meet the US President to celebrate the Warriors championship. However, in the most surprising manner, Curry ended up gossiping about golf the entire time with the then-US President, Barack Obama. 

• Michael Jordan

There’s nothing that Michael Jordan cannot do. After establishing himself as the NBA GOAT, Michael Jordan tried to switch careers for the first time in 1994 when he signed up for baseball. While that did not go as planned, Jordan took a liking to golf once he hung up his boots. Initially, Jordan took to the Bear Club course in his area to free his mind. 

However, as great as Jordan is, he soon became addicted to the game, and thus, was unsatisfied with the sluggish course of Bear Club. What he did next was unthinkable to many. Spending a whopping $20m, he built himself a private, state-of-the-art golf course in South Florida to enjoy the game to his heart’s content. 

• Ray Allen 

Another three-point shooting star from the NBA, second only to Curry, is obsessed with golf. One of the most famous stories surrounding Allen’s love for golf dates back to 2018. Playing an amateur tournament at the Concord Country Club, Allen shocked the likes of Mitch Robbins and Jack Finigan when he ended up with a solid 7 under par 63. 

By doing so, Allen equaled the amateur record set in 2002 by Rob Oppenheim. Speaking about his performance, Allen commented, “I was hitting the ball everywhere but making putts. I made an eagle on a par-4. It was just one of those rounds where I didn’t worry about anything except stepping up and hitting the ball.” 

• Ash Barty

3x Grand Slam holder Ash Barty hinted at her class when she walked away from the sport while still in her prime. Barty shocked the world after announcing retirement as the World Number 1 back in 2022. However, it did not mean Barty was planning to live a life of comfort and leisure. Soon after her tennis retirement, the 27-year-old signed up for amateur golf. Having already proven her worth at the 2022 Icons Golf Series in New Jersey, her latest venture was the 2024 Pro-Am Event at the Millbrook Resort in New Zealand. 

• Daniel Cormier

Probably the most interesting inclusion of the list, UFC, and Golf are disciplines of contrasting styles. Yet, the former double champion, Daniel Cormier has been an avid golfer ever since he hung up his gloves. Working as a commentator in the UFC, Cormier revealed in a recent episode of ESPN MMA, the timing of his golfing. In a startling revelation, the 45-year-old stated that he often hits the course after the UFC events are done. And the time? Well, 1:00 am! 

Thus, looking at the list of athletes who have taken up golf as their second love, it is evident that the sport is truly a spirited one, enough to take away the extreme stress that professional athletes have to endure day in and out. 

Continue to Read: Stephen Curry Picks Michael Jordan Despite Accusing Him of “Generational” Bias