Nearly thirty years after Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore first gripped a hockey stick, launched a golf ball into space, and punched Bob Barker in the face, Happy Gilmore 2 has officially landed—exclusively on Netflix as of July 25.
And let’s just say this right off the tee: this sequel isn’t here to reinvent the game. It’s here to relive it—with louder laughs, bigger cameos, and yes, one very, very powerful golf swing.
Pure Sandler Plot Plus Cameo Overload
The plot is simple and Sandler-approved. Happy’s now a retired golf legend, living off his former glory, until a personal mission—raising funds for his daughter Vienna’s ballet school—pulls him back into the world he once dominated with reckless, unfiltered charm. The result is part sports movie, part family flick, and part cameo-fueled fever dream.
If you thought the original leaned into chaos, Happy Gilmore 2 triples down on it. We’re talking Travis Kelce, Bad Bunny, Eminem, and a full leaderboard of golf royalty: Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Will Zalatoris—the list goes on. Golf Digest even ranked 22 pro appearances by tier, with Scheffler and DeChambeau among the unexpected highlights.
Some delivered legitimate laughs, while others delivered presence. Either way, the fan service is off the charts.
Swinging in the Shadows: Hunter Mahan’s Secret Role
But the biggest behind-the-scenes surprise? Hunter Mahan—the six-time PGA Tour winner—served as Adam Sandler’s swing double, executing the shots that give Happy Gilmore his signature swagger.
“When they called and said Happy Gilmore needs a golf swing double, I said say no more,” Mahan posted. The makeup, the wig, the Happy wind-up—it’s all him. And for those paying attention, that’s why Sandler’s swing looks so on point despite the 28-year gap.
NBC Sports confirmed it: Mahan hit the actual shots in many of the key sequences. He even brought his daughter Zoe to the premiere—adding a sweet touch to his surprise comedy cameo.
Critics in the Clubhouse: Divided Reviews
As for the movie itself? Well, it depends on who you ask. Decider wasn’t buying it, calling the film “a cameo-packed attempt at recapturing the charm of the original” that doesn’t bring enough new to the table. Meanwhile, others—Vogue included—embraced the cameos, the references, and Sandler doing exactly what Sandler does best.
