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What happens when you get four real golfers in a room to break down Hollywood’s most famous golf swing? You get one of the liveliest, most opinionated episodes of Too Old or Movie Gold yet.

Host Olen Vanderleeden of the Comox Valley was joined by fellow Gen Xer David Purcell, filling in while regular co-host Matthew Stockton was away at "sports conversion camp," to tackle the 1996 golf rom-com Tin Cup, starring Kevin Costner, Rene Russo and Don Johnson. Representing the Millennial panel: comedian Will Corry and self-described driving-range devotee Anthony.

The trivia digs deep. Kevin Costner trained as a real golfer for the role, and his now-iconic three-quarter swing only happened because coaches couldn’t get his full swing to look right on camera. The film’s unforgettable water-hazard finale echoes a real moment from a 1987 tournament, and the whole concept traces back to golfer Chip Beck’s infamous lay-up at the 1993 Masters. The course itself didn’t even have a water hazard before filming - the crew built one, and it’s still there today.

By the numbers, Tin Cup landed as the 29th highest-grossing movie of 1996 and actually out-earned Happy Gilmore that same year, while pulling a 74% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes against a 65% audience score. Not bad for a film the panel says basically broke even once promotion costs are factored in - so does it still hold up almost 30 years later? Four real golfers weigh in.

“Caddyshack will never be dethroned as a golf movie. Happy Gilmore’s number two now, but this one’s still in our top three.”  - David Purcell

“I watch this movie every five years or so. It’s super fun.”  - Olen Vanderleeden

Too Old or Movie Gold is a Vancouver Island movie podcast hosted by Olen Vanderleeden, where classic films meet modern audiences through conversations about timeless movies, memorable performances and the stories behind some of cinema’s greatest productions. Too Old or Movie Gold is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

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