National Golf Month occurs in August of every year, and many golf courses offer discounts to their golfers to come celebrate their beloved pastime. With legendary names like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicholas and Arnold Palmer, fans have a tremendous history of the sport to honor. There are also a number of movies based around the sport, including some of the smartest comedies ever made. Here is a look at some of the best golf movies to watch during National Golf Month.
“Caddyshack”
Widely considered one of the most beloved comedies of all time, Harold Ramis directed “Caddyshack,” a movie about life at an upscale golf country club. Chevy Chase stars as a great golfer, as well as the son of one of the club’s founders. One of his regular caddies helps out a judge when an errant swing injures a member of the club in order to get a scholarship and soon finds himself embroiled in the judge’s misdeeds, growing deeper and deeper into trouble.
However, the star-turning performance here is by Bill Murray as Carl Spackler, a green’s keeper with a score to settle with a certain obnoxious gopher. It all leads to an explosive climax where the gopher hunter and golfers meet for an unexpected outcome.
“Tin Cup”
Another golf based comedy, although one based more in reality, is “Tin Cup,” starring Kevin Costner. The story involves a former golf sensation, played by Costner, who is now just a local pro, hanging around with his friend Posar (Cheech Marin). He falls for a psychologist who wants to learn how to play golf and then runs afoul of her obnoxious boyfriend, a successful golf pro played by Don Johnson.
The film ends up being a typical sports movie where the underdog comes out of retirement to take on the professional at the U.S. Open. However, as with all Costner sports movies, he takes it seriously and allows it to play out naturally. The end is also one that breaks all the rules of an inspirational sports flick, but it works well.
“Happy Gilmore”
While ‘Tin Cup” treats golf with respect, “Happy Gilmore” uses the sport as one giant joke. The movie remains Adam Sandler’s best, and most beloved, starring role as he plays a hockey player who ends up taking up golf to save his grandmother’s home from repossession. Christopher McDonald stars as the golf pro who is one of sports cinema’s greatest villains and former “Rocky” opponent Carl Weathers is superb as a mentor.
It is disrespectful but is full of quotable lines. Plus, it has a terrific moment where Bob Barker lays out Sandler, delivering one of the best one-liners in all sports movies.
