Updated on November 8, 2026
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What is the best golf movie? Caddyshack, the 1980 cult comedy, tops the major selections, just ahead of The Greatest Game Ever Played (The Greatest Game Ever Played) and Happy Gilmore, the only two films mentioned on all six lists. Here are our top 15 best golf movies, along with their French titles, ratings, and the champions featured in them.
Header image: movie poster Follow Thru (Paramount, 1930), in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
The 15 Best Golf Movies, Ranked
15 movies shown.
| Rank | Movie | French Title | Year | Genre | Selections | Rotten Tomatoes | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caddyshack | Le Golf en folie | 1980 | Comedy | 5 out of 6 | 72 % | 7.2/10 |
| 2 | The Greatest Game Ever Played | Un parcours de légende | 2005 | Biopic | 6 out of 6 | 62 % | 7.4/10 |
| 3 | Happy Gilmore | Happy Gilmore (Terminagolf) | 1996 | Comedy | 6 out of 6 | 66 % | 7.0/10 |
| 4 | Tin Cup | Tin Cup | 1996 | Romantic comedy | 5 out of 6 | 72 % | 6.4/10 |
| 5 | The Phantom of the Open | L’As du golf | 2021 | Biographical Comedy | 3 out of 6 | 86 % | 7.0/10 |
| 6 | Tommy’s Honour | Tommy’s Honour | 2016 | Biopic | 4 out of 6 | 68 % | 6.4/10 |
| 7 | Seve: The Movie | Seve: The Movie | 2014 | Docudrama | 3 out of 6 | 73 % | 7.2/10 |
| 8 | Swing Away | — | 2016 | Comedy-Drama | 3 out of 6 | 80 % | 5.3/10 |
| 9 | The Short Game | The Short Game | 2013 | Documentary | 2 out of 6 | 84 % | 7.3/10 |
| 10 | Loopers: The Caddie’s Long Walk | — | 2019 | Documentary | 2 out of 6 | 75 % | 7.2/10 |
| 11 | The Caddy | Amour, délices et golf | 1953 | Musical | 2 out of 6 | 83 % | 6.3/10 |
| 12 | Pat and Mike | Mademoiselle Gagne-Tout | 1952 | Romantic comedy | 2 out of 6 | 87 % | 6.9/10 |
| 13 | The Long Game | The Long Game | 2023 | Drama (true story) | 1 out of 6 | 82 % | 6.7/10 |
| 14 | Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius | Bobby Jones, naissance d’une légende | 2004 | Biopic | 2 out of 6 | 28 % | 6.6/10 |
| 15 | The Legend of Bagger Vance | La Légende de Bagger Vance | 2000 | Drama | 4 out of 6 | 43 % | 6.7/10 |
Selections: Number of major lists (out of six) that mention the film. Rotten Tomatoes: Percentage of positive reviews. IMDb: Average audience rating. Ratings as of November 8, 2026. “—”: No known French release or no rating.
How We Ranked the Golf Movies
We came across six well-known selections: Rotten Tomatoes, GolfPass (NBC Sports), MyGolfSpy, GOLF.com, National Club Golfer and Golf Monthly. Each movie receives points based on its position on each list (the higher it ranks, the more points it earns), and the movies are ranked according to their total score. Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb ratings are provided for reference. We do not reproduce these lists here; you can view them on the publishers’ websites. This ranking is updated annually.
The Top 15 in Detail
1. Caddyshack
Harold Ramis’s cult comedy set in an exclusive country club, starring Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, and Bill Murray as a groundskeeper obsessed with a groundhog. Mentioned by five of the six lists, it’s the most beloved golf movie among American golfers.
2. The Greatest Game Ever Played
Directed by Bill Paxton for Disney, this film tells the story of 20-year-old amateur Francis Ouimet’s victory over Harry Vardon and Ted Ray at the 1913 U.S. Open. It is the only film mentioned in all six lists. Also available as a book: see our list of the best golf books.
3. Happy Gilmore
Adam Sandler as a failed hockey player who turns his slap shot into 400-yard drives. Cited by all six lists, with a cameo by Lee Trevino. A sequel, Happy Gilmore 2, was released on Netflix in 2025, featuring dozens of champions in cameo appearances.
4. Tin Cup
Kevin Costner stars as a Texas golf pro who qualifies for the U.S. Open, alongside Rene Russo and Don Johnson. The ending, in which he refuses to play it safe, has become famous. Cameo appearances by Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples.
5. The Phantom of the Open
Mark Rylance plays Maurice Flitcroft, an English crane operator who entered the 1976 British Open qualifiers and posted one of the worst scores in history. The highest-rated film among critics (86% on Rotten Tomatoes).
6. Tommy's Honour
The story of Old Tom Morris and his son Young Tom Morris in St. Andrews in the 1860s and 1870s, directed by Jason Connery and based on the book by Kevin Cook.
7. Seve: The Movie
Combining reenacted scenes and archival footage, the film chronicles the childhood of Seve Ballesteros in Pedreña and his rise to the top of the world of golf.
8. Swing Away
An LPGA Tour player suffering from the yips seeks refuge in her grandmother's Greek village, where she rediscovers her love of the game. A little-known film that's a favorite of specialist lists.
9. The Short Game
A Netflix documentary that follows 7- and 8-year-old child prodigies at the U.S. Kids World Championship in Pinehurst, featuring interviews with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
10. Loopers: The Caddie’s Long Walk
A documentary about the bond between a golfer and his caddie, narrated by Bill Murray—himself a former caddie—and featuring Ben Crenshaw.
11. The Caddy
The musical starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, known for popularizing the song “That’s Amore,” featuring cameo appearances by Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, and Byron Nelson.
12. Pat and Mike
Katharine Hepburn as an accomplished athlete opposite Spencer Tracy, directed by George Cukor. The pioneers of women's golf, including Babe Didrikson Zaharias, play themselves in the film.
13. The Long Game
The true story of young Mexican-American caddies from Del Rio, Texas, who formed a high school golf team in the 1950s, starring Dennis Quaid. No. 1 on GolfPass’s list.
14. Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius
Jim Caviezel plays Bobby Jones, the amateur who won the Grand Slam in 1930 and then retired at age 28. A classic biopic, panned by critics but loved by golfers.
15. The Legend of Bagger Vance
Robert Redford directs Matt Damon, Will Smith, and Charlize Theron: a mysterious caddie guides a war-scarred golfer in a match against Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. Cited by four lists, but often at the bottom of the list.
What about the series?
As for TV shows, Full Swing (Netflix, since 2023), from the producers of Drive to Survive, follows PGA Tour players behind the scenes at tournaments, including Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. The first season was very well received by critics.
Fred's Take on Golf Movies
For a family night out, The Greatest Game Ever Played is unbeatable: you learn about the history of golf without even realizing it. For a laugh, Happy Gilmore remains my favorite, and The Phantom of the Open has been a pleasant surprise in recent years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Movies
What is the best golf movie?
Caddyshack (1980) tops our synthesis of six major lists, ahead of The Greatest Game Ever Played and Happy Gilmore.
What is the best golf movie based on a true story?
The Greatest Game Ever Played, about Francis Ouimet’s victory at the 1913 U.S. Open, and The Phantom of the Open, about Maurice Flitcroft.
Which champions appear in golf movies?
Lee Trevino in Happy Gilmore, Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples in Tin Cup, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, and Byron Nelson in The Caddy, and dozens of current players in Happy Gilmore 2.
What golf series should I watch?
"Full Swing," available on Netflix since 2023, follows PGA Tour players behind the scenes at tournaments.