One of many a golfer’s favorite past times is watching golf movies! Whether it is a classic comedy like Caddyshack or a brilliantly portrayed documentary-like Stroke of Genius, there is definitely a golf movie for everyone!
If you are the ultimate hard-core golf fanatic (and if you are reading a golf blog, you probably are LOL), what is your favorite thing to do besides playing golf? Many of you may have just answered, “watch golf on TV.” Okay, well, what if it’s the offseason or a random Tuesday with obviously no golf tournaments to watch?
So, without further adieu, here are some of the best golf movies of all time. Get your popcorn ready!
Caddyshack (1980)
Summary: Caddyshack is arguably the most popular golf movie ever created, and with tremendous actors like Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield, it is easy to understand why. The hilarity is nonstop in this classic comedy film as a snobby country club has to deal with a crazy new member who refuses to follow any rules at all. Some of the most famous golf sayings, such as “Be the ball,” came from this famous flick.
Watch Caddyshack | Prime Video (amazon.com)
Tin Cup (1996)
Summary: Tin Cup is another classic golf movie that most golf enthusiasts have seen at least a handful of times. Kevin Costner does a fabulous job as Roy McAvoy, a broke, desperate driving range pro that struggles to win both at golf and love. The film features some belly laughing scenes as well as some hot romance with Costner and Rene Russo. A great quote from Tin Cup is from McAvoy’s caddie Romeo who says, “Sometimes par is good enough to win.”
Watch Tin Cup | Prime Video (amazon.com)
Happy Gilmore (1996)
Summary: Sticking with the comedic theme, we have to mention this crazy but endearing film. Adam Sandler stars as Happy Gilmore, who is a nutty hockey player that finds out that his true talent is driving a golf ball over 400 yards! Happy must figure out how to beat his rival Shooter McGavin to win enough money to help keep his Grandmother’s home. Bob Barker and Ben Stiller have some entertaining scenes in this phenomenal comedy. The best quote is when Happy cusses out the golf ball after he misses a short putt and then yells, “Why don’t you just GO HOME, BALL?” Every golfer knows that frustrating feeling all too well.
Watch Happy Gilmore | Prime Video (amazon.com)
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
Summary: Matt Damon, Will Smith, and Charlize Theron star in this intriguing film. Damon plays a former local golf hero named Rannulph Junnah, who struggles to “find his swing” and his love life after returning from war. The drama is at an all-time high when Theron organizes an exhibition golf tournament that features Junnah, Bobby Jones, and Walter Hagen. This film has some funny parts in it but is overall a serious flick. While this movie did not perform very well at the box office, golf purists will love the coaching scenes between Smith and Damon.
Watch The Legend of Bagger Vance | Prime Video (amazon.com)
The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)
Summary: This movie is a must-watch since it is based on a true story about Francis Ouimet, who was the first amateur golfer in history to win the US Open back in 1913. Ouimet always idolized the British golfer Harry Vardon as a kid, and now he will get to take on his hero in this suspense-building drama. If you are a devoted fan of golf history, this film is definitely in the must-watch category.
Watch The Greatest Game Ever Played | Prime Video (amazon.com)
Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004)
Summary: Stroke of Genius does a remarkable job of showing golf fans a deeper look at the legendary golf icon Bobby Jones. Jones is still the only man ever to win all 4 majors in one calendar year. The crazy thing is that Jones retired at the ripe old age of 28 and competed only as an amateur. Jones has a heated discussion with his rival Walter Hagen about why he refuses to turn pro. Jones responds with a fascinating quote: “If you look up amateur in the dictionary, the root of the word means LOVE.” Again, if you are a golf history buff, you have to see this movie!
Watch Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius | Prime Video (amazon.com)
The Squeeze (2015)
Summary: A young, talented golfer named Augie from a low-income family is desperate for money. Augie gets tangled up with a pro gambler that seeks to milk Augie’s talent for big bucks. The drama builds as Augie realizes that he is caught in a “squeeze” that could cost him his life. Though the budget for this film was possibly on the low side, the story is told pretty well, and most golfers should get a kick out of it.
Watch The Squeeze | Prime Video (amazon.com)
Swing Away (2016)
Summary: Swing Away is one of the few golf movies out there that is about a ladies’ golf pro. Shannon Elizabeth stars Zoe, who has a major breakdown during a pro tournament and decides to move to Greece to get away from it all. However, while in Greece, Zoe finds out why she loves the game of golf and gets back to her roots.
