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By Alex Lauzon from the “Course of Life” podcast
With the US Open touching down this week just miles from Hollywood Blvd and the Walk of Fame, you know that the celebs and world-famous lovers of the game of golf will be on full display in Los Angeles. There will be stars there that love the game, they’ll be famous bodies that are likely members at LACC, and I’m sure there will be a batch of influencers and tik tok stars that are just three to be seen. It’s star-spotting heaven for sports and pop culture fans for the third major championship of the 2023 golf calendar.
As for the playing of the game itself, we’re not just talking about celebrities that claim to be “really good at mini golf”. It’s about the full swing and motion and pouring time into learning the mechanics of the golf swing. So, who are the most famous golfers of entertainment and pop culture fame in 2023? Let’s break down the list – it will surprise you who’s spending a lot of time out on the course or working on their games:
DJ Khaled – Handicap: 14.0
The DJ, music mogul, producer, and viral social media personality is relatively new to the game, but his love and appreciation would make you think he’s a lifer on the links. His booming “LET’S GO GOLFING” moniker has him in full-on golf addict mode, and he doesn’t shy away from posting his swing and round highlights. He plays in Miami’s humidity and heat or a tropical storm and already played eighteen with dozens of professionals thanks to his Florida roots. I’m sure a charity event and future pro-am appearances are not too far away for DJ Khaled, who even has his young son swinging a stick in the backyard.
Justin Timberlake – Handicap: 1.0
The boy band frontman turned solo artist and actor is the modern-day pop culture figure for making golf cool. He was my generation’s pop music idol, and naturally, his golf game matches his Hollywood looks and personality. Some people just have everything in life. Timberlake plays the ultra-private Lakeside GC in Los Angeles and is seen at occasional pro-am and celebrity tournaments, most notably every July at Lake Tahoe. JT is an odds-on favorite to be on the grounds at LACC for most of the week, as he is closely connected with several PGA Tour pros and plays with them regularly.
Bill Murray – Handicap: 7.2
He’s the godfather of modern-day golf theater and the annual star of the show at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. To some, his shtick may be playing itself out but once you play a character like Carl Spackler in “Caddyshack” you’re as good as king in the celebrity golf space. He has a hall pass for life and the enthusiastically quirky Murray will be golfing till he can’t stand anymore. At 72 years young, Murray can still move it pretty nicely around the course with a single-digit handicap.
Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner – Handicaps: TBD
It may make some people cringe, but the most viewed golf swings from a female in recent years came from the Kardashian-Jenner duo of sisters on social media earlier this year. When you take into account that the family has over a billion followers across Instagram and TikTok alone, it shouldn’t surprise you that their golf swings made waves in the game. Kim and Kylie have posted in recent months from multiple golf lessons they’ve taken at ranges and on-course, and they visited a golf simulator concept to show off their stuff as well. No word on any 18-hole scores yet but their involvement in golf brings in a whole new audience of young fans.
The Best Stick: Alfonso Ribeiro – Handicap: +1
It’s not unusual to see Carlton from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on a golf course, as he’s arguably the “most famous REALLY GOOD golfer” living the L.A. life these days. Ribeiro has kept surprisingly busy after playing Carlton as host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and now “Dancing with the Stars” full time, so ABC is taking good care of his career. On the course, Alfonso is a laser driver of the ball that is consistently tinkering with his game and practicing around the greens. Having seen him at celebrity pro-ams I can confirm he’s the current MVP if you’re using the Q rating + golf game quotient.
Honorable Mentions
Hollywood: Kevin Costner aka Roy McAvoy, Samuel L. Jackson, Clint Eastwood
Music: Kenny G, Schoolboy Q, Pat Monahan
Athletes: Mardy Fish, Tony Romo, Stephen Curry
Golf FAQs
How do PGA Golf Majors Pools work?
In PGA Golf Majors Pools, member select six golfers to compete on a roster over the course of an event. The member with the best combined score from the six golfers wins.
Can you include all four majors into one pool?
Yes, but your commissioner can also customize these setting with RunYourPool. Pools can include up to all four majors, repicking golfers each time or adding bonus points for finishing positions
How do I assemble a roster?
Golfers are broken up in to six tiers, as members select one golfer per tier to be on their Major roster.
What happens to golfers who miss the cut?
Any PGA Player who does not make the cut will be given the highest score of Round 3 and Round 4, respectively.
What are the four golf majors?
The Masters is the first major of the season, in April. The PGA Championship and the U.S. Open follow, with the British Open ending as the final major.
How do PGA One and Dones work?
Members in a pool select one golfer to win a tournament, but can't pick that golfer again for the rest of the season. The member with the best score at the end of the season wins.
What is a PGA One and Done pool?
A PGA One-and-Done Pool is a contest similar to Survivor Pools, in which members can only select a golfer one time per season for events.
Which tournaments are played for PGA One and Dones?
Pool commissioners can set up the season for as many or as few tournaments as desired. Go crazy and do all of them! Or dial it back for the major events. As commissioner of a RunYourPool contest, you decide which events to play in!
How to run a weekly golf pool?
In order to run a golf pool, you must first crown yourself as Pool Commissioner. Begin by picking a game type like One and Done or Pick-X Pools. You'll want to establish rules before inviting friends, family, and colleagues to join. As commissioner, you make the rules and also need to enforce them equally and fairly.
How do golf Pick-X Pools work?
Members select a certain number of golfers per tournament, set by the pool commissioner. The member earns the total winnings that their selected golfer won for the tournament. Whichever member earns the most winnings over the duration of the season wins.
What is a golf Pick-X Pool?
A Pick-X Golf Pool calculates tournament winnings rather than strokes gained when deciding a winner. This amplifies the big name events that feature a higher prize purse.
How to run a golf pool?
How you decide to run a golf pool varies greatly depending on the game type. In each case, however, you'll want to determine the rules and settings before you begin inviting members to join you. You'll want to clearly establish how score will be kept, how tiebreakers work, and how winners are decided before anything else.
What is a prop bet?
Prop bets are any sort of pick or wager on a game that has nothing to do with the score or the final score outcome. Props can range from game types, to team types and even player types - such as who will score the game's first and last touchdowns? Other props, such as novelty or exotic, feature bets on things such as the coin flip or the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
How do Masters Prop Bets Pools work?
Pool members simply fill out a wide range of prop questions, each question worth a different value. Commissioners decide on the point value for each question, along with the amount of questions. Whichever member earns the most points based on corret answers wins the pool.
When is the Masters?
The Masters is typically in April and the first major of the golf season. The 2023 Masters is set for Thursday, April 6 and will run until Sunday, April 9.
Where is the Masters played?
The Masters is annually held at the Augusta National Golf Club located in Augusta, Georgia, USA.
