Putting green to silver screen: 5 must-see golf movies

Jonathan Victoria • 08 Apr 2025 Features

Tee up your movie night with these classics.

With The Masters ushering in another season of masterclasses over the next few months, golf fever is well and truly buzzing and taking over all those that enjoy the sport.

When we’re not watching the pros at battle, us golf fans are out at the course ourselves, trying (and failing) to replicate the feats. But we can get even more immersed in the game by enjoying some of Hollywood’s greatest takes on golf. 

From Happy Gilmore to Tin Cup, here are our picks for 5 must-see golf movies.

Caddyshack (1980)

Credit: Caddyshack (1980) Official Trailer - Chevy Chase Movie (Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers, YouTube)
 
Of course we’re starting with quite possibly the most iconic golf movie of all time.

A true Bill Murray classic, Caddyshack has become a cult classic, enjoyed by all and not just golf lovers.

Composed with a cast of some of the era's biggest comedic stars, including National Lampoon’s Chevy Chase and legendary stand-up comic Rodney Dangerfield, the film is a wonderful collection of one-liners and off-the-cuff quips that are recited out on the course to this day.

If you’re looking for a pure golfing story, this certainly isn’t the film for you. But if you want comedic brilliance with some of the sport sprinkled in, look no further.

Happy Gilmore (1996)

Credit: Happy Gilmore Official Trailer #1 - Christopher McDonald Movie (1996) HD (Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers, YouTube)
 
And of course this one comes next. 

Adam Sandler has a number of sports films in his catalogue, and each could be hailed as his best for their own reasons. But Happy Gilmore came first, and for that reason we’re declaring it as the best one.

With a story that takes a subtle jab at the uptight etiquette that forms the higher levels of the sport, Sandler’s portrayal of a heedless failed hockey player who has a stunning talent for the game is a refreshing tale that came at the perfect time, as a young Tiger Woods was breaking into the professional ranks and would soon demand worldwide attention.

Happy Gilmore lives on as an easy watch that can be enjoyed time and time again. And with a sequel set to arrive in theatres later this year, now’s the time for your latest rewatch.

Phantom of the Open (2021)

Credit: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN - Official Trailer (eOne UK, YouTube)
 
Based upon the story of Maurice Flitcroft, Phantom of the Open was a little-known release from 2021 that has gone on to gain status as one of the better true story tales of golf.

Flitcroft was a humble crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness who decided to take a chance on himself at the 1976 Open Championship qualifying, claiming to be a professional in order to claim a spot despite having only just picked up a golf club.

He would go on to post the worst-ever score at the Open Championship by a self-professed “professional golfer”, a 49-over 121, and swiftly earned a ban from competing in any tournament hosted in the UK. He would attempt to enter different tournaments under various pseudonyms and disguises to no avail, but his story would capture the nation's attention.

Phantom of the Open follows the story as written by Scott Murray and Simon Farnaby in their 2010 biography of the same name, albeit slightly more dramaticised for the cinema screens.

Seve The Movie (2014)

Credit: Seve: The Movie Official Trailer (2014) - Golfing Docu-Drama Movie HD (Rotten Tomatoes Indie, YouTube)
 
Seve Ballesteros was one of golf’s leading figures from the mid-70s until the early 90s but his legacy has left a ceaseless love amongst fans of the sport who either lived through his era or have studied that period.

His efforts as one of the best players in the world at the time was a driving factor in the re-emergence of European golf, with his accolade sheet at the time of his retirement highlighted by five majors (two Masters and three Open Championships) and five Ryder Cup victories.

Ballesteros’ importance in golf cannot be understated, but knowing the details of his upbringing and extraordinary life adds to his story.

Seve The Movie is a wonderful telling of the Spaniards tale, chronicling his childhood and discovery of the game of golf right up to him becoming the champion he was using previously unseen footage.

Tin Cup (1996)

Credit: Trailer HD | Tin Cup | Warner Archive (Warner Bros. Classics, YouTube)
 
Kevin Costner’s best sports film is without a doubt Field of Dreams, but a lesser-known flick from him saw him swap the baseball bat for a golf club.

Tin Cup sees Costner play a former golf prodigy named Roy ‘Tin Cup’ McAvoy, who finds himself in a competition with a former classmate from college - and not just on the course. He ends up qualifying for the US Open in an attempt to impress his classmates, in the process creating a rivalry that adds to the spectacle of the competition.

While most golf films play on either comedy or drama, Tin Cup blends in elements of romance mixed with general competition to create a unique tale.