I don’t care if you’re a golf fan or not, Happy Gilmore is an all time classic.
I mean c’mon, we’ve all laughed our a**es off at Bob Barker beating the everlivin’ Bejesus out of Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler), and the movie has so many one liners it’s impossible to count. And of course, we’ve all tried the Happy Gilmore swing on the driving range a time or two.
I’ll even go as far to say it’s Adam Sandler’s best movie.
Not to mention, you have to love the pure underdog story. A hockey player that realizes he sucks, so he picks up golf and wins the Tour Championship?
That’s stuff of legends right there.
With that being said, now that college athletes are able to receive money for their name, image, and likeness (NIL), it appears that ol’ Happy Gilmore is going to college…
But I’m not talking about the fictional Happy Gilmore. I’m talking about the real life one.
You read that right, folks. A kid whose actual name is Happy Gilmore is going to Ball State University to play golf.
His parents are incredible for this. You’re destined for greatness when you’re born with a name like this.
Alright, according to the IndyStar, his actual name is Landon, but began going by the nickname when he was about six in his hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. He eventually took up golf, but the nickname stuck.
Before competing in the Indiana High School Golf State Championship this past spring,
Happy told the outlet:
“Sometimes, when I first introduce myself, they will look at me funny. But if my golf bag is there and has my name on it, that will kind of help a little bit.
But it never fails. At some point they will ask me, ‘Is that your real name?’ or ‘How did you get that name?’ Something along those lines.”
If the real life Happy Gilmore ends up playing on the PGA Tour, this is an ESPN 30for30 in the making.
And just for kicks and giggles, the iconic Bob Barker and Happy Gilmore fight:
