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The REAL Happy Gilmore 2 Filming Locations: 9 New Jersey Counties That Replaced Waterbury, CT

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The wait is finally over: After decades of fan anticipation, Adam Sandler’s iconic sequel, Happy Gilmore 2, officially arrived on Netflix on July 25, 2025, bringing the legendary hockey-player-turned-golfer back to the screen. The big question on every fan's mind, beyond the return of Shooter McGavin, was simple: Where exactly did the Happy Madison Productions crew film the highly-anticipated championship sequences and hilarious new misadventures? The answer is a surprising and definitive departure from the original film’s setting, with the entire production transforming one specific U.S. state into the new home of the professional golf tour.

Despite the story being partially set in the familiar fictional world of Waterbury, Connecticut, the entirety of Happy Gilmore 2 was filmed on location in New Jersey. Production was a massive undertaking, spanning nine different counties and utilizing a record-breaking budget to capture the authentic feel of the modern golf circuit. Filming began in September 2024 and wrapped up just before the holidays in December 2024, utilizing the state's generous film tax credit program to secure the major Netflix project.

The Definitive List of Happy Gilmore 2 Filming Locations: New Jersey’s Nine-County Takeover

The decision to film Happy Gilmore 2 exclusively in the Garden State was a significant win for New Jersey’s film industry, with the production spending a record-breaking $152 million in the state. The film crew, led by Adam Sandler, moved through numerous towns and counties, transforming local landmarks and prestigious private courses into the backdrop for Happy’s latest chapter. This comprehensive list reveals the specific, real-world locations that replaced the original film's Vancouver, Canada, settings.

Championship Courses: The Prestigious Golf Clubs

The heart of any Happy Gilmore film is the golf, and the sequel utilized some of New Jersey’s most beautiful and historic courses for its pivotal tournament scenes. The locations were chosen for their distinct character, offering everything from elite private club aesthetics to more accessible public links, reflecting the journey of Happy Gilmore.

  • Montclair Golf Club (Verona, Essex County): This historic and picturesque course served as the primary and most pivotal filming location. It was here that the majority of the film's climactic championship match sequences were shot, with its sprawling green pastures providing the perfect, high-stakes backdrop for Happy's return to glory—or chaos.
  • Fiddler's Elbow Country Club (Bedminster, Somerset County): Known for its luxurious amenities and multiple courses, this club was used for several upscale tournament scenes, adding to the visual grandeur of the modern golf tour.
  • Alpine Country Club (Demarest, Bergen County): Located just across the Hudson River, this club provided the scenic, suburban elite energy required for certain exclusive scenes, showcasing the contrast between Happy’s humble beginnings and the world of professional golf.
  • Beacon Hill Country Club (Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County): This location was confirmed to be used for additional exterior and course shots, further solidifying the film’s extensive use of New Jersey’s diverse golf landscape.
  • Rockleigh Golf Course (Rockleigh, Bergen County): A public course that was utilized to show a different side of the golf world, possibly reflecting a non-tour event or a practice sequence for Happy Gilmore.

Beyond the Fairways: Towns and Other Key Locales

A film about Happy Gilmore isn't just about golf; it's about the everyday life and ridiculous situations he finds himself in. The production utilized numerous non-golf locations across the state to build the world of the sequel, providing excellent topical authority for fans looking to visit the exact spots.

  • Pleasantdale Château (West Orange, Essex County): This stunning estate likely served as a lavish mansion, a tournament clubhouse, or a wealthy rival’s residence, adding a touch of old-money luxury to the film's aesthetic.
  • Verona Town Hall (Verona, Essex County): Used for official or municipal scenes, possibly involving permits, court appearances, or a public meeting—a classic setting for Happy’s antics.
  • Dick's Sporting Goods (Wayne, Passaic County): A retail location that suggests a scene involving new equipment, a classic product placement moment, or a comedic shopping sequence.
  • Life Time Health Club (Florham Park, Morris County): This location was used, possibly for a training montage or a confrontation that occurs outside of the golf environment.
  • Ideal Beach (Middlesex County): The inclusion of a beach location suggests a departure from the golf course for a more scenic or emotional scene.

