The 21 Best Caddyshack Quotes Thatll Have You Laughing

The funniest Caddyshack quotes highlight why the movie has kept fans laughing for decades. Since its release in 1980, Caddyshack has become one of the most popular comedies of all time and is one of the movies that epitomizes the blockbuster comedies of the 80s era. The movie about all the wacky characters at a summer golf course doesn’t sound like a hilarious concept, but with talents like Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, and Bill Murray involved, it became one of the most quotable movies ever.

From Chase’s dry delivery to Dangerfield’s non-stop insults to Murray’s hilarious outrageous performance, Caddyshack has no shortage of amazing one-liners. The movie is never bogged down by plot or exploring big ideas, but simply entertains and provides laughs with every scene. While it’s difficult to narrow down all the laugh-out-loud moments from the iconic sports comedy, there are some notable Caddyshack quotes, from the iconic to the underrated, which stand out above the rest.

21 “So What? So Let’s Dance!”

Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield)

Despite his legendary show business status, Rodney Dangerfield’s movie career was not very extensive. However, his role as the outrageous Al Czervik in Caddyshack was an ideal one for the funnyman, who delivers some of the best Caddyshack quotes simply by having the time of his life. While the role allowed Dangerfield to basically perform material from his stand-up shows, he also embraced the eccentricities of playing the carefree and unkempt rich man.

“So what? So Let’s Dance!” is a particularly hilarious Rodney Dangerfield Caddyshack line as it comes out of nowhere. After trying to give one of the young caddies a lesson in work ethic, Al busts out a radio built into his golf bag and turns the fairway into a dance club. It is a perfect example of the kind of lively attitude Al is bringing to the snobbish club. The moment is totally random which also fits into the movie’s style of only being concerned with making the audience laugh.

20 “Whoa, Did Somebody Step On A Duck?”

Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield)

Throughout comedy movies, fart jokes have proven to be a big hit with audiences of all ages, and Caddyshack is the kind of film that knows this and embraces it wholeheartedly. The only thing funnier than a fart is a fart in an inappropriate setting. Rodney Dangerfield’s Al Czervik might be wealthy, but his behavior sticks out among the more conservative guests of Bushwood Country Club.

In fact, Al’s carefree enough to break wind in a fancy restaurant in the loudest way possible. While he is not shy about letting his fart ring loud and far, his insistence that it must have been a duck provided people with a hilarious fake excuse for years to come. It’s one of the most often repeated Caddyshack quotes and a shining example of why Rodney Dangerfield is so highly regarded as a comedian.

19 “I Hear This Place Is Restricted, Wang, So Don’t Tell Them You’re Jewish.”

Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield)

Al and his party of fun-loving friends come into the country club like a tornado, disrupting the calm and sophisticated way some of the older members want things to operate. It is a breath of fresh air that loosens things up.

Al is also not shy about pointing out the faults and making fun of the country club and its strict rules. Such is the case when he and his party arrive and Al makes this comment to his Asian companion.

It is a funny line that he and his friends laugh about, but it is also an endearing moment of Al further separating himself from the less likable aspects of the country club. There is a sense that he is not too keen on the supposed restrictive nature of the club, nor does he respect such rules. However, it also shows that he is a lot more open about who he hangs around with than the other club members.

18 “Doodie!”

Spalding Smails (John F. Barmon, Jr.)

Caddyshack never pretends to be a highbrow comedy and, like Al’s explicit fart, it totally embraces crude humor to great effect. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is completely detached from the rest of the plot and never comes up again, but it still delivers big laughs. The caddies are given a rare chance to frolic in the country club pool, and it turns into a party.

However, when a girl drops her candy bar into the pool, it causes mass hysteria with everyone mistaking it for a piece of poop. The scene is a hilarious parody of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, complete with the iconic score. This leads to one oblivious swimmer, Spalding, swimming directly up to the chocolate bar and screaming out in horror. However, the biggest laugh comes after when Carl cleans out the pool and finds the candy bar, taking a bite much to the disgust of onlookers.

17 “Cinderella Story. Outta Nowhere. A Former Greenskeeper, Now, About To Become The Masters Champion.”

Carl Spackler (Bill Murray)

Bill Murray’s groundskeeper character in Caddyshack, Carl Spackler, might have little to do with the overall plot of the film, but every moment he’s on screen is a treat. One of his most memorable moments is his own play-by-play of his imaginary golf championship.

He comes up with an elaborate story of the announcers describing this golfer phenom who rose from being a lowly groundskeeper to being a star in the professional golf world. While the line isn’t particularly funny written down, Murray’s unhinged delivery is what sells it as a classic moment.

