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Where is Caddyshack Filmed? Uncovering the Iconic Golf Comedy’s Locations

by Alexander March 14, 2024, 6:27 pm 1.8k Views

“Caddyshack,” the quintessential sports comedy of the 1980s, left an indelible mark on the hearts of movie-goers with its quirky characters and quotable one-liners. Beyond the memorable dialogue and slapstick humor, the film’s setting plays a notable role in giving “Caddyshack” its unique flavor.

Prized for its sunny landscapes and manicured greens, the backdrop for the eccentric escapades of the Bushwood Country Club members holds a certain allure.

Filming of “Caddyshack” mainly took place at what was once known as the Rolling Hills Golf Club in Davie, Florida. This locale offered lush, expansive views that added a layer of authenticity to the golf-centric storyline.

It’s in these well-curated grounds that viewers witness the storyline’s wacky shenanigans unfold, contributing to the movie’s standing as a comedy classic with a dedicated cult following.

Do you want to know more about where is Caddyshack filmed? Let’s check out the main filming location and the supporting locations.

Key Takeaways

“Caddyshack” is a classic comedy with a beloved golf setting
Filming primarily occurred at the Rolling Hills Golf Club in Davie, Florida
The film has a strong cult following due to its iconic scenes and characters

Origins and Development

Exploring the origins of Caddyshack , it’s clear that the film’s development is steeped in the personal experiences of its creators. They turned relatable experiences and a love for sports movies into a comedic classic.

Concept Creation

The kernel of Caddyshack began with a simple real-life connection. Douglas Kenney , one of the film’s writers, drew inspiration from his younger days working as a caddy at a country club in Ohio.

Joining him in the concept creation was Harold Ramis and Brian Doyle-Murray , who infused their own touches to the screenplay, merging the comedy with the niche of sports movies.

Screenwriting Team

Kenney, along with Ramis and Doyle-Murray , formed the screenplay’s backbone. Ramis, who directed the movie and was a seasoned comedian from Second City and SCTV , brought a unique flavor to sports movies, making Caddyshack stand out.

As with many passion projects, they each poured their own experiences and love for golf into the script, ensuring the authenticity and humor were in every swing and putt.

Key Filming Locations

The legendary comedy Caddyshack , beloved by fans for its humor and memorable scenes, made a lasting mark with its choice of filming locations in Florida. The film, which follows the escapades at a golf club, found its primary settings in the sun-soaked landscapes of Florida, offering an authentic backdrop for the golf-course hijinks. Let’s see where is Caddyshack filmed.

Main Golf Course

Grande Oaks Golf Club Originally named Rolling Hills Golf Club during the time of filming, this location served as the fictional ‘Bushwood Country Club.’

Situated at 3201 West Rolling Hills Circle, Davie, near Fort Lauderdale, the Grande Oaks Golf Club offered lush greenery and expansive landscapes essential to the movie’s backdrop.

Its notable fairways and greens are where much of the on-course action unfolded, cementing its place in film history.

Supporting Venues

Boca Raton & Surrounding Areas Additional scenes were set against the luxurious backdrop of Boca Raton , Florida, known for its stunning beaches and lavish lifestyle that definitely added a touch of class to the film’s setting.

Several other locales around Boca Raton also featured in the film, including the renowned Boca Raton Hotel and Club , bringing diversity to the film’s locations.

Miami’s Rusty Pelican Restaurant & Yacht Club They provided maritime scenes that juxtaposed the landlocked golf course setting.

The energy of the Miami region complemented the film’s dynamic, while Davie’s United Methodist Church , Coral Ridge Country Club , and Plantation Preserve Golf Course also served as integral settings that helped to stitch together the storyline’s setting seamlessly.

Iconic Scenes and Moments

Caddyshack, renowned for its blend of slapstick comedy and memorable character encounters, boasts scenes that have etched their place in film history. Its filming locations provided the perfect backdrop for moments filled not only with humor but also with unique character dynamics.

One of the most memorable and chuckle-inducing segments is the pool scene, in which the highbrow atmosphere of the Bushwood Country Club is disrupted by a floating candy bar mischievously thought to be something far less sanitary.

