When it comes to golf, we love reliving the best moments on the course.
You know what I’m talking about… The shots that keep us coming back, despite the hundreds of other bad ones that make us question why we even play the sport.
While it’s fun to relive your own memories, it’s even better sometimes to watch one of your favorite golf movies from time to time. Luckily, some of the most iconic moments and figures have been documented for us to relive over and over.
Plus, there have been some great golf movies that have shaped the game forever. If you’re a beginner golfer and feel like you’re missing out on some inside jokes at the course, watch these movies and I bet everything will make a lot more sense.
Here are our top 7 golf movies to help you fall in love with the game even more.
7. Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius
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!
6. Dead Solid Perfect
A wild pro golfer (Randy Quaid) with a fed-up wife (Kathryn Harrold) tries to get his life together in time for the U.S. Open.
“It’s a great story about an outsider trying to break through. It’s almost like seeing Bill Murray win at the pro-am at Pebble Beach.”
5. The Legend of Bagger Vance
The undying love for sport is explored through the eyes of Hardy Greaves (Jack Lemmon, in his last role), who has just had his sixth heart attack while playing golf and begins to recount how his passion for the game began. During the Depression, young Greaves’s idol and former golfer Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon) is a struggling alcoholic battling personal demons following his time in WWI. With the help of Greaves and a mysterious caddie named Bagger Vance (Will Smith), Junuh is able to find his way back to the love of the game, as well as rekindle his romance with former flame Adele Invergordon (Charlize Theron).
4. The Greatest Game Ever Played
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.
3. Tin Cup
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.”
2. Happy Gilmore
ticking 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.
1.Caddyshack
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.