Essential Golf: A passion for the Game

Golf Movie ‘Birdies’ is “The Funniest Since ‘Anchorman'”

Golf comedy Birdies, the tale about a washed-up golf phenom, Jake Baxter, who gets hired as the new pro at a deteriorating golf club, Twin Pines, is now available on Amazon Prime Video in the US and UK.

When Jake Baxter breaks the news of his new position to his golf-loathing girlfriend, she kicks him out and he enters a raucous world where catching a buzz is par for the course, and is vastly unprepared to take on his former rival in the annual tournament.

Directed by Troy Carlton (Bosch, Texas Metal) and starring Ryan O’Flanagan (Ryan Does Places), Nate Panning (Half Empty, Pieces of Talent), and Zach Hanner, Birdies has been described by critics as “The ideal formula of indie filmmaking: good script, talented folks, and tons of determination” at YM Cinema, and “The funniest movie I’ve seen since Anchorman” at Ed Movie Guide.

T-Man’s review of Birdies said “Ryan O’Flanagan turns in a hilarious performance, with easily some of the best line deliveries of his career!”, while Pod Askew Podcast said “I dug this! I actually really enjoyed it – more than I was prepared to.”

See also: The Real Life Golf Story Behind The Phantom of the Open

X-Geeks Film Review commented: “Packed full of great comedy… Birdies is a hole-in-one!” and Ashley Manning Film Review said: “Birdies is an infectious feel-good golf movie that lands comfortably on the green.”

The movie premiered in January after a long production story, and is now available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime.

Jamie Lane, one of the production team, says of the movie: “I came in [to the project] about three years ago, but the rest of the Tight Lies team has been working on this for about 12. It all started with a bunch of ‘golf jokes’ skits. That got them popular online and with the golf courses they went to, and then inspired one of our producers to write a full script. This is his baby that we all fell into.”

Troy Carlton, the director, writer and editor of the film, loosely based Birdies on the life of Arthur “Arty” Scott, a golf pro and party animal. Carlton distributed different elements of his inspiration’s life into the central characters, resulting in a unique golf comedy, a slobs-versus-snobs story of a rivalry between two golf course owners, the run-down Twin Pines and the pretentious Magnolia Pointe. With their annual tournament approaching, the Twin Pines owner must find a way to win after betting his golf course on the outcome. Washed-up golf pro Jake Baxter might be the key to victory.

On the Birdies website you’ll find news and reviews, merchandise, bonus content and news of a Birdies Tournament Roadshow Tour in August. The first event is at Pennrose Park Country Club, Reidsville, NC on 12th-13r August. Winners take home $600, 2nd place – $300. Entry is $75 per player, $300 per team. Entry buys tourney fees, greens fees, lunch, hole-in-one and putting contests, and a free ticket to the Birdies screening, where there will be food trucks, games, and music before the screening.

www.birdiesthemovie.com

See also: USGA Museum Highlights Diversity at US Open

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