Panic and chaos ensue in a sequence that showcases the film’s comedic heart, with the country club’s pristine pool becoming the unlikely stage for a good-natured prank.

Characters involved:

Judge Smails (Ted Knight)
Danny Noonan (Michael O’Keefe)

Yacht Club Scenes

Rodney Dangerfield’s Al Czervik brings his larger-than-life personality to the yacht club scenes, creating a stark contrast with the more conservative club members.

His brash manner and flashy boat, aptly named ‘Seafood’, disrupt the traditional sailing regatta, much to the chagrin of Judge Smails.

Tensions rise, culminating in comedic clashes that test the patience of the staid club members and endear Czervik to the audience.

Key interactions:

Al Czervik vs. Judge Smails

Gopher Chase

But perhaps the film’s most enduring legacy is the ongoing battle of wits between the hapless greenskeeper, Carl Spackler (Bill Murray), and a pesky gopher.

Ingeniously improvised by Murray, Carl’s absurd and futile attempts to catch the crafty rodent using extreme measures ripple throughout the movie, providing a comedic subplot that balances out the human drama.

The clever gopher, animated to mischievous perfection, becomes a symbolic antagonist and a cult figure in its own right.

Main showdown:

Carl Spackler vs. The Gopher

Cast and Characters

Let’s talk about the talented folks who brought “Caddyshack” to life. This film didn’t just score a hole-in-one with its humor; the cast of characters really drove it down the fairway. You’ll get to know who the lead characters were and which actors stepped in to support the comedy that’s still got us chuckling today.

Chevy Chase played the smooth-talking golfer Ty Webb. He’s the kind of guy who can make the audience smirk and think, “I wish I had that charm”
Rodney Dangerfield brought his A-game as Al Czervik, the loudmouth tycoon. His one-liners? They’re like a perfect putt: spot on
Ted Knight was the uptight Judge Elihu Smails. It’s amazing how he made being grumpy look so funny
Michael O’Keefe took on the role of Danny Noonan, the eager caddie chasing that elusive scholarship and finding himself amidst all the chaos

Supporting Cast

As for those who filled out the ensemble with their own strokes of comedy genius, we’ve got:
Bill Murray as Carl Spackler, the greenkeeper with a vendetta against a certain dancing gopher. He turned what could’ve been a background role into comedic gold, improvising his way into film history

Cultural Impact

“Caddyshack” is more than just a film; it’s a phenomenon that reshaped golf’s image and left an indelible mark on cinematic comedy.

Cult Status

“Caddyshack” has ascended to cult classic status, resonating with audiences well beyond its 1980 release.

Fans often don costumes of their favorite characters and recite lines verbatim, reflecting the movie’s deep penetration into pop culture. Its quirky blend of humor has fostered a dedicated fan base, making it a staple of the comedy genre.

Influence on Golf and Cinematography

The film’s setting in South Florida , at what was then Rolling Hills Country Club (now Grande Oaks), played backdrop to a comedy that altered golf ‘s traditionally serious reputation.

It infused the sport with a spirit of fun, challenging the norm of golf as an exclusive game for the elite.

On a broader cinematic level, “Caddyshack” championed a blend of satire and slapstick, influencing the comedic direction of future films.

Written by Alexander

Career Lessons You Missed From Caddyshack

Ty Webb : Remember Danny – Two wrongs don’t make a right, but three rights make a left.

Anyone who knows me knows that Caddyshack is by far my most favorite movie of all time (yes, even above Star Wars). I have a signed movie poster in my basement, Rodney Dangerfield’s autographed red tie, and Judge Smails’ hat.

But along the way of watching the movie, let’s say, 600+ times, I noticed there were underlying career lessons that you might have missed if you were laughing non-stop at Al Czervik’s one-liners. So without further ado, the career lessons I learned from Caddyshack…

HAVE A GOAL

It’s not like Danny Noonan’s family was poor, but when your father yells at you for having lunch and 4 or 5 cokes (“What are you, a diabetic?”) instead of putting that money in the “College Fund” jar, then yeah, you need to do something .

