The Top 10 Golf Movies of All-Time
The Greatest Golf Movies of All Time
While the entertainment world is more focused on superheroes and action thrillers, that is not to say it doesn’t have a soft spot for sports films, too.
Rocky, Bull Durham and Hoosiers are just some examples of great sports films over the past few decades, but what about golf?
A scene from golf film ‘Happy Gilmore’, featuring Adam Sandler
Sure, golf can be thrilling to watch at times, especially when there are playoffs during majors or events such as the Ryder Cup. These events allow casual fans to root for one side over another.
But can those golfing moments be captured effectively enough in film to make people want to watch them?
Admittedly, golf has led to some mixed results when it comes to films, with some great and some worth skipping over.
In this article, find a list of the top 10 golf films of all-time. Each one is well-worth a watch!
1. ‘Caddyshack’
Any film that has both Bill Murray and Chevy Chase in it is a must-see, and ‘Caddyshack’ is no exception!
The film is considered by many as the quintessential golf film.
As you would expect, it is more of a comedy than anything else, but the plot is pretty good as well.
The movie involves a caddie working at an upscale country club to help pay for college, who eventually gets involved in a high-stakes golf match.
Murray in particular shines in his role as a groundskeeper trying to get rid of a gopher that is damaging the golf course, involving the use of rifles, water and explosives (to name a few). Whilst we’re on Bill Murray, some Christmas movie trivia; Just as in ‘Scrooged’, in Caddyshack, it’s well known that Murray often ad-libbed lines, to the annoyance and sometimes the expense of his co-stars!
Whether or not he actually gets the gopher is something that you’ll have to see for yourself!
2. ‘Tin Cup’
Also part of the comedy sphere (in this case a romantic comedy) is the film ‘Tin Cup’ from 1996, starring Kevin Costner as a former competitive golfer who runs a rundown driving range.
He gets hired as a caddie for an event and, after getting fired, it motivates him to try to compete for the U.S. Open.
The writing and Costner make this a film worth watching, and Costner actually received a Golden Globe nomination for his role.
Anyone who has played golf aggressively and knows what it’s like to get frustrated out on the golf course will certainly be able to relate to this film, as the climax of the film features one such moment.
3. ‘Happy Gilmore’
Continuing on the theme of comedies, ‘Happy Gilmore’ is one of the funniest films of all-time, and it is primarily based on the sport of golf.
‘Happy Gilmore’ came out in 1996, starring Adam Sandler as an ice hockey player who decides to try his luck at golf in the hopes of paying off his grandmother’s debts.
His slapshot golf swing results in drives going over 400 yards, allowing him to make it to a professional tour where he develops a rivalry with Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald).
Gilmore’s golf etiquette is “different” to say the least, and leads to numerous funny moments including a fight with Bob Barker at a celebrity Pro-Am.
Carl Weathers steals the spotlight as Chubbs, a former professional golfer who helps Happy become a better player and try to beat McGavin at the Tour Championship.
All in all a film worth watching, both for the golf and the comedy.
4. ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’
Moving on to more serious films, ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’ is a 2005 film starring Shia LaBeouf. It is based on the true story of Francis Ouimet, an amateur golfer who won the U.S. Open in 1913.
Golf during this time period was mostly played by wealthy individuals in the United States, with British professionals dominating most major tournaments.
That would soon change with Ouimet’s victory, as it helped galvanise the nation and put the sport on the map.
It is the sort of film that both golfers and non-golfers alike can enjoy watching, and LaBeouf plays the role well (along with his ten-year-old caddie, who steals the spotlight at times).
5. ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance’
Many of today’s great actors have participated in golf films, and ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance’ continues this trend.
The 2000 film starred Will Smith, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron, directed by Robert Redford.
Similar to ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’, it is one that both golfers and non-golfers will enjoy, as the plot revolves around a talented golfer who is traumatised by his experiences in World War I.
He seeks to redeem himself in a exhibition match featuring Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones.
To help him get on the right path again, his caddie Bagger Vance (Will Smith) acts as a mentor and psychologist.
Vance also helps him deal with his past while playing high level golf in the present.
6. ‘Seven Days in Utopia’
‘Seven Days in Utopia’ is a great film to watch during a lazy day off or at night after all of the hustle and bustle of life has passed by.
It is a 2011 film starring Lucas Black as Luke Chisholm, a rookie professional golfer trying to overcome a bad finish at an event.
On his way home, he crashes into Johnny Crawford’s (Robert Duvall) property, a former competitive golfer who offers to help Chisholm regain his form.
His methods are a bit unorthodox to say the least, but it all culminates in Chisholm getting back on tour and competing to win an event against real-life K.J. Choi.
It is a great motivational film, with a sprinkling of golf on the side.
7. ‘Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius’
Bobby Jones was one of the greatest professional golfers of all-time, and as such it should come as no surprise that a film was made about his life!
It came out in 2004 and stars Jim Caviezel. It highlights how Jones first got into the game of golf, all the way up to him witnessing the creation of his dream course, Augusta National.
What many may not know is that Jones had a rare disease of the spine that hampered his ability to play, and this was one of the reasons why he quit playing full-time at the age of 28.
It wasn’t that he wanted to quit, especially after completing the Grand Slam that same year.
The disease, combined with the low pay that golfers received at the time, led Jones to take up law practice full-time.
‘Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius’ is a solid film that is carried well by Caviezel, highlighting the important aspects of Jones’ life and giving golfers a glimpse into what it was like playing in the past.
8. ‘A Gentleman’s Game’
Featuring Gary Sinise and Mason Gamble, ‘A Gentleman’s Game’ came out in 2002.
It is essentially a drama film about a golf prodigy (Mason Gamble) who is introduced to a teacher (Gary Sinise), who helps him become better at the game and learns a few life lessons along the way.
It is another one of those films to watch during a lazy or rainy day to help pass the time. The plot is very straightforward about learning to be honest and upright, both on and off the golf course.
This is certainly not among the greatest golf films, but the life lessons and outstanding performance by Sinise make it well-worth the watch.
9. ‘From the Rough’
‘From the Rough’ is a 2011 film that presents the real-life story of Catana Starks, a Tennessee State swim coach who went on to become the first woman to lead a college golf team.
It stars Taraji Henson as Starks, along with the likes of Michael Clarke Duncan and Tom Felton.
‘From the Rough’ is one of those feel-good stories about building something from essentially nothing.
Tennessee State did not have a women’s golf team until Starks came into the picture in 1986, and she really struggled at the start.
However, Starks was able to field a diverse team and utilise her motivational tactics and philosophy to build a successful golf team in a short amount of time.
The golf team still exists to this day. Starks passed away in 2019, having coached the team from 1986-2005.
10. ‘Seve the Movie’
Last but certainly not least, one would be remiss not to include a film about Seve Ballesteros.
Even though Ballesteros came from a family of professional golfers, his parents were very poor, and he had a rough life growing up in Spain.
Seve first learned to play at the age of 8 and he had a knack for the game, going on to turn professional at the age of 16 in 1974.
It was in 1976 that Ballesteros would begin to make his mark, finishing in a tie for second at the British Open with Jack Nicklaus, behind Johnny Miller.
Ballesteros would go on to win five major championships through his professional career, revitalising golf in Europe during the 1970s and 1980s.
‘Seve: The Movie’ highlights much of this, and it is a fitting film suited for a fitting golfer.
