Clint Eastwood’s Secret Off-Screen Passion: Golfing During Breaks on ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ Set!

Clint Eastwood, one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures, is well-known for his rugged, no-nonsense roles, especially in Spaghetti Westerns like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. However, behind the intense and gritty characters he portrayed was a man who found leisure in a very different way. Eastwood, who became synonymous with the stoic, tough-guy persona of the American West, often turned to one of his lifelong passions—golf—during breaks on set.

A Passion for Golf Early On

Eastwood’s love for golf began at a young age. Growing up in Oakland, California, he started caddying around the age of 12 or 13, which sparked an enduring interest in the sport. By the 1960s, golf had become an integral part of his life. As early as 1963, Eastwood participated in the prestigious Bing Crosby National Pro-Am (now known as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am), a tournament where celebrities and professional golfers compete side by side. This early involvement in competitive golf signaled his dedication to the game, a passion that would continue to shape his personal life for decades.

By the 1990s, Eastwood’s commitment to golf was even more evident. He went on to own Tehama Golf Club in California, which opened in 1999. However, his association with the sport traces back to the 1960s, reinforcing his long-standing love for the game. As noted in interviews and media coverage, golf became a respite from the pressures of fame and a way for Eastwood to unwind. An image from r/1960s on Reddit even shows a young Eastwood playing golf in the Hollywood Hills, further cementing his connection to the sport during the height of his acting career.

Filming The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in Spain

Filming The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, the final installment of Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy, took place primarily in Spain, with key locations like Burgos providing the backdrop for some of the film’s most iconic scenes. This desert-like terrain, coupled with the film’s dangerous stunts and harsh conditions, made for a challenging environment for the cast and crew. During a bridge explosion scene, Eastwood himself narrowly avoided being struck by a 12-pound rock. However, amid such intensity, Eastwood was known for maintaining a calm demeanor and finding ways to keep himself grounded.

The Golf Course in the Midst of Filming

Despite the tough nature of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly production, which required endurance in grueling Spanish landscapes, Eastwood found a way to unwind. It’s widely known that Eastwood would spend his downtime on set playing golf, showcasing a stark contrast to the grizzled, intense gunslinger he portrayed on screen. While direct accounts of Eastwood playing golf specifically during the filming of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly are sparse, the geographical context makes it entirely plausible.

Golf courses near the filming locations in Spain support this theory. The 1Golf.eu website lists several golf courses within a reasonable distance from Burgos, including Saldaña Golf (4.6 miles away) and Club de Golf Riocerezo (7.8 miles away). While exact historical data for these courses in the 1960s is limited, their presence in the area today suggests they were likely operational, or at least in some form, during the 1960s.

Eastwood’s Relaxed Off-Screen Demeanor

This leisure activity—playing golf—was in line with Eastwood’s overall approach to balancing work and personal life. Known for his intense roles, Eastwood’s off-screen persona was a marked contrast. He didn’t just immerse himself in the tension of his Western roles; he also embraced moments of relaxation, like enjoying a round of golf, which kept him grounded during intense filming schedules. This dichotomy between Eastwood’s on-screen and off-screen personas added depth to his public image, presenting him as both a fierce action hero and a man who enjoyed the simpler things in life.

Interviews with Eastwood, such as the one conducted with Empire, demonstrate his ability to maintain a healthy balance. He was able to handle the demands of grueling roles while still finding time to engage in personal hobbies, including golf, ensuring he didn’t burn out from the intensity of his work.

A Lifelong Commitment to Golf

Eastwood’s relationship with golf is more than just a hobby—it’s been a constant throughout his life. His participation in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, his ownership of Tehama Golf Club, and his enjoyment of the game during filming all underscore his deep commitment to the sport. Golf provided Eastwood with an outlet, a way to unwind from the often exhausting world of filmmaking.

As Eastwood’s career continued to evolve, so did his love for golf. Even in his later years, as seen in media coverage and interviews, Eastwood continued to be an avid golfer, with some sources like Australian Golf Digest noting his philosophy of embracing aging and continuing to play the sport, even into his 80s.

Conclusion

Clint Eastwood’s involvement in golf, especially during the filming of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, offers a glimpse into the more relaxed side of a man famous for his tough-guy image. His ability to find calm through golf during the intense and often dangerous productions of Spaghetti Westerns speaks to his disciplined yet balanced approach to life. Whether on or off the set, Eastwood maintained a consistent demeanor, demonstrating that even the most rugged heroes need a reprieve. Through golf, Eastwood not only found a way to unwind but also solidified his identity as a multifaceted individual who could seamlessly juggle the worlds of Hollywood stardom and personal passion.