Watch Swing Away | Prime Video (amazon.com)
Seven Days in Utopia (2011)
Summary: This film is based partially on a book by an author named David Cook, who wrote 7 Days at the Links of Utopia. Lucas Black stars as a struggling pro golfer named Luke, who embarrassed himself with a wild emotional outburst after a painful loss at his last tournament. Luke ends up wrecking his car in Utopia, Texas, on the ranch of a former golf pro named Johnny (played by legendary actor Robert Duvall). Johnny vows to help Luke figure out how to play winning golf again.
Watch Seven Days In Utopia | Prime Video (amazon.com)
Dead Solid Perfect (1988)
Summary: This is an older golf movie from 1988 that stars Randy Quaid. Quaid plays Kenny Lee, a pro golfer who is not finding much success on the PGA Tour. Lee tries to gain some valuable life perspective to help his life on and off the golf course.
Unfortunately, this flick is not available on Amazon Prime but you can try this stream instead: Dead Solid Perfect | Xfinity Stream
Caddyshack 2 (1988)
Summary: Though not nearly as intriguing as the first version (which is very common in sequels), Caddyshack 2 is still worth watching for pure comedic reasons. Chevy Chase is back and provides plenty of goofy scenes with Randy Quaid and Dan Aykroyd. Some folks claim this is possibly one of the worst sequels ever made, but what do you expect when you are following in the footsteps of such a legendary film like Caddyshack.
Watch Caddyshack 2 | Prime Video (amazon.com)
A Gentleman’s Game (2002)
Summary: Mason Gamble stars as Timmy, a young boy who gets a summer job at a pristine golf country club resort. Timmy’s dad teaches him how to caddy, and this gets him hooked on golf. Gary Sinise stars in this film as Foster Pearse, a former golf professional who decides to mentor Timmy. Pearse teaches Timmy a great deal about the game of golf and the game of life.
Watch A Gentleman’s Game | Prime Video (amazon.com)
Miracle on the 17th Green (1999)
Summary: Based on the James Patterson golf series of books, this film was made for TV and not the big screen. Mitch McKinley loses his big-time job as a corporate executive and decides to chase his lifelong dream of playing pro golf. McKinley’s family and friends think he is simply having a bad midlife crisis, but McKinley is convinced that he has what it takes to make a living doing what he loves.
Unfortunately, this movie is not available on Amazon Prime, but we highly recommend the book as it was tremendously entertaining. Check it out here: Miracle on the 17th Green: A Novel: Patterson, James, de Jonge, Peter
Who’s Your Caddy? (2007)
Summary: Many people do not think highly of this movie, but it has a great deal of gut-busting comedy. Rap music icons Lil Wayne and Big Boi star in this crazy film, a knockoff of the iconic Caddyshack. A rapper named C-Note Hawkins applies to an uppity country club, much to its uptight members’ chagrin. Hawkins decides to buy the land where the 17th green rests on getting even with the club members.
Watch Who’s Your Caddy | Prime Video (amazon.com)
Follow The Sun: The Ben Hogan Story (1951)
Summary: We had to put this on the list simply because it tells the story of one of the greatest golfers ever to tee it up, Ben Hogan. This flick tells Hogan’s heroic story of going from caddying to make ends meet to becoming one of the top pro golfers of all time. Also, this film covers the horrible car accident that nearly took Hogan’s life. Golf history buffs have to watch this one!
Amazon.com: Ben Hogan – Follow The Sun [DVD]: Movies & TV
The Man with the Perfect Swing (1995)
Summary: This film did not get much fanfare when it came out in 1995, but it is a decent golf movie with a high rating. A former pro baseball player named Babe is deep in debt with the IRS and desperate to get them off his back. Babe finds out he can use his former baseball swing to build a powerful golf swing. Can Babe use this newfound talent to pay off the IRS?
Amazon.com: Man With the Perfect Swing [VHS]
The Caddy (1953)
Summary: This is an older film from the 1950s and stars Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Harvey Miller is expected to become a hotshot pro golfer like his father was. The expectations are so crippling to Miller that he decides to take up caddying instead of playing golf.
Watch Caddy | Prime Video (amazon.com)
Tommy’s Honour (2016)
Summary: This golf film did not get much time in theaters but was released for streaming in 2017. The movie is the story of Young Tom Morris, who was a Scottish golfer that was one of golf’s first-ever superstars. It is a feel-good movie about a father-son duo that gets pro golf started.
Watch Tommy’s Honour | Prime Video (amazon.com)
Wrapping it Up and Heading to the Clubhouse
Well, we covered 18 of the best golf movies of all time. Do you have a favorite on this list? Obviously, this list varies from comedy films like Caddyshack to documentary movies like Follow The Sun. The next time your round gets canceled due to bad weather, consider watching one of these golf classics.
