Golf is a unique sport in that it has no age limit to its game. Whether you want to test your mettle at age 6 or hit the links at 60, golf will welcome you with open arms.
The timing of this new golf comedy, Stick, is timely as we just wrapped on the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club. There aren’t too many things that compare to the sight of a well-kept golf course. The rolling hills, various shades of green, and the way the sun reflects off the fairway have no comparison. Opposite of the senior tour, where you have to be at least 50, Stick takes us backwards to follow a young teenage phenom with limitless potential.
Santi (Peter Dager) is a golf prodigy who gave up on his dream and works retail. Pryce Cahill (Owen Wilson) is an ex-pro golfer who never saw his peak due to a meltdown on tour 20 years ago. The setbacks mount up after his divorce is finalized, he’s left jobless, and his ex-wife sells their old home. While Pryce is giving private lessons, he notices Santi at the driving range. In disbelief, the sight of Santi’s talent, ability, and promise is a shock to Pryce’s system, giving him a new purpose in life. He’s willing to bet his entire future on the promise of a kid he’s only met once, with a background unknown to him. What could possibly go wrong?
Created by Jason Keller and executive produced by Owen Wilson, the new golf comedy presents the sport in a way that’s never been shown before. It’s a dramatic comedy where humor can be infused at any moment. Santi’s mother, Elena (Mariana Treviño), demands a large sum of money in order to take Santi on the road. When she arrives at the bank, she’s helped by an employee who she finds disrespectful. Before she leaves, feeling she’s been profiled, she quotes Pretty Woman on her way out. “You work on commission, right? Big mistake. Big. Huge.” Or when Pryce points out his ex-wife’s new boyfriend Ben (Donavon Stinson) consistently buys bento boxes and says “chow” when leaving a room. It can be mild, it can be vulgar, but either way it goes, it’s there.
Pryce’s former caddie and long-time friend, Mitts (Marc Maron), is always uptight due to past issues, but is the friend who keeps Pryce balanced. Depressed about not reaching his full potential and crashing out before his peak, Pryce carries the persona of someone who laughs to keep from crying while sidestepping accountability. At least with their shared focus on Santi, the two can stop looking backward and start looking forward.
Santi met Pryce on the driving range, but he wasn’t open to talking, due to his presence being illegal (he snuck in). Harboring the secret from his mom, she’s shocked when Pryce approaches her at work about her son. Unbeknownst to her, he made time to sneak onto the range and hit balls to various yard markers and beyond, which eventually caught the eye of Pryce. Dager puts on a valiant performance as a troubled teen with all the talent, with a past that halts his progress.
The comedy takes a well-rounded look at the sport and the nature of human relationships. Love for family and the sport of golf is on full display and gets examined across 10 episodes. Owen Wilson does what’s expected of Owen Wilson, talking too much and making a mess of simple situations. With every character bringing their own unique personality to the table, the series adds yet another five-star piece to Apple TV+’s series vault.
Stick gets an 8.5 out of 10. The cast is rounded out by Lili Kay, Judy Greer, Parm Soor, and Aaron Douglas. The series is rated TV-MA for explicit language and innuendos. It’s funny and definitely worth a watch, whether you’re a golf fan or not. The sound of the club striking the ball is accentuated heavily in this series, which might annoy the purist, but makes for good television. But the best part for golf fans is the countless cameos from professional golfers. I won’t name who, but you can look forward to some great surprises.
Stick premieres on Apple TV+ on June 5
-Jon Jones
Photo: Courtesy of Apple TV+
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 10 Episodes | 30 mins.
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: June 4, 2025