Golf: from the green to the page to the screen

Golf news from Oregon

Golf: from the green to the page to the screen

Some time next year a movie will be released that my not fit into the ’sports genre’ category. “Golf in the Kingdom” has taken years to realize, having sat with Academy Award winner Clint Eastwood for a decade (who held the option on the film) but not coming to fruition in his very capable hands. Fifteen scripts later and still nothing. Now jump scene to spring 2009…

Producer Mindy Affrime and director Susan Streitfeld just wrapped up the shoot in Oregon at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. They call their adaptaion of the 1972 novel (of the same name) by Michael Murphy a low-budget film; closer to an art film than a sports film. Low-budget or not, the cast is made up of talented actors including Malcolm McDowell, Frances Fischer, Mason Gamble and David O’Hara. Are there awards in their future for best actor, or awards for the movie’s editing or costumes? Time will tell, and what’s of greater importance to the author is that “Golf in the Kingdom” has finally been realized on film after 37 years of waiting paitently in the green…