Apple TV’s latest sports dramedy is sparking passionate debates among real golfers who can’t decide if they love the heart or hate the inaccuracies

Remember when we first heard Owen Wilson was making a golf show? The collective golf world let out a cautious sigh of hope. Here was one of our favorite comedic actors diving into our beloved (and often maddening) sport. Apple TV+ promised us something special with “Stick” – a heartwarming tale of redemption featuring a washed-up pro golfer mentoring a teenage phenom.

But three months after its June debut, the golf community is seriously divided. The show follows Pryce Cahill (Wilson), a former PGA Tour player whose career imploded after an on-course meltdown 16 years ago. Now he’s selling clubs and hustling weekend warriors until he discovers 17-year-old Santi Wheeler, a kid with Tiger-level talent but serious emotional baggage. Sounds compelling, right? The problem is that real golfers are calling BS on multiple fronts.

The Reddit Rebellion

The r/golf community on Reddit has become ground zero for the Stick controversy. One recent post titled “I wanted to believe you were wrong about Stick” summed up the collective disappointment: “But you were right. It is a very bad show. Other than Owen Wilson, all of the characters are incredibly unlikable, there are so many little details that are unrealistic, and the whole thing feels rushed.”

The most brutal criticism has been reserved for the character Zero, played by Lilli Kay. This Gen Z bartender-turned-caddie has become the lightning rod for fan frustration. The top comment on that Reddit post said it all: “It’s not the greatest show in the world but I was casually enjoying … that is until the Zero character started taking over the show.” Golf Twitter has been equally savage, with real golfers nitpicking everything from terminology (no one calls the PGA Tour “the show”) to character behavior that doesn’t ring true.

The Critics vs. The Course Rats

Here’s where it gets fascinating from a human perspective. Professional TV critics are largely giving Stick positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes shows a 79% approval rating from critics, with many praising Wilson’s charm and the show’s heart. The Hollywood Reporter called it potentially Apple’s “next big crowd-pleaser”.

But the actual golf community? They’re not buying it. This creates a fascinating divide between people who watch TV for entertainment and people who live the sport the show claims to represent. What’s particularly frustrating for golf purists is that some elements work brilliantly – Wilson’s swing looks credible and the emotional beats land. But when characters who should sound deeply knowledgeable about golf don’t, it breaks the spell entirely.

The Ted Lasso Trap

Apple clearly wants Stick to be their next Ted Lasso, and the comparisons are inevitable. But here’s the crucial difference: Ted Lasso worked because it wasn’t really about soccer. It was about kindness, leadership, and human connection, with soccer as the backdrop. The soccer details mattered less because the show was honest about Ted being an outsider learning the game.

Stick wants to have it both ways – to be about golf while also transcending golf. As one critic astutely observed, “Stick has a lot going for it. But let’s be clear: It’s not a golf show”. Golf fans were hoping for their Ted Lasso moment, but instead got a family road trip that happens to stop at golf courses. When your target audience includes people who obsess over stance alignment and green-reading techniques, getting basic terminology wrong isn’t just sloppy – it’s disrespectful.

The Verdict from the 19th Hole

Look, Owen Wilson is doing solid work here, and there are moments of real heart that remind you why sports stories work. But for the golf community, accuracy matters deeply. The Stick controversy reveals something fascinating about sports entertainment in 2025 – audiences are more knowledgeable and connected than ever. You can’t fake authenticity when your viewers live and breathe your subject matter.

Apple has already renewed Stick for a second season, so clearly someone believes in its potential. Maybe they’ll use that opportunity to bring actual golf people into the writer’s room. Because while critics might appreciate the show’s heart, golf’s passionate fanbase is still waiting for their sport to get the authentic treatment it deserves. Until then, Stick remains what it is: a decent family dramedy that happens to be set in golf, not a golf show that happens to have family drama.