The five closest golf courses for Gareth Bale now he's a Los Angeles FC player

Welsh football legend Gareth Bale might be swapping Madrid for the bright lights of La La Land, but he will still be spoilt for choice when it comes to playing golf. 

Bale once famously held up a flag proclaiming: Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order. And fortunately for the Welshman, LA is not short of a golf course or two!

The golf-mad winger, who has this summer signed to play for Los Angeles FC in the MLS over in the United States, now has 921 courses to pick and choose from in the state of California compared to just 180 back home in Wales and 398 in Spain. 

Related: TaylorMade reveals Gareth Bale's iron and wedge set up 

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With Bale’s 12-month contract with LAFC confirmed, LiveScore Bet has worked out the nearest golf courses to LAFC’s state-of-the-art new training ground at the Cal State LA campus on the East Side of Los Angeles.

Bale, a single-figure handicap golfer, will be pleased to know that his new office is located less than 20 minutes drive away from five golf courses, meaning he can nip out to play a quick nine should he so wish.

• There are 921 golf courses in total in the state of California compared to 180 in Wales and 398 in Spain
• There are 19 Golf Courses in Los Angeles alone and another 65 courses within 20 miles of Los Angeles 
• There are 5 golf courses less than twenty minutes' drive from the LAFC training facility 
• It would take Gareth Bale less than two hours to sneak out for a game

The five closest golf courses for Gareth Bale to play now he has moved to Los Angeles FC:

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Monterey Park Golf Club

Journey: 7 mins one way, 14 mins round trip

9 holes and journey there and back: 1 hour 44 mins

Bale’s closest option is the Monterey Park Golf Course, just over the freeway. This nine-hole course is open all year round and it is perfect for a quick game in an informal setting, meaning he won't even need to change out of his training gear!

The popular golf club also boasts a driving range and a cafe for refreshments. The course has been recently renovated and provides a challenging course for experienced players, touted as a true gem in the southern Californian golf scene.

Montebello Golf Course

Journey: 12 mins one way, 24 mins round trip

9 holes and journey there and back: 1 hour 54 mins

The next nearest option is the slightly more formal Fairmont Le Château Montebello Golf Club, which is known for its impressively challenging course layout.

The course was designed by Stanley Thompson in 1931 and welcomes golfers from across the world. The layout provides plenty of privacy for its more famous golfers who are protected from view by forests and elevated tees that provide stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

Alhambra Golf Course

Journey: 14 mins one way, 28 mins round trip

9 holes and journey there and back: 1 hour 58 mins

The Alahambra Golf Course makes the bold claim that many of its guests hit their careers best on the course, which is sure to pique the interest of a competitive sportsman like Bale. The course also features an award-winning golf shop for stocking up on all the essentials as well as a night-lighted practice facility for those who want to play long into the LA night.

Arroyo Seco golf club

Journey: 16 mins one way, 32 mins round trip

9 holes and journey there and back: 2 hours 2 mins

This golf course in South Pasadena boasts plenty of shade for keeping guests out of the California sunshine. It first opened to the public in 1955 and offers a challenging game and well-maintained fairways and a recently renovated 9-hole course, all tucked away from the surrounding neighbourhood by a mature tree line. The club also features a 33-stall driving range with distances marked from 50 to 250 yards.

Whittier Narrows Golf Course

Journey: 17 mins one way, 33 mins round trip

9 holes and journey there and back: 2 hours 3 mins

Although the furthest away, this golf course is still conveniently located less than twenty minutes drive from the LAFC training ground. Whittier Narrows Golf Course offers 27 holes of challenging and enjoyable golf as well as three distinct 9-hole courses designed by famous American golf course architect William F Bell. Famous for its mountainscape layout this course is a particular favourite for those who want to play a round while enjoying breath-taking views over southern California. 

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