Nothing beats a good movie! Sitting back and enjoying a great film after work is great, especially when the film strategically incorporates some fun scenes of our beloved sport of golf. The classics we shed light on below are legendary for their drama, humor, and memorable performances, from comedians cracking ribs on the course to secret operatives like James Bond sneaking their precocious wits into golf. Join us as we present some of the most iconic golf scenes in movies.
Top 10 Movie Scenes for Golf Lovers
Goldfinger – 1964
One of the best movie golf scenes is from the 1964 film “Goldfinger,” directed by Guy Hamilton. The James Bond film stars Sean Connery, alongside supervillain Auric Goldfinger and his cunning caddie Odd Job. Goldfinger employs cheating antics, such as when Odd Job tries to drop the ball in a more favorable position for his master, but Bond’s cleverness and a bit of trickery help him win the match. In the end, a beaten Goldfinger has to settle a $5,000 wager to 007, while an angry Odd Job crushes a golf ball into dust!
Lost in Translation – 2003
Golf is a game of peace and tranquillity, as beautifully depicted by a scene in Sofia Coppola’s 2003 film “Lost in Translation.” The scene features Bill Murray at the Kawaguchiko Country Club course in Japan, where he walks up to a tee, takes a practice swing and then smokes a drive down the middle. The beautiful scene features no dialogue or music and captures Mt. Fuji in the background, with Murray’s character filmed in silhouette. It’s a perfect snapshot of how peaceful golf can be in our chaotic world.
Pat and Mike – 1952
In this classic film directed by George Cukor and written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin, famed actress Katharine Hepburn takes on the role of Pat Pemberton, a talented golfer set to win the ladies’ golf championship. All is well until her fiancé shows up, seeking to convince her to ditch sports and fly into the sunset together. Film at Occidental College and the Riviera Country Club, “Pat and Mike” brilliantly showcases Hepburn’s real-life athletic abilities as a golfer and tennis player. The cameo appearances by Babe Zaharias, Helen Dettweiler, and Betty Hicks also add to the film’s appeal.
Enter the Dragon – 1973
Kung Fu movies have long been favorites among action lovers, and the epic 1973 Bruce Lee film Enter the Dragon takes the kick a bit further by accommodating golf fans. Directed by Robert Clouse, the movie includes co-star John Saxon playing Roper, who is attacked on a golf course at some point and beats up several thugs with “spinning slap type kicks and high scissor-type kicks.” After the movie’s global success, Saxon even claimed that he underperformed during filming, having torn his hamstring during rehearsals.
Johnny English Reborn – 2011
We all love rib-cracking comedy, and no one quite takes it to an otherworldly level like Rowan Atkinson. In the 2011 spy-thriller spoof Johnny English Reborn, directed by Oliver Parker, Atkinson approaches the first tee at Brocket Hall like a bona fide pro, even declining a glove offered to him by his caddy and insisting he “knows how to hold the bat.” His hilarious swing leaves the driver flying in the air and eventually landing in the caddy’s hands, but luck smiles at him when the ball ends squarely in the middle of the fairway.