Happy Gilmore 2 — A PGA Pro’s Take on the Return of the Swing-Slapping Legend

30 years after Adam Sandler’s original slapshot swing brought chaos to the civilized fairways of professional golf, Happy Gilmore 2 storms onto the screen with a vengeance—and a 450-yard drive that still somehow ends up on the green.

As a PGA Professional, I went into this sequel with a healthy mix of skepticism and nostalgia. I mean, let’s be honest—Happy Gilmore was never a masterclass in golf fundamentals. But Happy Gilmore 2? It might be the most accurate representation of what happens when you mix raw athleticism, senior tour politics, viral social media, and a 50-year-old man still trying to hit a ball harder than Bryson DeChambeau with a grudge.

Plot Rundown (with minimal spoilers):

Happy is back—older, somehow still angry, and now mentoring a new crop of misfits while trying to reclaim his Tour card after a decades-long “incident” involving a putter, a gopher, and a country club board meeting gone wrong.

Shooter McGavin returns (yes, still smug), but this time as a golf analyst with a podcast and questionable hair plugs. Chubbs’ legacy lives on through a mysterious training facility named “The One-Hand Academy.” And yes—there’s a cameo from Bob Barker that you have to see to believe (they used AI and it’s weirdly good).

From a PGA Pro’s Lens:

Swing Analysis:Happy’s swing still violates every rule in the book. His warm-up sequence includes a hockey stick, a jump rope, and yelling at his driver. And yet... he still pipes it 350+ down the middle. If you’re a beginner watching this, please don’t try this at home—or on my lesson tee.

Etiquette & Rules:Let’s just say the Rules of Golf were “flexible” in this movie. I counted no fewer than five infractions in one round, including Happy yelling “get in the hole” before impact. As a PGA Pro, I don’t endorse it... but I laughed harder than I care to admit.

Course Management:Nonexistent. Every shot is a hero shot. Layups are for cowards, apparently. But again, it’s Happy Gilmore—this isn’t a USGA instructional video.

The Takeaway:

At its core, Happy Gilmore 2 is a ridiculous, nostalgic joyride that doesn’t pretend to be anything else. It’s less about the purity of the game and more about the joy of it—the reason we all picked up a club in the first place. And honestly, in a sport that can sometimes take itself too seriously, it’s refreshing to see someone literally punch their way through adversity.

As a PGA Coach, I’ll still teach fundamentals. But if this movie gets a few more people out on the range, laughing, swinging, and feeling the game again? Then Happy’s done his job.

Final Score (PGA Scale):

• Golf Authenticity: 4/10

• Entertainment Value: 11/10

• Swing Mechanics: Technically illegal, emotionally perfect

• Likelihood of Inspiring a New Generation of Golfers: High (and probably shirtless)

Want to actually fix your swing (without breaking a driver or taunting gators)?

Book a lesson

I'll help you find your inner Happy, minus the chaos.