Tonight Show host, Jimmy Fallon, had both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy on his show to help kickstart the campaign promotion for the new Nike Vapor Irons. Fallon has had Tiger on his show on multiple occasions usually to promote some golf-related product. He has also had various guests on his show to compete in some sort of crazy golf-related challenge.. When not running around 30 Rock, Fallon can be seen taking swings at the brand new golf simulation club, Golf & Body NYC. Fallon was also the very first person to grace the cover of brand new relaunch of Golf Digest. It seems to all of us that he’s molding into one of his predecessors, shades of Carson am I right?
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I’ve been privileged enough to work several celebrity outings. From professional athletes to politicians, I’ve seen them all. But nothing is more enjoyable than working a round with a comedian. Big time or up and coming, if you’re given an opportunity to participate in a round with a comedian, you will never be disappointed. You might post your worst score or maybe even hit a hole in one, but I tell you, those would be just footnotes in a story about the time you played with a comedian.
Here are my Top 5 favorite Comedic Golfers of all time:
5. George Lopez, 10.8 Handicap
I’ve seen him play a few times at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT at the Pro/Am tournament during the week of the Travelers Championship. A very entertaining person to watch who loves to interact with the crowd.
4. Ron White
“My wife and I have a tour bus on which we have 3 dogs, 2 of which are Scottish terriers, because if you drink enough Johnnie Walker products, eventually they just send you the dogs. Our Scottish terriers’ names are Birdie and Bogey, and someone said, “That’s cute. You named your dogs after your golf game.” I said, “If I named my dogs after my golf game, they’d be named Double Bogey and Where The Hell Is That Ball Going.” Which is kind of a long name for a pet.”
I’ve never caddied for nor seen Ron White play live, but the stories I have heard about this man on a golf course are quite legendary.
3. Will Ferrell, 36 Handicap
That video pretty sums up Will Ferrell and golf, never a dull moment. Even if it’s in a simulator.
2. Ray Romano, 11.6 Handicap
Whenever I walk off the golf course, I thank God that I’m able to tell a joke. I thank God I’m good at something.
Out of all the comedians on this list, I don’t think there is anyone as serious as Ray is when it comes to golf. Sure he knows how to have a good time out there, but he has such a strong passion towards the game. I wish I could find the clip on youtube somewhere, but there’s a scene from Everybody Loves Raymond, where Ray and his wife Debra are sitting in a marriage counselor’s office. Debra starts to tell a story about a fight involving golf when the counselor turns to Ray to ask if he remembers that conflict. He goes, “Of course I did, I shot an 84.” I can’t say I am a big Everybody Loves Raymond fan, but I tend to enjoy the episodes that involve Ray and golf. What you see on TV is truly how passionate he is towards the game. If you get a chance, look up Making the Cut, a ESPN video on Ray Romano and Kevin James at legendary Pebble Beach Pro/Am. It’s a great example of how serious and passionate Ray takes the game.
1. The Jester of the Course: Bill Murray, 7.2 Handicap
Do I really have to explain why Bill is number one?
Honorable Mention:
Last week the world lost one of the greatest comedians of all time. Robin Williams was a comedic genius. He could turn trash into comedic gold at the drop of a hat. It was known that Robin wasn’t a golfer, but his take on the sport was legendary. If you have a moment, check out this video from his stand-up show on Broadway in 2002 on the invention of golf:
Rest in Peace Robin.
