GARETH BALE plans to go on a £700,000 six-month round-the-world golf trip with his mates when he retires.
The Real Madrid superstar, 30, believes he still has a few years left at the top.
But Bale, dubbed the “Golfer” by his Bernabeu team-mates, aims to test himself on the world’s best courses with 20 of his pals.
Broadcaster Michael Calvin, who worked with Bale on the BT Sport State of Play film, told the Football Ramble podcast: “He said, ‘I’ve been in professional sport 16 years, I’ve given up stuff and I still think I’ve got a few more years left in me.
“‘But I’m already planning what I’m going to do in my first six months after retirement. I’m going to take all my mates on a round-the-world golf tour and we’re going to play all the big courses’.
“He then added ‘I’ve already costed it’. I said, ‘How much is that?’ He said, ‘Oh it’s nothing… about 35 grand each’.”
Bale riled Real fans and critics in Spain by admitting he’s ‘very happy’ with his ‘Golfer’ nickname, which was coined by keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Bale, who is due to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League tonight, said: “I spoke to Courtois about it. People took it out of context but I’m very happy with the nickname.
“It’s a great one. Football is my No 1 sport. I’m paid to do it and I always give my best.
“Golf is a hobby. People make a lot of it but a lot of footballers play it and it’s one thing I really enjoy. It keeps me calmer off the pitch.”
The Welshman had been snapped having a round at the same time his team-mates faced Spurs at the Audi Cup in July.
But angry boss Zinedine Zidane claimed Bale was not fit with the pre-season friendly coming just days after the collapse of his move to Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning.
Golf-nut Bale has famous holes — the island 17th at Sawgrass, Troon’s par-three Postage Stamp and Augusta’s 12th — recreated at his South Wales home.
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