Tag: Golf Movies

Fun facts about the golf movie ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance’

“The Legend of Bagger Vance” was released Nov. 3, 2000.

It’s the fourth highest grossing golf movie of all-time. It’s ranks seventh on IMDB among the best golf movies. It features three huge Hollywood actors – Matt Damon, Charlize Theron and Will Smith – and a big-time director, Robert Redford.

And on Nov. 3, 2024, “The Legend of Bagger Vance” turns 24.

Released in theaters just after Halloween in 2000, the movie got 3 ½ stars from movie critic Roger Ebert, who wrote:

Robert Redford’s “The Legend of Bagger Vance” could be a movie about prayer, music or mathematics because it is really about finding yourself at peace with the thing you do best. Most of the movie is about an epic golf tournament, but it is not a sports movie in any conventional sense. It is the first zen movie about golf.

When and where does the movie take place?

The movie is set in Savannah, Georgia, in 1931, two years into the Depression that was gripping the country. Theron plays Adele, the daughter of a man who built a golf course but then goes broke and commits suicide. Facing financial hardship herself, Adele stages a $10,000 golf tournament and invites Bobby Jones (played by Joel Gretsch) and Walter Hagen (portrayed by Bruce McGill). She also talks local golf legend Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon’s character) into competing. He was the best golfer in the Savannah area before going off to World War I and coming back a broken man.

Where was the movie filmed?

The Legend of Bagger Vance was shot at Colleton River Club in South Carolina. The golf course’s website notes that “Colleton River was scouted for its classic and iconic courses and Lowcountry scenery.” The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island was also used in the movie.

Legend of Bagger Vance trivia

According to IMDB:

Matt Damon did not have any previous experience playing golf; he spent a month with golf pro Tim Moss in Hilton Head, South Carolina, to prepare for the role.

The film cast includes four Oscar winners: Will Smith, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron and Jack Lemmon. It was also the last film Lemmon appeared in. He died June 27, 2001, about eight months after the movie’s release.

The last hole is actually not real. At the cost of $200,000, it was temporary, as filmmakers were trying not to disturb club activities.

How much money did The Legend of Bagger Vance make?

The highest-grossing golf movies according to box office earnings:

  1. Tin Cup (1996) – $54 million
  2. Happy Gilmore (1996) – $41 million
  3. Caddyshack (1980) – $39 million
  4. The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) – $30 million
  5. The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) – $15 million

‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’: Fun facts about the golf movie

Director Bill Paxton’s movie was released in theaters on Sept. 30, 2005.

The roster of strong golf movies isn’t that deep but this one is on the short list.

Director Bill Paxton brought amateur golfer Francis Ouimet’s story to the big screen on “The Greatest Game Ever Played”, released in theaters 19 years on this date, Sept. 30, 2005.

The secret weapon for Ouimet – played by Shia LaBeouf – in the 1913 U.S. Open wasn’t a particular set of clubs, nor his familiarity with the course at The Country Club, which he could see from his bedroom window.

When the amateur won the title in an upset against British veterans Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, he credited his caddie, Eddie Lowery, a 10-year-old boy who was his loudest cheerleader.

The stunning victory cemented a place for Ouimet and Lowery, as well as The Country Club, whiched hosted the 2022 U.S. Open, in golf history.

Eddie Lowery: Francis Ouimet’s caddie

A 20-year-old Brookline native who had caddied at TCC, Ouimet was fresh off a loss in the U.S. Amateur when the president of the U.S. Golf Association asked if he would play in the Open. Though he initially declined, Ouimet joined after his boss gave him time off to play.

Finding a caddie proved more difficult.

Lowery and his brother, Jack, played hooky from school to watch the play at TCC, and Jack agreed to caddie for Ouimet after the golfer’s original man bailed. When a truant officer caught Jack, however, Eddie took three street cars over to TCC and pleaded with Ouimet to take his brother’s place.

“I’ve never lost a ball,” Lowery advertised, not mentioning he had rarely caddied, according to TCC historian Frederick Waterman.

Her father was “just Dad, a very, very modest man,” and for most of their childhoods, Barbara and sister Jane – both of whom live on Cape Cod – never knew the grandness of what Francis Ouimet had accomplished as a young man.

