Seven Days in Utopia, which was directed by Matthew Dean Russell, and based on the book Golf’s Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links in Utopia, is more of a Christian movie with the game of golf in the background, rather that about the game itself.
Luke Chisholm (Lucas Black) is a fledgling young golfer on the PGA tour who is on the verge of winning his first tournament in Texas, when he has a meltdown on the last hole and post a 14. He breaks his putter in half, throws clubs in the water, and blames it all on his caddy (his father). Driving off in a huff, Luke loses his concentration and crashes his car through a fence in a remote pasture. To the rescue comes crusty Johnny Crawford (Robert Duvall) who comes galloping up on his horse and offering refuge to the distressed golfer on his ranch in Utopia (population 373).
Turns out that Johnny was a former PGA pro who fought his own demons (the bottle) and he offers Luke a proposition that if he spends seven days under his tutelage in Utopia with him, he will get him back on his feet. Luke accepts and story is set.
Johnny’s Zen-like teachings include fly fishing, painting, and flying lessons. The message that he is trying to convey to Luke is that must be at peace with himself before he can advance, because there are much more important things in life than hitting a little white ball around a pasture. Luke adopts Johnny’s mantra “See it; Feel it: Trust it,” as his key to success.
The whole Kung Fu / Grasshopper thing works and we find Johnny at the Texas Open in San Antonio on the verge of winning. Can he make his last putt to win? For the answer please see the link at the bottom of the page
This is a good family oriented movie that not only golfers can learn from, but that anyone struggling for answers should consider.
www.didhemaketheputt.com
My rating: 3 of 5 mulligans.