The fact that he’s absentmindedly destroying the country club’s flowers as he daydreams makes it all the better. It is also a look at the mind of the somewhat sad and always hilarious Carl who seems aimless for so much of the movie yet clearly has ambitions beyond his work at the golf course.

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16 “A Flute With No Holes, Is Not A Flute. A Donut With No Hole Is A Danish.”

Ty Webb (Chevy Chase)

Chevy Chase’s time on Community might not have given him a very good reputation these days, but there was a time when he was Hollywood’s comedy superstar. His bone-dry delivery was perfect, and he pulled off the charming jerk very well.

Ty Webb, the course hotshot in Caddyshack, is similar to Dangerfield’s Al in that he is a refreshing change of pace from the stuffy club members, not taking any of this very seriously. It is an ideal role for Chase. One of Ty’s best Caddyshack quotes comes when giving life lessons to Danny Noonan (Michael O’Keefe).

His ridiculous and pointless philosophy lesson to young Danny is so funny because it seems like Chase is just thinking out loud. Ty doesn’t care if he’s actually teaching the youngster anything, he is just trying to amuse himself. Chase’s delivery draws the audience in to really listen to what he is saying only for it to be nonsense.

15 “Oh, It Looks Good On You Though.”

Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield)

Rodney Dangerfield made a long and successful stand-up comedy career from insulting himself, so it only makes sense that he would be just as good at insulting other people. Al walks a fine line by making fun of everyone without seeming mean, as if it would be a pleasure to be insulted by this fun-loving man. However, the man who finds himself on the receiving end of a lot of the insults is the man with the worst sense of humor – Judge Smails.

When he’s checking out the golf clothing store, Al hilariously begins insulting one of the hats on display, saying:

”
When you buy a hat like this I bet you get a free bowl of soup, huh?”

When he finally notices that Judge Smails is standing right there wearing the same hat, Al insists it looks good on him, followed by an exaggerated and obvious eye roll. Dangerfield’s hilarious delivery really sells the moment with him obviously not carrying how obvious it is that his comment to Smails is insincere.

14 “Well, The World Needs Ditch Diggers, Too.”

Judge Smails (Ted Knight)

While the comedy stars like Bill Murray and Chevy Chase are often given most of the attention in the movie, Ted Knight is a key part of the Caddyshack cast. His performance as the villainous and detestable Judge Smails is an unenviable one, as he is the least fun and least likable character in the movie. However, Knight fully commits to the antagonistic role and Caddyshack is all the more memorable for it.

When young caddy Danny attempts to get into Judge Smails’ good graces, he is hoping that it will help him with his future plans of going to law school. He explains these plans to Smails as they are out on the golf course, but when Danny attempts to draw sympathy by telling him he doesn’t have the money for college, Smails suggests a career in ditch digging is in his future. It is a hilariously cold line that Knight delivers wonderfully.

13 “I Enjoy Skinny Skiing, Going To Bullfights On Acid.”

Lacey Underall (Cindy Morgan)

Another one of the underrated characters in the movie is Lacey, the niece of Judge Smails. Like many of the more likable characters in the film, she is just there to find her own form of fun, catching the eye of many of the male characters and toying with them in a playful way.

During one of the club’s fancy dinners, Lacy and Ty begin talking with him attempting to woo the presumably “nice girl” type. When she seems unimpressed with the idea that he golfs for fun, he asks her what she likes to do for excitement.

Chase’s hilariously flustered reaction to his answer proves that she is a lot more to handle than Ty anticipated, It is a lot of fun seeing the usually smooth and confident Ty suddenly thrown off by this bold and wild young woman.

12 “I’ve Sentenced Boys Younger Than You To The Gas Chamber. Didn’t Wanna Do It, But Felt I Owed It To Them.”

Judge Smails (Ted Knight)

Caddyshack is not a subtle movie and that is part of what makes it so fun to watch. Judge Smails is a perfect example of this as he fits into the standard cliché of the uptight authoritarian villain in 80s movies who keeps stopping the main characters from having fun. However, unlike a lot of those characters, Smails is a hilarious character in his own right thanks to Ted Knight’s performance and the immense unlikability of the character.

When giving a speech to Danny about the “goodness and badness” in the world, Smails continues to show how much of a villain he is, discussing sentencing people to death and suggesting they should thank him for it. The whole scene is a hilarious way of showing just how out of touch Smails is and how he sees himself as a much more impressive figure than he really is.

11 “In Order To Conquer An Animal, I Have To Think Like An Animal, And Whenever Possible, Look Like One.”

