Best Golf Movies

13th August 2019

Best Golf Movies in Celebration of National Golf Month. By Frankie Wallace.

August is National Golf Month, and a lot of people have a reason to celebrate. After all, over 23.8 million people in the United States play golf. Many celebrities take part in this popular sport. Samuel L. Jackson even has a clause in his film contracts that ensures he gets to play a round at least twice a week while he’s shooting a film.

It’s really no wonder why golf is so popular. It’s fun, relaxing, and a great way to socialize. Despite its calm undertones, golf also has a lot of health benefits. It’s great exercise for burning calories, building muscle, and strengthening your heart (plus, it’s really fun to drive a golf cart!).

Golf has its stereotypes, of course. When some people picture it, their mind goes to stuffy country clubs and businessmen. However, there’s so much more to the sport — which is why it continues to be popular across the country!

So, in honor of National Golf Month, let’s take a look at some of the best golf movies to ever grace the big screen. We’ll focus on some Hollywood favorites for this article, but there are plenty of golf and other sports documentaries out there for you to enjoy too. If you’re an avid golfer, you’ll love both!

Caddyshack

It’s hard to think about golf movies without “Caddyshack” coming to mind. The 1980 film was made by the same director who wrote classic comedies like “Animal House,” so it was destined for hilarity from the start — and it didn’t disappoint!

The premise of the film is a comical look into the workings of country club caddying. With big names like Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, and Bill Murray, this movie became an instant hit with golfers and non-golfers alike.

It’s also one of the most “quotable” sports movies of all time. If you’ve ever found yourself saying “So I got that going for me, which is nice,” you can thank Bill Murray’s character (Carl Spackler) in the film. If it’s been a while since you’ve seen this classic, August is the perfect time to be reminded of why it’s so great! Just don’t watch it before you go swimming …

Happy Gilmore

1996’s “Happy Gilmore” follows Adam Sandler as the titular character who makes the transition from hockey player to a pro golfer in a very unique way. Because of Happy’s hockey background, he ends up having quite the golf swing when he hits the course. Realistically, though, it could have caused one heck of a case of golfer’s elbow — or worse.

Happy changes the face of the sport, creating a more relaxed vibe, encouraging rowdy cheering and brings in a whole new demographic of golf watchers. He takes on professional golfer Shooter McGavin — a nemesis throughout the film — in a final match of 18 holes to prove the underdog can come on top. It also crushes the old stereotypes of who a golfer needs to be (no, you don’t need to be a doctor to enjoy the sport) and who the most avid golfers really are.

If you haven’t seen this one yet, you can’t call yourself a true golf fan! You’ll be laughing through this entire movie.

Tin Cup

Kevin Costner is no stranger to sports movies, but 1996’s “Tin Cup” was his first venture into the world of golf films. Costner plays Roy McAvoy, a former pro who has become cynical over the years and finds himself working as a driving range instructor. When he’s lured back into playing in the US Open, his unique playing style immediately raises eyebrows and brings new attention to the sport.

If you haven’t seen “Tin Cup,” we won’t give away the ending. But, we can tell you Costner’s “mission” in his last game was inspired by a real-life story! This is a great romantic comedy that golfers and non-golfers alike will enjoy.

The Legend of Bagger Vance

This Robert Redford-directed movie was released in 2000 and is based in Depression-era Georgia. Will Smith plays Bagger Vance, who works with a local golfer named Rannulph Junuh (played by Matt Damon). Junuh was once a promising golfer, but World War I took him off of that path. Now, with a high-stakes game on the horizon, Junuh will have to compete against some of the brightest stars in the sport.

This film has some charming and shining moments, and it’s a nice change of pace from the stereotypical golf comedy. If you’re looking for a more serious movie about the sport to watch, give this “legend” a try.

There is certainly no shortage of golf movies to enjoy this month. It’s a good excuse to binge-watch some of your favorites and discover a few new golfing movies you may have never seen before. Whether you’re into comedy, biopics, or something more dramatic, you don’t have to be a golf enthusiast to appreciate the sport and the films that depict it.

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