The sequel to “Happy Gilmore” will be filmed at this golf club in New Jersey, a memo reveals

Details about the long-awaited sequel to “Happy Gilmore” have been scarce so far, but one notable development came to light this week: the film’s main filming location.

According to a memo from the trustees of Fiddler's Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, their sprawling club about 40 miles west of New York City was chosen “as the filming location for most of the movie's scenes.”

The 433-word correspondence, a copy of which was obtained by GOLF.com, does not mention the film by name, but GOLF.com has confirmed that the filming in question is for the next installment of “Happy Gilmore,” the cult 1996 golf comedy starring and co-written by Adam Sandler. That the Netflix-produced sequel will be filmed in New Jersey is not surprising, as talent scouts held an open casting call for extras last month at a hotel in nearby Morristown.

“Earlier this summer, the club was contacted by Netflix seeking a location for a filming movie,” begins the memo Fiddler's members received Thursday afternoon. “After weeks of site visits, discussions and negotiations, we are pleased to announce that Netflix has selected Fiddler's Elbow as the location for most of the film's scenes.”

A source told GOLF.com that the crew is expected to begin filming in early October.

Fiddler's Elbow opened in 1965 with 27 holes; it has since expanded to three regular 18-hole courses (River, Meadow and Forest), all of which will serve as a set in the film, trustees said. According to the memo, the first nine holes of the Meadow course “will undergo more extensive changes and filming. Club staff and management are working hard to reroute the holes and provide the best possible experience. Plans are constantly evolving, but at this time it looks likely that we will close three holes for the remainder of the season and another hole for two weeks.”

The memo continues: “The club views the filming of this movie similarly to other clubs that host PGA/LPGA Tour events. Members must endure a brief interruption to have lifelong memories and the pride of knowing their club was chosen from many other options. Total time on the property will be approximately two months, while filming will be four to five weeks. We will extend the golf season on the Forest Course to provide more space for members.

“Please remember that you will recognize famous faces on the premises. They are here to work, so autographs and photos may not be possible. While you may want to take photos of the club during this time, Netflix mandates that nothing can be posted on social media before the film's premiere.”

Aside from Sandler's, it's unclear which famous faces will grace the film. It's likely that some of the original cast will return – including Christopher McDonald, who played the deliciously sleazy Shooter McGavin in the original Gilmore and announced the news of the sequel in a radio interview in March. Sandler also leaked in interviews last month that Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce will appear in the film, along with several professional golfers.

Also largely unknown: the plot of the sequel, although Sandler told Travis and Jason Kelce on their “New Heights” podcast last month that the film “is about an older man who's been playing golf for a long time. There are some things going on in his life – he's a little different. He's a little bit confused when you meet Happy. And then we try to get his life back on track.”

The film's release in 2025 (a date has not yet been announced) will coincide with the 60th anniversary of Fiddler.

“We are planning a year of events to celebrate this milestone,” the trustees wrote in the memo. “The list of events will definitely include a special, free party with the premiere of the film next summer! Ultimately, we want the shared experience to be something we can all look back on with pride and a smile for many years to come.”

Alan Bastian

Golf.com Publisher

As managing editor of GOLF.com, Bastable is responsible for providing the editorial direction and voice of one of the game's most respected and visited news and service sites. He wears many hats – editing, writing, ideating, dreaming of one day breaking 80 – and feels privileged to work with such an incredibly talented and hard-working group of writers, editors and producers. Before taking the reins at GOLF.com, he was features editor at GOLF Magazine. A graduate of the University of Richmond and the Columbia School of Journalism, he lives in New Jersey with his wife and four children.