20 Famous Faces Totally Hooked On Golf
The biggest difference between acting and golf is that you can’t fake being a golfer. Sure, you can look the part, but playing the game is a whole other story. Luckily for actors, they don’t play golf for a living, but they can certainly enjoy it.
With Hollywood located in the middle of some of the best courses in the country, it’s no coincidence that numerous famous personas of Tinsel Town find themselves taking up the game there and falling in love with it, just like all of us have at our own respective courses.
Here’s a list of 20 Hollywood golf addicts.
Samuel L. Jackson
Legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson took up golf when a group of his friends tricked him into going to a driving range. He loves playing golf with Don Cheadle and George Lopez since as he says it’s always a good time. With a handicap of 6.9, Samuel L. once shot a 78 while playing with Tiger. Where did they play? None other than St. Andrews. Oh, he also once made an eagle on Augusta National’s Par-5 15th.
George Lopez
Pictured above with Sam Jackson, funny-man George Lopez has a handicap of 10.8. He hosted the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Charity Golf Tournament until 2009. When he was a kid, he would hit lemons in his backyard for practice.
Bill Murray
Bill Murray is one of the most notable celebrity golfers. He wrote a book about how golf impacted his life titled Cinderella Story: My Life in Golf and is a staple at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. His handicap is holding strong at around a seven.
Matthew McConaughey
McConaughey played on his golf team in high school. Luck has been on his side, though, as he claims he has four aces in his lifetime. The Academy Award winner has an 8.6 handicap.
Will Smith
Will Smith is a member of Sherwood Country Club in California and enjoys playing with his wife. He holds a 15-stroke handicap. He once ran into Rory McIlroy on the links, who posted a picture of the two and complemented the actor’s swing.
Adam Sandler
Don’t be fooled by his early performance in Happy Gilmore. Sandler has a handicap of 16 strokes and is a member at L.A.’s Hillcrest Country Club. It is reported that he does not use the iconic run-up swing technique.
Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood, at 93 years young, still maintains a respectable 14.4 handicap. He also owns his own course: Tehama Golf Club in California. In 2015, he donned the caddie bib and carried a bag for a full round at Pebble Beach during a celebrity tournament.
Mark Wahlberg
With an 8.7 handicap, Marky Mark says his favorite part of golf his hitting balls with his kids. This is quite easy for him, as he has constructed a practice golf area and driving range in his backyard. He cites golf as his ideal form of exercise.
Dennis Quaid
Quaid, at 69 years old, picked up golf late in life. However, he was at a 1-stroke handicap at one point when he was playing every day. He is a member of Bel-Air Country Club.
Justin Timberlake
JT holds an impressive 4.8 handicap. He also used to have a tournament named after him on the PGA Tour, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The event took place in Las Vegas. He is also a member of Liberty National Country Club in New Jersey.
Carson Daly
Despite his busy schedule hosting The Voice, Carson Daly always makes time for his beloved golf game. He plays sun-up to sundown whenever he can, relishing the serenity of the course and camaraderie of his playing partners. Though his swing may be unconventional, his passion for the sport is unmistakable.
Larry David
The golf course is Larry David’s escape from the anxieties of everyday life. He loves teeing up on the first hole, clearing his mind, and getting lost in the vast expanse of green as he lines up his shot. Though his unorthodox swing frequently leads to landed balls and colorful outbursts, to Larry, a bad day golfing still beats a good day doing anything else.
Cameron Diaz
Rising to fame in the 1990s with hit comedies like “The Mask” and “There’s Something About Mary,” Cameron Diaz took up golf while filming the latter in 1998. Though busy with her acting career, Diaz continues to play when possible, keeping her reported handicap in the thirties. Her passion persists even if getting to the range between takes proves difficult.
Hugh Grant
Known for witty and charming performances in romantic comedies like “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Notting Hill,” acclaimed British actor Hugh Grant also boasts an impressive golf swing. With his textbook finish position belying a player of some skill, the Golden Globe nominee from London is as adept on the links as he is on the big screen.
Josh Duhamel
Rising to fame playing Danny McCoy on “Las Vegas” and Captain William Lennox in the “Transformers” films, North Dakota native Josh Duhamel has loved golf since childhood. A popular celebrity who approaches the game with intensity, Duhamel is a common face at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, striking the ball with conviction when he competes.
Don Cheadle
Acclaimed actor and filmmaker Don Cheadle is a passionate, talented golfer with a handicap once in the single digits. Known for acclaimed performances in films like “Hotel Rwanda” and his activism, the Academy Award nominee regularly plays in charity pro-ams and tournaments across America, blending his philanthropic spirit with his love of golf.
Kathryn Newton
Fresh off her Marvel debut in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” accomplished actress and golfer Kathryn Newton has a backup plan if the whole acting thing doesn’t work – tear up the links. A three-time high school championship winner, Newton turned down golf for USC to build her acting résumé. With a break in filming, she returns to her passion, set to compete in pro-ams at the Omega Masters, BMW Wentworth, the Ryder Cup, and Alfred Dunhill Links.
Jack Nicholson
Known for intense, angry characters in films like “The Shining,” you might expect Jack Nicholson to lose his temper on the golf course. But the dedicated actor apparently brings a serious, hardworking approach to his golf game instead. While the Hollywood legend may still get frustrated missing short putts, he seems more devoted than rage-filled out on the links.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Oscar-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, renowned for musical “Chicago,” shares a love of golf with husband Michael Douglas. The Hollywood power couple likely enjoys lavish golf trips, but Swansea native Zeta-Jones is just as captivated at historic St. Andrews for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Between films, this international star stays connected to golf at celebrated courses.
Jason Bateman
Jason Bateman transitioned from wholesome child actor in “Little House on the Prairie” to starring in intense crime drama “Ozark,” where golf provides necessary escape. The tension of filming makes tee times a welcome relief for Bateman, who harbors a profound passion for the sport. After over 40 years in television and film, this Hollywood veteran remains enthralled with golf.
