Happy Gilmore has made his return — and this time, it’s in New Jersey!
Happy Gilmore 2, which was released on Netflix on July 25, shows the return of Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) as he eases his way out of golfing retirement. Gilmore has to navigate the world of professional golf tournaments nearly 30 years after famously winning his first Tour Championship.
In addition to Sandler, the film also stars returning cast members Julie Bowen as Gilmore’s wife, Virginia Venit, and Christopher McDonald as Gilmore’s longtime nemesis, Shooter McGavin. The sequel also features Ben Stiller, Bad Bunny, Travis Kelce, Conor Sherry, Ethan Cutkosky, Philip Fine Schneider, Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Blake Clark, among several other real-life golfers and celebrity cameos.
While the original Happy Gilmore was primarily filmed in Vancouver, Sandler and the Happy Gilmore 2 team opted for a different approach and shot the movie in New Jersey in the fall of 2024. The film includes scenes from several golf courses, local spots and favorite beaches.
So, where was Happy Gilmore 2 filmed? Here’s everything to know about the real-life locations the film’s sequel was shot at.
Where was Happy Gilmore 2 filmed?
Scott Yamano/Netflix
Christopher McDonald and Adam Sandler acting in “Happy Gilmore 2.”
Happy Gilmore 2 was filmed across the state of New Jersey. Scenes were shot in a total of nine counties: Bergen County, Essex County, Hudson County, Hunterdon County, Monmouth County, Morris County, Passaic County, Somerset County and Warren County.
The movie’s director, Kyle Newacheck, spoke to NJ Advance Media about what it was like pinpointing specific sites during the summer, a few weeks before the cameras started rolling.
“I really liked some old buildings we shot in. My only complaint is how humid it was when I was walking around scouting,” he said. “I mean, it’s not even really a complaint. I just remember that my entire being was covered in sweat, and I wasn’t used to that feeling.”
Meanwhile, the state Economic Development Authority told the outlet that the Happy Gilmore 2 production spent a total of $152 million filming in New Jersey.
Which golf courses were featured in Happy Gilmore 2?
Scott Yamano/Netflix
Adam Sandler acting in “Happy Gilmore 2.”
As Happy Gilmore 2 centers around Gilmore’s return to golfing, it should come as no surprise that the movie showcases several of New Jersey’s finest golf courses.
“My goodness, you have some beautiful golf courses out there in New Jersey,” Newacheck told NJ Advance Media.
The film featured shots from six different golf courses, but most of the scenes took place at two private country clubs: Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, according to Golf.com, and the Montclair Golf Club in Verona, Patch reported.
Fiddler’s Elbow is a private club with a clubhouse and three unique 18-hole golf courses — the River Course, the Meadow Course and the Forest Course. The second primary club they used was the Montclair Golf Club, which is also a private club founded in 1893 with four 9-hole golf courses.
In addition to the two main clubs, the sequel was shot at Alpine Country Club in Demarest, Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield, Beacon Hill Country Club in Atlantic Highlands and Rockleigh Golf Course in Rockleigh, per NJ Advance Media.
Happy Gilmore 2 also shot at driving ranges in the Closter Golf Center and the Essex Golf Center, as well as a mini golf course at the Farmview Golf Center in Hackettstown, per the Daily Voice.
What other spots were shown in Happy Gilmore 2?
Netflix
Ben Stiller acting in “Happy Gilmore 2.”
While the movie takes place on several golf courses, there are still dozens of spots around New Jersey that are shown in Happy Gilmore 2.
Unlike the first film, the sequel includes numerous moments on a beach where Gilmore practices his swing away from the golf course. The main beach used in the movie was Ideal Beach, located in Middletown off the Jersey shore, according to NJ Advance Media.
Another major landmark in Happy Gilmore 2 is the castle-like venue where Gilmore gets honored for his golfing career. In reality, the property is the Pleasantdale Château & Conference Estate in West Orange. The famed estate has previously been featured in The Sopranos and Law and Order.
One less glamorous spot the filmmakers used was Newark Liberty International Airport, Terminal A. Newacheck told NJ Advance Media that they used the facility for a “big airplane joke.”
Sandler and his costars were also seen filming at Goldberg’s World Famous Deli & Bagels in Millburn, LOKL Café in Morristown, Faubourg Montclair restaurant and Steve’s Burgers in Garfield, among others, per TAPinto Somerset Hills.
Jame Meier, who is a South Orange resident, saw Sandler filming with his daughter, Sunny Sandler, in South Orange and told The Village Green in September 2024, “Adam and his daughter Sunny were so nice. They made a point to say hi to all the excited kids watching. They took some pics and thanked everyone for letting them film in their neighborhood.”
In addition to public outings, the cast shot at several private homes and residences in Kearney, Closter, West Orange, South Orange and Bedminster. A private home in Belleville serves as the interior of Gilmore’s home, while a house in Irvington was the exterior of Gilmore’s home, the director told NJ Advance Media.
Where was the first Happy Gilmore filmed?
Alamy
Adam Sandler acting in “Happy Gilmore” in 1996.
The original Happy Gilmore movie from 1996 was filmed in various locations around Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Some of the filming locations include Furry Creek Golf and Country Club, Swaneset Bay Resort and Country Club and Pitt Meadows Golf Club, per Giggster.
Read the original article on People
