Golfers Say Owen Wilson’s Apple TV+ Series ‘Stick’ Is Sub-Par

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Creating Ted Lasso seems effortless, yet it’s incredibly tough to produce a truly exceptional TV series that revolves around sports. Not only is crafting an excellent TV show difficult in itself, but catering to the passionate fanbase that sports inspire adds another layer of complexity. If you want to crank up the challenge a notch or two, choose golf as the sport you’re going to portray – or more fittingly, comedify (comedy-fy).>

The production of Ted Lasso appears simple, but it’s extremely difficult to create an outstanding TV series that primarily focuses on sports. Making a great TV show is already challenging enough, and addressing the demanding fanbase associated with sports only intensifies the task. If you want to make things even harder, opt for golf as the sport you’re going to depict – or better yet, humorize it.)

Since approximately 15 years ago, “Caddyshack” (1980) held the title of the best golf comedy, despite its golf scenes being less than stellar. Then, in a span of just six months, two movies contested for that position: “Tin Cup”, a romantic sports film featuring Kevin Costner, and “Happy Gilmore”, an unconventional comedy starring Adam Sandler. While the order of these three golf comedies may vary based on personal preference, none can challenge the established ranking, as “Stick” does not offer anything to change the current standing.

In most instances, the golf portrayed in ‘Stick’ is satisfactory. The character Pryce “Stick” Cahill, played by Owen Wilson, is a former professional golfer who has seen better days and grapples with his past. This creates an intriguing dilemma: Wilson himself is not a golfer, or at least, he wasn’t prior to this role. However, Wilson seems to have picked up the sport rather quickly; his golf swings look convincing on Jason Keller’s camera (at least in the takes that made the final cut). On the other hand, it’s Santiago Wheeler, the teenage golf prodigy portrayed by Peter Dager, who truly excels at golf on ‘Stick’. The series’ golf consultant, Nathan Leonhardt, deserves credit for helping both Wilson and Dager master the sport (and for using doubles in some scenes, undoubtedly).

Stick got a lot of it right, so where did it go wrong?

Despite the impressive swings they’re displaying, it seems their golf game isn’t quite on point. To begin with, Pryce and Santi have a wager that the youngster can’t hit an iron within five feet of a 200-yard marker. Remarkably, Santi even hits the marker itself! Double or nothing, they bet on the 250 marker, and once again, Santi nails it. To add to the astonishment, he calls his next shot – a distant target 320 yards away – and lands it spot on. All of this, mind you, with subpar clubs and poor quality range balls.

Initially, Santi surprised me by stepping away during the match for a prolonged break that felt more like a dramatic outburst. In everyday life, such an action would have raised concerns, let alone led to tournament disqualification. Yet, immediately following this incident, Santi miraculously transformed his game, turning a +6 into a -2 with an exceptional final nine holes. Frankly, the number of long-range hole-ins is becoming overwhelming, even though I acknowledge the dramatic flair and recall praising the unforgettable hole-out in Tin Cup, just moments ago. However, it’s starting to feel excessive.

The most significant inconsistency in the golf scene so far is found in Santi’s walk-off pitching wedge on hole 18. Santi clinches the game with a winning shot from around 100 yards away, moving his score from -1 to -2. However, a power hitter like Wheeler, currently setting records, would rarely have an approach shot for birdie from such a distance. The shot seems more fitting for an eagle, which would put him at -3. Yet, even this doesn’t fit, because when Santi is on the tee box with a driver, it appears that hole 18 is a par 3. Let’s assume it’s a very short par 4: Santi’s drive would have cleared the clubhouse, let alone landed a football field away. He hits the driver for an estimated net 70 yards at most. I suspect they made a mistake in the opening shot of Santi’s tee…shot.

It’s possible I’m being overly critical, a habit often seen among golfers, even those like myself who aren’t particularly skilled. Golf is the sport with the highest level of precision; mastering it requires great skill. Unlike many other sports that have a limited lifespan, golfers continue playing well into old age. This means that many of the people evaluating new episodes of Stick on a Friday often have a tee time scheduled for Saturday morning. The emotional attachment to golf is significantly stronger than it is for most other sports.

It’s not fair to draw a parallel between the show Stick and Ted Lasso, as it’s challenging to compare any comedy series to the latter due to its unique charm. Although they share similarities, such as being feel-good Apple TV+ comedies that revolve around sports, their differences outweigh their similarities. If I were to make a comparison, I would note that Stick lacked the relatable and endearing characters which are a hallmark of Ted Lasso. While Pryce and Marc Maron’s character Mitts are likable, and their performances are commendable, the overall cast may not have struck the same emotional chord as the characters in Ted Lasso.

Essentially, the main characters’ arcs seem to be limited at this point. Santi appears to be a brooding teenager, and while it’s possible he may soften towards his caring mother, it’s challenging to support a character who demands $100,000 from a struggling individual like Cahill for the right to coach him. To use a term from another sport involving balls, we’re in the early stages of the game, and I’m holding off on making a final verdict about Elena (Mariana Treviño).

And then there’s Zero.

