On Course: A Detailed Walk Through the Filming Locations of 'Caddyshack'
'Caddyshack', the 1980 comedy directed by Harold Ramis, is widely considered one of the most iconic golf movies ever made. The film, starring Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, and Bill Murray, brought life to a unique narrative, interweaving hilarity, satire, and sport. The picturesque backdrop for the movie? Various golf courses that were brought to life as the fictional Bushwood Country Club. Let's jump right in and discover the original filming locations.
The majority of 'Caddyshack' was filmed at the Rolling Hills Golf Club (now called the Grande Oaks Golf Club) in Davie, Florida. The filmmakers were granted complete access to the course during its off-season, making it the primary filming location. The private golf course offered a lush and vibrant setting that was perfect for capturing the film's satirical take on the sport's pomposity and class structure.
One of the film's most memorable scenes, where Dangerfield's character famously proclaims, "Hey everybody, we're all gonna get laid," was filmed at Rolling Hills' swimming pool area. Additionally, the iconic gopher holes were created on the golf course for the film's humorous subplot involving Carl Spackler's (played by Bill Murray) futile attempts to exterminate a pesky gopher.
However, Rolling Hills is not the only golf course to make an appearance in 'Caddyshack.' The dinner banquet scene where Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield) disrupts a formal gathering was shot at Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Florida. Known for its opulent setting, the filmmakers found this location perfect for capturing the swanky, elite atmosphere of Bushwood Country Club's social scene.
A few scenes were also shot in the founders' home at Plantation Golf Club in Plantation, Florida. The house was used for many interior shots, including the hilarious scene where Carl Spackler fantasizes about winning the Masters Tournament. Bill Murray's "Cinderella story" monologue in this scene has now become an integral part of golf folklore, running in the same vein as his character's comical struggle with the golf course's gopher.
'Deeb's Point', a waterfront property on Key Biscayne, an island located in Miami, Florida, was the location used for yacht club scenes in the movie. Rodney Dangerfield's stunning boat, 'Big Mouth,' was docked here for filming.
The Backstory of the Iconic 'Caddyshack' Golf Course
When it comes to tracing the backstory of iconic movie locations, few places match the intrigue and uniqueness of the infamous golf course where the classic comedy film 'Caddyshack' was filmed. Today, we journey through time to demystify the golf course, which helped make 'Caddyshack' a timeless piece of cinematic history.
'Caddyshack,' a 1980's golf-centric comedy film is widely revered as a cult classic. The movie was directed by Harold Ramis and starred comedy legends such as Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, and Ted Knight. While these actors were integral to the film's success, however, another crucial "character" was the film’s central setting: the iconic golf course.
This golf course, where most of the film's hijinks and hilarity occur, is known in the film as Bushwood Country Club. In real life, however, it's not Bushwood. The majority of 'Caddyshack’s' outdoor scenes were filmed at the Rolling Hills Golf Club located in Davie, Florida.
The golf course was chosen due to its lack of proximity to the usual interruptions that came with shooting in the typically bustling, crowded locales around the Miami area. An added bonus was the landscape itself; the sprawling greenery, tall trees, and wonderful fairways flew in the face of many people’s perception of Florida as only beaches and swamps.
Rolling Hills Golf Club, built in the mid-1960s, provided the perfect setting for the movie’s storyline and character adventures. It was at this course that Carl Spackler, played by Bill Murray, notoriously fought with a troublesome gopher and where Al Czervik, portrayed by Rodney Dangerfield, shook up the establishment with his flamboyant antics. Despite its critical role in the film, however, the course itself remained largely unknown and unacclaimed by the general public for many years post-release.
However, this anonymity wouldn't last forever. With the enduring success and popularity of 'Caddyshack' decades after its release, fans began seeking out the filming locations, bringing Rolling Hills Golf Club back into the limelight. The course, undergoing a renovation and a name change in 2011, currently is known as the Grande Oaks Golf Club.
