Unseen photos show Hollywood icons swinging clubs with golf greats

2023-07-23

EXCLUSIVE: Rare photos of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Marilyn Monroe – and even The Beatles – playing golf reveal Hollywood’s fascination with the sport on the day The Open reaches its climax

Rare photos show some of Hollywood’s most iconic legends like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Jerry Lewis, as well as Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth swinging their clubs
Veteran art collector Klaus Moeller, who shared the images with DailyMail.com, said he was thrilled to discover a trove of vintage golf photos tucked away in one of his filing cabinets
The stunning images, many of them never before seen, offer a glimpse of stars such as Bob Hope and Bing Crosby’s tight-knit friendships with golf’s finest like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, said Moeller

With its slow-paced game requiring relatively little physical fitness, golf remains one of the few sports to attract players of all different backgrounds, even becoming a popular pastime among celebrities and other pro athletes alike.

On Sunday golf enthusiasts will be watching The Open, one of the four major championships in the professional league, which kicked off on July 20 at England’s Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

The prestigious event, commonly referred to incorrectly as ‘the ‘British Open,’ was founded in 1860, making it the oldest golf tournament in the world. It became more international in the post-Second World War era, especially with the Arnold Palmer-led American invasion in the 1960s.

But now rare photos obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Hollywood’s fascination with the world of golf dates back as far as the Golden Age of the 1930s.

Rare and never-before-seen photos show Golden Age celebs and pro athletes alike, taking part in Hollywood’s favorite pastime. Here Marilyn Monroe looks gorgeous as she swings her golf club in the Nevada Desert while filming 1961 drama, The Misfits, with Clark Gable. The film would be her last role prior to her untimely death

Incredible candid 1960’s color image of the Fab Four, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Star golfing

This rare photo from 1950 shows one of the Golden Age’s ‘it couples’, Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra swinging on a golf course in Las Vegas, Nevada

James Garner was considered one of the best golfers in Hollywood. His daughter Gigi Garner Tod DailyMail.com: ‘My Dad was a scratch golfer and shot four holes in one. He played in every tournament he could’

Frank Sinatra with Dean Martin looking away while standing on golf course at Celebrity Golf in Los Angeles, California

The never-before-seen photos show some of Tinsel Town’s most iconic legends such as Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby swinging their clubs with the likes of golf greats including Jack Nicklaus, Palmer and Sam Snead.

Veteran art collector Klaus Moeller told DailyMail.com he was thrilled to discover a trove of vintage golf photos tucked away in one of his filing cabinets.

As chief executive of Globe Entertainment and Media, Moeller has acquired the rights to millions of rare photos and some 25 million negatives, including many that have never been shown in public.

‘I absolutely love these photos out on the golf course. They show such a fun and bright side to these fabulous stars and offer a glimpse of some of their tight-knit friendships with golf’s finest like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus,’ said Moeller.

‘I think most of these golf photos have never been seen,’ revealed Moeller.

British American comedian Bob Hope. He is pictured right holding a bent golf club in a humorous shot with Arnold Palmer, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most charismatic players in the sport’s history

Mickey Mantle with Billy Martin at Miami Spring’s Golf Course preparing for coming Baseball Players tourney

In one rare, intimate photo, American crooner Bing Crosby play with golf champ Sam Snead at the golf course in Washington D.C. in 1949

‘I had no idea that we would find the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Marilyn. My favorite is the one of the Stones with Jagger’s attitude.

‘Obviously the Nixon one is hysterical, as is the one with Bob Hope holding the the broken golf next to Palmer.’

One keen golfer was James Garner of Maverick and The Rockford files fame. His daughter, Gigi Garner told DailyMail.com.

‘My Dad loved the game of golf and was considered Hollywood’s second best golfer behind Jack Wagner,’ she said.

‘My Dad was a scratch golfer and shot four holes in one. He played in every tournament he could.’

Golf and Hollywood occasionally crossed paths on screen. Arnold Palmer made a guest appearance alongside Bob Hope in the 1963 comedy Call Me Bwana. The famous golfer is seen standing next to a bewildered Hope holding a bent club.

‘I think celebrities are drawn to golf because it is exclusive, meaning it gives them a few hours of peace and quiet away from the crowds where they can enjoy themselves in a beautiful environment,’ said Moeller.

The talented Fred Astaire was also passionate golfer off stage, so much so that he incorporated a memorable scene which finds the actor hitting golf balls while tap dancing in the 1938 musical Carefree with Ginger Roger.

A stunning color shot of The Rolling Stones in their early years posing on a green with golf clubs. Moeller points to Mick Jagger’s mean mug for the camera. From left Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Brian Jones, Keith Richards and Jagger

Scottish actor and the first James Bond, Sean Connery is seen holding a club over his shoulder in Goldfinger

A striking Marilyn Monroe looks gorgeous as she swings her golf club in the Nevada Desert while filming 1961 drama, The Misfits, with Clark Gable.

The film would be her last role prior to her untimely death.

Fellow golf lovers Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, who starred in the 1953 musical comedy The Caddy, were also often seen on and off camera at various clubs including the famous Riviera Country Club in Southern California.

The unearthed photos also show baseball legend Babe Ruth, who was also a talented golf player in the early 1900s.

This color capture features candid portrait of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin playing golf on a course from a scene in 1952 comedy film, ‘The Stooge.’ Lewis teamed with the singer to form the famous Martin and Lewis comedy duo, before moving on as a ‘one-man’ stage act, movie actor, television star, filmmaker and singer

This is a new limited edition fine art release of a scene from the 1935 movie short, Three Little Beers featuring the legendary comedy team, the Three Stooges. The image was meticulously restored and then colorized to produce an image that has never been seen before

President Richard Nixon is helped by The Great One, Jackie Gleason, on the links in this terrific gag shot. This rare photo is a retro period exemplar from ‘The Cinema Screen’ collection, one of the finest private holdings of antique entertainment ever assembled

The unearthed photos also show baseball legend Babe Ruth, who was also a talented golf player in the early 1900s

And then there are the real golfeersThis black and white action shot features Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus smiling together as Arnie helps Jack with his Green Jacket for winning the Masters

The Open marks the last major golf tournament of the season, having been preceded by the U.S. Open last month, the PGA Championship in May, and the Masters Tournament in April.

The Open Championship originated back in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland with the competition for the original ‘challenge belt.’

That was 35 years before the first playing of the US Open, 56 years before the first PGA Championship and 74 years before the first Masters Tournament.

As the only championship around, it was very aptly known as ‘The Championship,’ before tournament organizers declared it should be ‘open to the whole world,’ finally developing into the Open Championship in 1872 when the Claret Jug replaced the challenge belt that was given to Young Tom Morris following his three straight wins.