In the mood for golf, but can’t make it to your local course? No worries – just plonk yourself down on the sofa and watch some film stars pretending to play golf for your entertainment. There are plenty of inspirational sports films and golf-centric comedy classics waiting for you on your streaming service of choice.
So grab some popcorn and get ready to ignore the plot in favour of critiquing the lead actor’s tee-off stance – here are some iconic golf movies that you can watch next time you’re missing the green:
Happy Gilmore
It’s nearly impossible to talk about golf movies without talking about Happy Gilmore. This 1996 hit follows a hockey player as he tries to find success on the golf course. Have you ever wanted to watch a grown man yell at a plastic clown for a solid 30 seconds? It’s funnier than you might expect.
Happy Gilmore is indisputably iconic, but it’s the Marmite of golf movies. While it’s certainly not the worst film in the world, it’s very…Adam Sandler. Still, it has a handful of surprisingly heartfelt moments and plenty of good laughs if you’re in the right mood for it. Just keep in mind that it’s more about comedy than golf, so the rules of the game are often ignored for the sake of silliness.
Caddyshack
This 1980s classic comedy is a fond favourite for many golfers, stuffed full of nostalgia. With Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and a handful of other big names, you can’t say that this movie is lacking in talent.
The whole story takes place at the ‘Bushwood Country Club’ which is actually the Grande Oaks Golf Club, an 18-hole links course in Florida. There are so many subplots that it’s almost hard to summarise, but if you like watching idiotic rich people and destructive gophers then you’ll probably have fun with it.
Caddyshack is definitely from the 80s though, and it shows. Not everything holds up well in 2026 and it’s certainly not family friendly. Maybe watch this one on your own.
The Legend of Bagger Vance
Another movie that’s completely star-studded! It’s surprising that there are so few good golf movies when clearly celebrities are down for a few rounds. The Legend of Bagger Vance features Will Smith, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron, as well as several gorgeous South Carolina golf courses.
The plot takes place during the Great Depression, where Bagger Vance guides a struggling golfer to help him find his swing. This is the only movie on our list that isn’t a comedy. The slow, serious drama doesn’t really match our banter vibes, but it’s an undeniable example of an iconic golf movie. It’s got some good golf and nice views, so who can complain?
High School Musical 2
High School Musical 2 takes place at ‘Lava Springs Country Club’ – which is actually the Entrada resort in Utah. This resort features a frankly stunning 18-hole championship golf course where some of the film’s most iconic scenes take place. The plot obviously isn’t focused on golf but it is influenced by the setting, so it’s easy enough to ignore the cast and focus on the rolling green in the background. It also has some surprisingly decent banter.
The best bit? You’ll get to see Zac Efron live the dream of running around a totally empty golf course. Just tune out the singing and imagine how good it feels to never queue for the next hole.
If it’s time to watch a movie with the family but you’d rather be playing golf, then High School Musical 2 is a decent compromise.
The Phantom of the Open
This movie has some of the best reviews of any film on this list, though it isn’t as well-known as some of the others. It doesn’t have Adam Sandler or Bill Murray, but it does star Mark Rylance as Maurice Flitcroft. In this movie, Maurice achieves the worst score recorded by a ‘professional’ golfer at The Open Championship.
This heartwarming comedy from 2021 is a must-watch for golf fans. It has the classic ‘inspirational’ plot that many sports movies swear by, but with enough originality to make it work. This is probably because it’s based on a true story; Maurice really did score 121 in the qualifying competition for The Open in 1976. He played so badly that he was banned by the R&A.
Next time you’ve got a losing streak going on the course, remember that it could always be worse. At least you aren’t banned for life.
IRL Golf Banter
So, what do movies and golf have in common? If you haven’t figured it out yet, we’ll give you a slow play warning. It’s banter.
Most golf movies are comedies and it’s undeniable that golfers love a good laugh. It’s time to bring the screen to the green with some of our hilarious banter balls. Whether you’re looking for balls that reference golf movies or are just offensively funny, we’ve got you covered.
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