The production also set up shop in numerous other New Jersey towns, including Jersey City, Clifton, Garfield, Newark, Millburn, Irvington, and Belleville, ensuring that the sequel had a distinctly East Coast, authentic feel. Even smaller golf venues, like the Closter Golf Center and Essex Golf Center (driving ranges), and the Farmview Golf Center (mini golf), were used to capture every facet of the golf experience.

The Return of the Legends and New Faces

The sheer scale of the New Jersey production allowed Happy Gilmore 2 to be an entity-rich film, bringing back core characters and introducing new, high-profile entities to the franchise. The topical authority of the sequel is bolstered by the confirmed and rumored cast list.

Key Cast and Entities Confirmed for the Sequel

Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore): The undisputed star, returning to his role as the hot-headed, long-driving hero. His involvement was the catalyst for the entire sequel.

Christopher McDonald (Shooter McGavin): The legendary antagonist and Happy’s arch-rival. His return was heavily rumored and later confirmed, ensuring the classic rivalry is reignited.

Julie Bowen (Virginia Venit): Happy’s love interest and former Public Relations Director of the Pro Golf Tour is expected to return, providing a sense of continuity from the original film.

Happy Madison Productions: Sandler’s production company, which oversaw the entire operation, ensuring the film maintained the classic "Sandler-esque" comedy tone.

Travis Kelce: The NFL superstar was rumored to be involved in a cameo or role, suggesting the film will continue the tradition of celebrity guest appearances, much like the original's Bob Barker fight.

The casting choices and the high-profile production locations in New Jersey—especially the use of prestigious venues like Montclair Golf Club and Fiddler's Elbow Country Club—suggest a sequel with a much larger scope, reflecting the big-budget nature of a modern Netflix blockbuster. The film’s topical entities, from the specific golf courses to the returning cast members, are all woven together to create a fresh yet nostalgic experience for fans of the 1996 classic.

Why New Jersey? The Strategic Filming Choice

The choice to film Happy Gilmore 2 entirely in New Jersey, despite the story being set in the Northeast, was a calculated business decision driven by the state's generous film tax incentive program. This is a crucial piece of topical authority for understanding modern Hollywood production.

The New Jersey Film and Digital Media Tax Credit offers significant financial incentives, making the state a highly attractive location for major studios like Netflix. This tax credit allowed Happy Madison Productions to maximize their budget, which resulted in the record-breaking $152 million spend in the state. This financial decision directly benefits the quality and scale of the film, allowing for the use of multiple high-end locations and a longer production schedule (September to December 2024).

While the original Happy Gilmore was famously shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, the sequel’s complete shift to New Jersey represents a major trend in the film industry, where economic incentives often dictate the geography of a production. For fans, it means the iconic driving sequences and golf course drama now have a distinctly New Jersey flavor, moving from the Canadian Rockies to the Garden State’s rolling hills.

Happy Gilmore 2: A New Era of Golf Comedy

With filming wrapped up in December 2024 and the film released on Netflix on July 25, 2025, Happy Gilmore 2 has successfully answered the decades-old question of whether a sequel would ever happen. The geographical secret of "where was Happy Gilmore 2 filmed" is officially out: it was a full-scale New Jersey production.

Fans can now look forward to spotting the familiar fairways of the Montclair Golf Club, the grand architecture of the Pleasantdale Château, and the local landmarks of towns like Verona and Irvington as Happy Gilmore, Shooter McGavin, and the rest of the cast deliver a new round of golf-based comedy. The film is a testament to the power of nostalgia and the savvy use of modern film incentives, ensuring that the legacy of Happy Gilmore continues for a new generation.

where was happy gilmore 2 filmed
where was happy gilmore 2 filmed

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