Happy Gilmore 2 Tees Off Golf Boom as Pop Culture Drives Sports Frenzy

The 'Hollywood Effect': How Blockbuster Films and TV are Driving a New Wave of Sports Engagement

TA' XBIEX, NY, UNITED STATES, August 19, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- First Jason Sudeikis kicked off a football frenzy with Ted Lasso, then Zendaya served up a tennis craze with Challengers. Now Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2 has young fans swapping TikTok for tee time - as golf becomes the latest sport to get a Hollywood glow-up.

New research from SBO.net confirms that blockbuster shows and films aren’t just for Netflix binge marathons - they’re inspiring millions to lace up, sign up, and play. The phenomenon, dubbed the “Hollywood Effect”, shows how the right mix of celebrity sparkle and cultural hype can turn spectators into sports fanatics almost overnight.

When Zendaya’s sultry tennis drama Challengers smashed into cinemas last year, Google searches for “adult tennis lessons” spiked by 245% worldwide, with clubs across the UK and U.S. suddenly flooded with wannabe Tashi Donaldson's. Over on the football pitch, Ted Lasso didn’t just make Richmond AFC a household name, it coincided with Major League Soccer tripling its social media following in America, proving a sitcom can spark a full-blown football obsession.

Now, it’s golf’s turn in the spotlight. Happy Gilmore 2, released last month, has sent interest in golf soaring, thanks to its star-studded cameos from Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka to Travis Kelce and Bad Bunny and clever brand tie-ins with Callaway, Subway, and U.S. Bank. Add in limited-edition merch drops and a Topgolf putter giveaway, and suddenly golf isn’t just your dad’s weekend hobby, it’s the coolest new pastime for Gen Z.

“The data shows that a compelling narrative is a new entry point for sports,” said Danny Kruse, a spokesperson for SBO.net. “Our analysis found that the film Challengers drove a 245% increase in worldwide searches for ‘adult tennis lessons,’ and the series Ted Lasso coincided with a tripling of MLS followers in the U.S. These are not coincidences; they are clear examples of media properties creating a verifiable, measurable boost in sports engagement.”

The “Happy Gilmore 2 Effect” is proof that a viral movie moment can do what years of traditional campaigns couldn’t: make golf feel fun, accessible and bang on trend. With younger audiences demanding sports that feel like experiences, Sandler’s comedy sequel has swung the sport into the cultural mainstream - one meme, cameo, and brand collab at a time.

“SBO.net is at the forefront of this evolution,” Kruse continued. “We’re creating content that taps into these cultural touchpoints, turning casual curiosity into long-term passion for sport. For golf, Happy Gilmore 2 isn’t just entertainment - it’s recruitment.”

Emma Crampton
Blexr
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