If you have ever watched Happy Gilmore, then chances are you remember the ending scene where Adam Sandler’s character uses a hockey stick shaped putter (made by Odyssey) to sink in a wild putt.
Many fans of golf wondered if this putter was legal to use in a regular game of golf. So to figure this out, I did some research into the USGA’s equipment rules and found out whether or not Happy Gilmore’s putter is legal. Surprisingly, the answer is not what I expected.
Is Happy Gilmore’s Putter Legal? According to the USGA’s rule 4biii, Happy Gilmore’s Hockey Stick Putter is not legal as the putter head exceeds 7 inches. In other words, the Odyssey Hockey Stick Putter that Adam Sandler used in Happy Gilmore is not legal for professional or high-level amateur use.
It’s the 20th anniversary of Happy Gilmore!
That @odysseygolf hockey stick putter never gets old. #HappyGilmore20 pic.twitter.com/X2kwnGCdDY
— Callaway Golf (@CallawayGolf) February 16, 2016
What Makes The Happy Gilmore Putter Illegal?
So what makes this putter illegal for professional and high-level amateur play? After all, it does operate like a regular putter. Well, after looking through the USGA’s equipment rules, I did find one rule that Happy Gilmore’s putter breaks.
When looking at the rules that the USGA has for club heads, there is one specific rule that the hockey stick putter does not conform with. In order to conform to the rules, a putter’s club head must not exceed 7 inches when measured from heel to toe.
Above is a photo from the USGA that breaks down how each measurement is taken on the putter head. It states that the measurement from heel to toe, noted by the letter a, must not exceed 7 inches (A ≤ 7”)
We couldn’t get @kiradech to a batting cage …
Hopefully an @odysseygolf hockey stick putter will do.
Happy 25th Anniversary, Happy Gilmore. pic.twitter.com/jf2NJJQeqU
— Callaway Golf (@CallawayGolf) February 16, 2021
I couldn’t find the exact dimensions for this club, but from the pictures above, it is pretty clear that the head of this club is much longer than 7 inches. If I had to guess, the hockey stick putter head is more than 12 inches long.
Where Can You Buy Happy Gilmore’s Odyssey’s Hockey Stick Putter?
I looked around to see if there was a place to purchase the legitimate model of the hockey stick putter. I found a tweet from Odyssey that links to a site that you can purchase a putter from.
The putter used to win the infamous 1996 Tour Championship is now available! Sign up for the opportunity to purchase >> https://t.co/9OXT2Al3gK pic.twitter.com/PW5YMqKBEr
— Odyssey Golf (@odysseygolf) May 26, 2021
Unfortunately, when I checked out the website, I could not find any way to add the hockey stick putter to my cart. In other words, there is no way to buy the legitimate hockey stick putter that Odyssey makes. So if you really want to purchase one, you will probably have to buy one made from a 3rd party. From what I’ve seen, the 3rd party ones that I have found are about $150.