Golf in the Movies

Golf on the Silver Screen

With the tension of the game and the picturesque nature of its courses, cinema has been eager to capture the drama of a round of golf. There have been many golf movies in film history, from Happy Gilmore to Caddyshack, but just what are the greatest on screen golf moments of all time?

1. Goldfinger, 1964

Well it just had to be didn't it! The ultra tense round of golf which sees James Bond defeat his gold-crazed arch-enemy, Auric Goldfinger, was adored by both 007 and golfing enthusiasts alike. Despite the Bond villain attempting to cheat his way to victory by switching balls, Sean Connery's 00 (fully armed with his favourite Penfold Heart balls) overcomes his rival; confirming both his and the ball's superiority.

2. Happy Gilmore, 1996

In what is regarded as Adam Sandler's finest performance, Happy Gilmore tells the story of a violent sociopath who uses his powerful hockey shot to win the championship and subsequently win back grandmother's house. Although we ultimately witness Happy's rise from obscurity to championship winner, it is his tendency to explode in violent fury when he misses a shot that will live on.

3. Caddyshack, 1980

Another comedy classic, Caddyshack is perhaps the finest attempt ever made at spoofing golf in the movies: slapstick at its finest. The image of Rodney Dangerfield firing a drive directly into Ted Knight's groin will get even the most earnest laughing. The film earns cult status even to this day, so much so that a certain Tiger Woods parodied it in a recent commercial.

4.The Legend of Bagger Vance, 2000

Despite being a relative box-office flop, The Legend of Bagger Vance still possesses some of the best golf moments on screen. In particular, it is the way the film recreates the game in the depression era, hickory shaft clubs and all, that it will be remembered for.