At a time when golf was dominated by the Brits and the game was only for the elite, Ouimet and Lowery, scripted an incredible story. In the aftermath of their playoff triumph over the greatest players of the day, Britons Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, it has been said that 2 million people began playing golf in the United States, and Ouimet has been hailed as the “Father of American Golf.” A true American sports icon.

But to McLean, Francis Ouimet was the man who greeted them in the mornings at breakfast and sat at the dinner table in the evenings. “Always, he would ask, ‘How was school today?’ He never talked about himself,” McLean said.

Later, when she attended a local college, McLean said she would drive with her father from their home in Wellesley to the public-transportation stop. “He took the train to work; I took the car to my college classes. I should have been the one taking the subway.”

Ouimet served a few years in the Army, married Stella Sullivan in 1918 and opened a sporting-goods store with his brother-in-law, Jack Sullivan.

The movie, which was released in 2005, grossed over $15 million at the box office and got good reviews. It gets 63 percent positive reviews by critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 percent positive reviews on the audience score. it ranks fifth on IMDB’s list of best golf movies ever made.

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Shooting has begun on ‘Happy Gilmore 2,’ and this popular New Jersey eatery will make the cut

Pictures of Adam Sandler practicing his golf swing in the sand with a scenic view of the water have gone viral as filming begins for the sequel to “Happy Gilmore.” The set, located in the Highlands, marks the start of production for “Happy Gilmore …

Pictures of Adam Sandler practicing his golf swing in the sand with a scenic view of the water have gone viral as filming begins for the sequel to “Happy Gilmore.” The set, located in the Highlands, marks the start of production for “Happy Gilmore 2” in New Jersey.

Last month, thousands of aspiring actors flocked to the Hyatt Regency in Morristown for an open casting call for the Netflix movie. Videos posted on social media showed long lines wrapping around blocks and stretching through town, leading to massive traffic backups as attendees waited for a chance to be part of the film.

The casting call, organized by GWCI, was first announced via Instagram in August.

Where is ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ being filmed?

The company revealed that scenes would be shot in Morris, Bergen, Essex, Somerset, and Monmouth counties from September through November.

Steve Burgers makes it to ‘Happy Gilmore 2’

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Among the local businesses selected for filming is Steve’s Burgers, a popular Route 46 eatery. The restaurant’s owner shared the news in an Instagram post, confirming its participation in the much-anticipated sequel.

“Honored, Privileged, and Excited to announce that Steve’s Burgers on Route 46 has been chosen by @adamsandler and @netflix to shoot a scene for the new and heavily anticipated Happy Gilmore 2 movie coming soon to Netflix!” Burgers wrote. “We will keep you all posted on shooting dates so you can possibly meet the man myth and legend himself! Thank you for all the support, and remember to always ‘play it where it lies.'”

Travis Kelce to cameo in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’

Adam Sandler announced the Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce would join the cast of his upcoming movie sequel in a cameo role during an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” telling the late-night host “Travis mentioned it, so we have a nice something for Travis.”

“He’s gonna come by. He’s a very nice guy. You guys would love him in real life,” he told his fellow “SNL” alum. “What a big, handsome guy. Funny and cool as hell. He’s a stud, and he’s so funny.”

‘Happy Gilmore 2’ is in the works, says Shooter McGavin actor, because ‘fans demand it’

It has to be better than that “other” golf movie sequel, right?

It has to be better than that “other” golf movie sequel, right?

The most iconic golf movie ever, “Caddyshack,” was followed up by the horrific “Caddyshack II,” so here’s hoping “Happy Gilmore 2” does right by the original.

Christopher McDonald, the actor who portrayed Happy’s nemesis Shooter McGavin in the 1996 release Happy Gilmore, spilled the beans about the follow-up when he joined Ken Carman on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland.

“Here’s a quick intel,” McDonald said. “I saw Adam [Sandler] about two weeks ago and he says to me ‘McDonald. You’re going to love this.’ I said ‘What?’ And he says ‘How about that?’ and he shows me a first draft of Happy Gilmore 2.”

He then joked that maybe the radio producers should cut that out of the interview because “I don’t want to be a liar,” he said, but added that Sandler “did show me that and I said that would be awesome. It’s in the works. Fans demand it.”

McDonald is active in pro-am and charity tournaments and said his handicap is “probably 12 or 13 but I used to be about a 7.”

Where does he rank the Shooter McGavin role?

“I’ve had some favorite roles. I gotta say it’s top 3.”

“You’re a beloved character,” said Carman.

“People loved to hate the Shooter. I love that.,” McDonald said.

McDonald was in Cleveland for a meet-and-greet at the minor league hockey Cleveland Monsters, where the fan giveaway is a Shooter McGavin bobblehead.

Deadline reported that the movie will be made for Netflix, but added that niether the streaming service nor Adam Sandler were available for comment.

There is no announced release date for “Happy Gilmore 2.”

Happy birthday, Happy Gilmore: Here are 4 things you might not know about the movie

The lines are legendary. The premise is ridiculous. You’ve probably even attempted the swing when nobody was looking.

The lines are legendary. The premise is ridiculous. You’ve probably even attempted the swing when nobody was looking on the driving range.

Feb. 16, 1996, marked the theatrical release of “Happy Gilmore,” the Adam Sandler movie about a failed hockey player who takes his talents to the golf course in order to save his grandmother’s house.

The comedy has undeniably become a part of golf’s culture. With that in mind, here are four interesting things you might not have known about the movie, which was directed by Dennis Dugan and filmed primarily in British Columbia.

Carl Weathers, known for roles such as Chubbs in ‘Happy Gilmore,’ has died at 76

Rest in peace, Carl.

Carl Weathers, known for roles such as Apollo Creed in “Rocky,” Chubbs Peterson in “Happy Gilmore” and Greef Karga in “The Mandalorian,” has died at the age of 76.

Weathers’ death was confirmed Friday by his family to Deadline and by his manager to The Associated Press.

“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers,” his family said in a statement. “He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, Feb. 1st, 2024. … Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend.”

Chubbs is one of the best characters from a golf movie off all time, so it’s no surprise to see a huge reaction from golf Twitter.

‘Caddyshack’ heartthrob Cindy Morgan, aka Lacey Underall, dead at 69

“It was the longest and best party I’ve ever attended.”

Actress Cindy Morgan, best known by golf fans for portraying blonde-haired bombshell Lacey Underall in the 1980 comedy “Caddyshack” died in late December. She was 69.

A representative for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Saturday – as first reported by TMZ – that the actress died due to natural causes a “few days ago.”

Morgan’s roommate called police in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, after returning from a holiday trip on Dec. 30 and knocking on her door and receiving no response. The roommate, who had reportedly last seen Morgan on Dec. 19 smelled “a strong odor emanating from inside.” When the police entered her room, they found her dead. Morgan’s final social media post was on X on Dec. 21.

Morgan was born as Cynthia Ann Cichorski in Chicago on Sept. 29, 1954. According to a story posted by the Los Angeles Times, Morgan first gained notice as a model who appeared in commercials for Irish Spring soap. “Caddyshack” was her feature film debut as the attractive niece of Judge Smails, Bushwood’s founder played by Ted Knight.

“It was the longest and best party I’ve ever attended,” she said of the filming of the cult classic.

In a 2012 interview, Morgan said of her role: “Caddyshack was my first film and I’ll say that the end product was so completely different, it was originally about the caddies. So at first, I had nothing to lose to audition. It was fun. All I did was focus on making the person sweat. Look ’em in the eye, do that thing many women know how to …”

In recent years, Morgan was a regular attendee at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, signing autographs and posing for pictures with her adoring fans.

Remembering Bob Barker’s legendary golf/fight scene in ‘Happy Gilmore’

Barker said the thing most people wanted to talk about was his fight scene with Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore.’

Longtime television personality Bob Barker died on Saturday at the age of 99, according to his publicist Roger Neal.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest (master of ceremonies) who ever lived, Bob Barker has left us,” Neal said in a statement.