A significant number of viewers found issues with the introduction of the Zero character, portrayed by Lilli Kay (from ‘Your Honor’), in the show ‘Stick’. The Zero character, previously a bartender at a clubhouse restaurant, becomes part of the gang in episode three and is initially presented as Santi’s love interest. Interestingly, Apple TV+ typically releases the first three episodes of a series simultaneously to draw viewers; however, when ‘Stick’ premiered, Zero was not a central character yet.

In episode four, Zero clarifies their pronouns as “she/they.” This leaves Pryce and Mitts perplexed due to their traditional mindsets. Later on, Zero self-identifies as a “genderqueer anticapitalist post-colonial feminist.” It’s worth noting that Kay, the actor portraying Zero, is part of the LGBTQ+ community.

In a more casual and relatable manner:
Golf is often seen as a traditional sport dominated by older white men. That’s why the character named Zero, who was originally Christina Marie Duffy, stands out as an intriguing opponent in this setting. Some might argue that golfers are more conservative or resistant to progressive ideas, which could clash with Zero’s values. Others might suggest that it’s Zero’s bold personality that rubs viewers the wrong way. However, it should be noted that Zero has been beneficial and well-received by Santi so far, but she hasn’t won over the public yet on the internet.

Let’s rephrase the title from the r/golf community post as follows: “The Latest Post Discusses Your Opinion on Stick in r/golf, Titled ‘I Initially Thought You Were Incorrect About Stick.'” This version aims to retain the original meaning while sounding more natural and easy to read.

Reddit user PrettyFlyGuy05 acknowledges that they were incorrect in their initial assessment, admitting that the show is indeed poorly done. Apart from Owen Wilson, all other characters are found to be highly unlikeable, with numerous minor aspects deemed implausible. Additionally, the overall production seems hasty and incomplete.

Though PrettyFlyGuy05 doesn’t mention Zero by name, most of the commenters sure did.

The comment with the highest number of upvotes on the post reads: “I found it alright, not the best show out there, but I was casually watching… until the Zero character became too dominant in the series.” naked_short commented. “In episode 3 she seemed bearable, and I thought her role might be limited to a single episode. However, she reappeared in episode 4 and now talks excessively. Now she’s like an annoying sidekick.”

OR

The most popular comment on the post states: “The show wasn’t fantastic, just okay, but I was casually watching… until the Zero character began to overpower the series,” as noted by naked_short. “In episode 3 she seemed tolerable, and I assumed her role would be limited. Sadly, she returned in episode 4 and now talks too much. Now she’s like an annoying sidekick.

The magazine “Hollywood Reporter” reached out to Axton B., a 27-year-old resident of Florida who works for the government and happens to have an 18 handicap in golf.

Axton concurred with the viewers’ overall evaluation of Zero. He stated to THR that the character “transformed an ordinary program into something less enjoyable to watch.

A different Redditor from the golf community, known as ‘52488’, noted, “It’s unclear whether the purpose of her character is intended to foster appreciation and understanding for her perspective on performative wokeness, or to provoke strong dislike.

It is the thoughtful comments that get you.

Await the moment when the group discovers that Kay’s father is a director and executive producer on the show “Yellowstone,” in which Kay portrayed the series regular character Clara Brewer; Kay’s stepmother is an actress on “Yellowstone” named Piper Perabo.

In summary, Axton roughly calculated that around 70-80% of people who responded to his post would likely concur that “Stick” is at most an average series, and a majority of these individuals would express their dislike for the show.

He said, “People who support the program don’t necessarily claim to be fanatical about it, but rather appreciate it in a less intense way, as there aren’t any other series tailored for golf enthusiasts currently available.

Axton, who has a moderate-level handicap of 18 (not great, but still better than mine), was similarly annoyed by the golf-related aspects as well.

I was amazed when I witnessed a scene where they were rehearsing on a simulator, and there was an avatar mirroring the golfers’ every move. As a seasoned user of simulators, I can confidently say that such a realistic representation is something I’ve never encountered in my real-life experiences.

Previously, no teacher that he knew had shown a pupil how to execute a draw shot by rotating the club’s face upward, as Pryce instructed Santi. “You do that to create a fade, not a draw,” Axton corrected him instead.

The sentiment ain’t much different on Twitter — we checked.

It’s important to note that social media tends to feature opinions that are self-selected, and frequently, the most vocal voices in these conversations tend to express negative sentiments. For instance, at its debut, the movie “Stick” was given a “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it has since lost this distinction. Currently, “Stick” holds a 79% approval rating among critics, 70% from top-tier critics, and 59% from the audience.

Critic Angie Han from THR considers the movie as something new and appealing. In her assessment, Han suggested that Stick might just become Apple’s next hit with a broad audience (It seems Angie Han isn’t very active in golf-related forums).

The series ‘Stick’ truly excels as a comedy for hanging out, with a vibrant and effortless camaraderie that can swiftly pass ten episodes – or even hundreds of road miles – in the twinkling of an eye, according to Han. He also mentioned that ‘Stick’ is not always a show that will make you laugh out loud, but it consistently brings a smile from ear to ear.

However, despite Kay’s charm, the Zero character remains unworkable for Han. (She pens this note.)

As a gamer, I often find myself feeling like a Gen Z stereotype when interacting with the older generation like Pryce and Mitts, who seem to use me as a canvas for their ‘kids today’ complaints about meat consumption and capitalism. This is how one person put it in their writing.

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2025-06-25 22:25