“Caddyshack” (1980) is one of the most iconic comedies of all time — a film that defined the irreverent, improvisational humor of the late 70s and early 80s. Directed by Harold Ramis and written by Brian Doyle-Murray, Ramis, and Douglas Kenney, it’s a movie that turns a posh country club into a playground of chaos, class warfare, and gopher-fueled insanity.
Detailed Summary
The Snobs vs. the Slobs
The film is set at the fictional Bushwood Country Club, a golf course that caters to the wealthy elite. The story revolves around the social tension between the snobbish, rich members and the working-class employees and caddies.
Danny Noonan (Michael O’Keefe), a teenage caddy, dreams of earning a college scholarship offered by the club’s pompous co-founder, Judge Elihu Smails (Ted Knight). To do so, he must stay on Smails’s good side — no easy feat considering Danny’s growing admiration for Ty Webb (Chevy Chase), a charming, Zen-like golf prodigy who prefers to live by his own unconventional rules.
Enter Carl Spackler and the Gopher
Meanwhile, in the film’s most famous subplot, Carl Spackler (Bill Murray), the club’s eccentric groundskeeper, wages war against a mischievous gopher that’s been tearing up the golf course. His increasingly deranged methods to eliminate the gopher become some of the movie’s most quoted and memorable moments — blending slapstick comedy with surreal absurdity.
Al Czervik Shakes Things Up
Rodney Dangerfield steals every scene as Al Czervik, a loud, obnoxious real-estate developer who crashes the upper-class party. His arrival at Bushwood throws the entire social order into chaos — he mocks the pretentious members, insults Judge Smails, and brings a party atmosphere wherever he goes.
Czervik’s brash humor, Ty Webb’s laid-back philosophy, and Carl’s gopher-hunting madness intertwine in a story that’s more about attitude than plot. The golf tournament, which becomes the film’s focal point, serves as a hilarious stage for all the characters’ rivalries and antics.
Movie Ending
The final act revolves around a high-stakes golf match between Judge Smails and his snobbish allies versus Ty Webb and Al Czervik, with Danny Noonan eventually stepping in for Czervik when things get serious. The match turns into a chaotic showdown filled with cheating, trash talk, and slapstick brilliance.
In the climax, as the match comes down to the final putt, Danny sinks the winning shot — but not before Carl Spackler accidentally sets off a series of explosives meant to destroy the gopher tunnels. The entire golf course erupts in explosions, fireworks, and debris flying everywhere. The ball bounces into the hole just as the course detonates, securing Danny’s victory and humiliating Judge Smails.
The film ends with Carl crawling out of the smoking ruins of the golf course, covered in soot but triumphantly shouting, “It’s in the hole!” Meanwhile, the gopher pops out unharmed, dancing and celebrating to Kenny Loggins’ “I’m Alright.”
It’s pure 1980s chaos — no lessons learned, no moral message, just an explosion of absurd comedy and rebellion against authority.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Caddyshack does not have any post-credits scenes. However, the credits play over Kenny Loggins’ upbeat song “I’m Alright,” which has become synonymous with the film.
Type of Movie
Caddyshack is a sports comedy — specifically a golf-themed farce — that blends satire, slapstick, and improvisation. It’s both a parody of country club culture and a showcase for 1980s American comedy legends at their wildest.
Cast
- Chevy Chase as Ty Webb
- Rodney Dangerfield as Al Czervik
- Bill Murray as Carl Spackler
- Ted Knight as Judge Elihu Smails
- Michael O’Keefe as Danny Noonan
- Cindy Morgan as Lacey Underall
- Sarah Holcomb as Maggie O’Hooligan
- Brian Doyle-Murray as Lou Loomis
Film Music and Composer
The film’s music was composed by Johnny Mandel, blending jazzy, upbeat tones with pop influences. The standout track, however, is Kenny Loggins’ “I’m Alright,” which became one of the most recognizable movie themes of the decade and still defines the film’s rebellious energy.
Filming Locations
Caddyshack was filmed primarily at Rolling Hills Golf Club in Davie, Florida. The choice of location was crucial — Florida’s lush greenery provided a perfect setting for the movie’s golf course chaos. Interestingly, the course was under construction during filming, which allowed the production team to freely modify and blow up parts of it for the explosive finale.
Awards and Nominations
While Caddyshack wasn’t a major awards contender upon release, it has since become a cult classic and is frequently listed among the greatest comedies of all time. Its legacy lives on in pop culture, especially in sports and comedy circles.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Much of the film was improvised, especially scenes involving Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield.
- Bill Murray filmed all his scenes in six days — yet became one of the film’s standout stars.
- Chevy Chase and Bill Murray had a real-life feud from their Saturday Night Live days; their one shared scene was famously tense behind the camera.
- The original script focused more on the caddies, but the adults’ improvisation took over during production.
- The gopher was not real — it was a puppet created by special effects artist John Dykstra (Star Wars).
Inspirations and References
Caddyshack was inspired by Brian Doyle-Murray’s real-life experiences working as a caddy at a country club in Illinois. The film’s “class war” between rich snobs and blue-collar workers reflected the social divide of 1970s America — but with a comedic, absurd twist.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Several deleted scenes exist, including:
- A longer version of Danny’s relationship with Maggie, which was trimmed for pacing.
- Additional gopher sequences that were cut and later replaced with new puppet footage after test audiences loved the creature.
Originally, the ending was meant to focus more on Danny winning his scholarship, but after test screenings, the explosive finale with the gopher became the new closing sequence.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Caddyshack is not based on a book, though its screenplay was influenced by memoir-like stories from Doyle-Murray’s youth as a caddy. A book titled “Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story” (by Chris Nashawaty) was later written about the movie’s chaotic production.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Carl Spackler’s “Cinderella story” scene — where he pretends to be a championship golfer while whacking flowers with his club.
- Al Czervik insulting the upper-class golfers with one-liners during his first appearance.
- Ty Webb giving Danny absurd “philosophical” golf advice.
- The final golf match with the exploding course.
Iconic Quotes
- Carl Spackler: “Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now about to become the Masters champion.”
- Al Czervik: “Hey everybody, we’re all gonna get laid!”
- Ty Webb: “Be the ball.”
- Judge Smails: “You’ll get nothing and like it!”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The gopher’s dance at the end was added after test audiences reacted so strongly to the puppet — it wasn’t in the original cut.
- Rodney Dangerfield’s character was written after the writers saw him perform stand-up; most of his lines were improvised on set.
- The “Cinderella story” speech was entirely ad-libbed by Bill Murray.
Trivia
- The film’s working title was “Snobs vs. Slobs.”
- Harold Ramis’s directorial debut.
- The explosions in the final scene were so powerful that nearby residents called the police, thinking there had been an accident.
- Despite being a golf movie, Chevy Chase had never played golf before filming.
Why Watch?
Because Caddyshack is more than a comedy — it’s a perfect storm of 1980s humor, rebellious energy, and improvisational genius. Whether you love golf or couldn’t care less about it, the film’s characters, quotable lines, and chaotic finale make it timeless entertainment.
Director’s Other Movies
- National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
- Groundhog Day (1993)
- Analyze This (1999)
- Multiplicity (1996)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Animal House (1978)
- Stripes (1981)
- Ghostbusters (1984)
- Happy Gilmore (1996)
- The Blues Brothers (1980)