So Danny made a goal, and that goal was to go to college. He was going to get there by any means necessary. Whether it be to work for the tuition at the golf course, win the Caddy Tournament for a scholarship, beg Ty Webb for it, or engage in a little illegal gambling, gosh darn it, it was going to happen.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO SUCK UP A LITTLE BIT

“Brown noser!” his friends yell, but he doesn’t care. He wants to engage in conversations with the power brokers of the club. He knows they’re living the lives he wants to live, and getting in with them is a good idea.

And so even though he strikes out by saying he is interested in noise statute law when Al Czervik is blasting Journey on the course, or when he insists on joining the Lutheran Youth organization to the Bishop, Danny is insistent on making his goal a reality…regardless of what his friends say.

So don’t be afraid to rub elbows with the power brokers, even if you do strike out initially.

ALWAYS BE NETWORKING

Danny just doesn’t stop at Judge Smails and the Bishop, he tells his story to everyone he can, albeit sometimes the wrong way. He tells Ty Webb who replies with, “Why do you need to go to college? This isn’t Russia, is this Russia?”

Ty sees that Danny is persistent and then gives him some advice: “Don’t be obsessed with your desires Danny. The Zen philosopher, Basho, once wrote, ‘A flute with no holes, is not a flute. A donut with no hole, is a Danish.’ He was a funny guy. “

Basically, what happened is that Ty saw right through Danny, and knew that he was desperate. Networking is about creating relationships. Simply telling people you need business or you will be a failure will indeed make you fail. Desperation is never an attractive approach.

But Danny does get it that networking will get you much farther that simply sitting back and doing nothing, so he gets credit for having the right idea.

SOMETIMES SMALLER ROLES HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT

The role of Carl Spackler, the club’s junior groundskeeper who’s a complete and total slob and haphazardly stumbles his way through the film trying to kill off a gopher, being told that the pond out back is probably good enough for him, and fantasizing about some of the elder female members of the club was supposed to be a really small role.

Really small.

Bill Murray, having worked on Saturday Night Live and the movie Meatballs, still took the bit part.

And he killed it. So much so that they kept calling him back to film more scenes and making the part a little bit larger.

But he was still all wrapped up in six days.

And in those six days, Bill Murray took off on the trajectory that led him to Ghostbusters, Scrooged, Groundhog Day and everything else for which we know and love him.

It’s hard to argue with those results.

DRESS THE PART

Again, his peer group destroys him as Spaulding sees him and comments “Ahoy, Polloi, where’d you just come from? A Scotch ad?” and takes great pleasure in pointing out that Danny isn’t a club member, but just a caddy who works there.

Danny could care less – he wants to impress the Smails’ and does so with flying colors.

The lesson here: Always dress the part. You would never want to wear something that would throw off a potential client or business partner.

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU PUT YOUR FAITH IN

Or so he thinks at first.

As the movie unfolds, Danny starts to clue in to what everyone besides him knows from the outset – Smails isn’t looking out for Danny. Smails is never going to help Danny. Smails is stringing Danny along with little tidbits of backhanded praise, or getting him to mow his yard for free with a promise of coming to the yacht club…which is really all about Smails having one more person to flaunt his wealth in front of more than anything else, or any of a number of times when Danny should have clued in but hasn’t…

…until he finally does.

It’s really simple, folks – not everyone has your best interests at heart, and you have to keep your eyes open at all times, and see people for who they are…and their intentions.

WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS, ANSWER THE DOOR

Czervik is golfing horribly so he fakes an injury, and Ty Webb asks Danny to golf with them. Danny stops and thinks for a moment, and Czervik adds, “We’ll make it worth your while!”

So now Danny is in the middle of a conundrum: Lose what he worked so hard with in regards to building a relationship with Judge Smails, or go for a better alternative route that will attain his goal quicker and easier.

Opportunity is knocking.

Danny chooses to golf with Ty and wins the round, thus achieving his goal and making enough money to pay for college. It’s not the way he thought it would happen, and he ticked off the person he’d been building a relationship with, but it got him to his goal and that’s what really mattered.

Opportunity knocked, and he answered the door. He took a calculated risk, and it paid off for him big time.

That’s all for this time. Go check out our other “Career Lessons You Probably Missed” from The Breakfast Club and Scarface , or something else …

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