In his more than 30 years as emcee of “The Price is Right,” Barker changed in only one appreciable way: He stopped dyeing his hair in the early 1990s, two decades into the game show’s long and storied run.

But while Barker was synonymous with daytime TV and helping animals, he said in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning that the thing most people wanted to talk about was similar — his fight scene in the legendary Adam Sandler golf movie “Happy Gilmore.”

“They say could you really whip Adam Sandler?” Barker joked. “They say could you really beat Adam Sandler up in real life? I’d say, ‘Are you kidding? Adam Sandler couldn’t beat up Regis Philbin.'”

Although Barker’s scene with Sandler has become legendary, he originally wasn’t in the producers’ plans. Instead, Sandler and others tried to woo Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s sidekick, for the role, but he never responded to inquiries.

When Barker was later asked to come on board with the project, he agreed to do so with two stipulations — that writers would re-work the scene to allow Barker to beat Gilmore in a fight … and that the “Price is Right” star could shoot his own fight scenes rather than have a body double.

Barker had been training with his neighbor, Chuck Norris, and wanted to show off his skills.

“We trained every night,” Barker told Sandler while filming. “He helps me with my punches and my kicks, but I have to win this fight.”

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‘It’s easy to grin, when your ship’s come in’: The yacht dubbed Seafood from the movie ‘Caddyshack’ has been sold

First listed for sale five months ago, the boat is now owned by a marketing professor from Rhode Island.

Seafood, the yacht owned by Rodney Dangerfield’s character in the movie ” Caddyshack,” has a new owner.

First listed for sale for $350,000 five months ago, the boat – complete with a Bushwood Country Club pin flag – was purchased by Jay Oliver, a marketing professor from Rhode Island, according to unitedyacht.com.

Oliver’s agent, tells the publication that when his client was growing up “his family bought their first VCR and the very first movie they rented was ‘Caddyshack.’ ”

Fandom has stuck ever since.

The boat was built in 1979 and then appeared in the iconic golf movie, which was released in 1980.

In the movie, Al Czervik, played by Dangerfield, carelessly steers Seafood just short of the new sailboat of Judge Smails.

Then Czervik drops an anchor right through the hull of the small sailboat.

Over the years, Seafood has served as a day charter as well as an Airbnb rental. Oliver intends to keep the boat in the Hilton Head, South Carolina, area and will keep it available for overnight rentals.

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Adam Sandler congratulates Will Zalatoris, a ‘Happy Gilmore’ caddie lookalike, after win

Will Zalatoris received congrats for winning the FedEx St. Jude Championship from “Happy Gilmore”.

Among the congratulations Will Zalatoris received Sunday after winning the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship was a message from “Happy Gilmore” himself.

Adam Sandler, a comedic actor and “Saturday Night Live” alum whose 1996 film “Happy Gilmore” was a lovable lampooning of golf and the people who play it, sent his compliments to Zalatoris on Sunday evening.

“Congrats Will! I’m happy for you! Happy’s happy for you! Enjoy it all!” Sandler shared on his Twitter account with photos of Zalatoris along with images from the movie.

So, what’s the connection here?

It started more than a year ago when comparisons to Zalatoris and Happy Gilmore’s first caddie began to circulate on social media.

Zalatoris, then 24, embraced the analogy by having a quote from the character — “Mr. Gilmore I’m your caddy” — engraved in his wedge.

Zalatoris defeated Sepp Straka in a three-hole playoff finish in Memphis on Sunday to notch the first PGA Tour victory of his career.

But this isn’t the first time Sandler has acknowledged the golfer.

Zalatoris was the talk of the Masters in the spring of 2021 with a second-place finish as a rookie, one shot behind Hideki Matsuyama.

Zalatoris (and his uncanny resemblance to Happy Gilmore’s caddie) got the attention of the golf-loving Sandler. The actor tweeted to Zalatoris on the Sunday of the final round in Augusta, Georgia, including a photo of Jared Van Snellenberg, who portrayed the caddie in “Happy Gilmore.”

And Zalatoris replied, in character: “If you’re ever in need of a caddie again let me know. I’ll be better this time. I’m always available for you, Mr. Gilmore.”

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