Carl Spackler (Bill Murray)

One of the highlights and most memorable aspects of Caddyshack is Carl’s fruitless efforts to kill the gopher that is destroying the golf course. Just as with his make-believe game as a professional golfer, there is a sense that Carl is disconnected from reality and he becomes consumed with the hunt, blowing it far out of proportion. He takes the job very seriously, yet always seems to be outsmarted by the vermin.

The wild depths he’s willing to go to in order to kill this innocent, fun-loving creature just add to the out-of-this-world nature of the character. He’s not saying his battle tactics to anyone in particular, but it is clear he sees the killing of this small critter to be one of the most important jobs of his life. Murray adds his own absurd sense of humor to the line with the addition of “and whenever possible, look like an animal.”

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10 “Check Me If I’m Wrong Sandy, But If I Kill All The Golfers, They’re Gonna Lock Me Up And Throw Away the Key.”

Carl Spackler (Bill Murray)

Though Bill Murray’s collaborations with Wes Anderson and his Oscar-nominated role in Lost in Translation showed a new side of the actor, it is still enjoyable to see him play goofy characters like Carl in Caddyshack with his misadventures chasing a gofer. Even the moment Carl is given the assignment to kill the gofer is hilarious, as he thinks his boss said “golfers.”

What makes the moment especially funny is not the misunderstanding, but rather the fact that Carl doesn’t seem overly concerned given the fact that he thinks he is being asked to commit murder. He is not unwilling to do the job, but feels as though he has to communicate his concerns. However, when his boss corrects him to kill the gofer, Carl hilariously replies:

”
We can do that… we don’t even have to have a reason
.”

Once again, it is a sign of Carl’s disconnected mind as he seems to think simply having a reason to kill someone is a good enough defense.

9 “Who’s The Gopher’s Ally? His Friends. The Harmless Squirrel And The Friendly Rabbit.”

Carl Spackler (Bill Murray)

Though Carl’s dedication to the job of killing the gopher can be admired, it becomes clear that he is going way over the top in dealing with this tricking vermin. It doesn’t take long for Carl to start causing a lot more damage to the course than the gopher ever could.

This is only added to when Carl decides that it is time to add a little explosive material to his hunting. As Carl continues to attempt to play the psychological game against the gopher, he strategizes how he will get close to him.

It is hilarious that Carl sees the gopher as some mastermind that needs to be outsmarted when the reality is simply that Carl himself might not be smarter than a common animal. He comes to the outrageous conclusion that the gopher is friends with and will trust fellow critters like squirrels and rabbits, then presents his own sculptures of these animals that he made out of plastic explosives.

8 “Hey, Smails! My Dinghy’s Bigger Than Your Whole Boat!”

Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield)

The battle between Judge Smails and Al provides the movie with some of its funniest moments, which of course also means it’s the source of some of the best Caddyshack quotes. The rivalry is especially hilarious since Al seems to have no animosity towards Smails, yet he continuously infuriates and humiliates the pompous judge.

Al is having a great time, but since he is doing it in an obnoxious way, it becomes an all-consume hatred for Smails. This only leads to Al ruining just about every moment of Smails’ enjoyment. As Smails was christening his new boat, it was obvious that Al would find some way to intrude on his big moment.

Indeed, he did so by racing his much bigger boat over to say hello, causing chaos and damage in his wake. Not only did he manage to destroy the Smails’ new boat, but Al also took the opportunity to point out its shortcomings. It is a funny detail in the movie that Al is such an outsider among the club members, but he is far richer than all of them.

7 “We Have A Pool And A Pond… Pond’d Be Good For You.”

Ty Webb (Chevy Chase)

Despite being the two biggest stars in Caddyshack, Bill Murray and Chevy Chase only share one scene together. It is reported that the random scene was added on the fly in order to allow the two Saturday Night Live legends to share the screen. The result is a hilarious scene in which Ty accidentally hits his ball into Carl’s disheveled home/office and the two share an awkward conversation.

It is a perfect pairing between the two styles of humor with Carl’s oddball comments and Ty’s witty digs. When Carl asks Ty if he has a pool at his house, he replies there is a pool and a pond, but the pond would be better suited for Carl.

The scene is heavily improvised by the two actors and this quick insult is a hilarious one-liner where Chase gets into the fun exchange. Though Ty is more easygoing than the other club members, Carl is a bit too wild for even him.

6 “The Amazing Stuff About This Is That You Can Play 36 Holes On It In The Afternoon, Take It Home And Just Get Stoned To The Bejesus Belt That Night On This Stuff.”

Carl Spackler (Bill Murray)

There is something charming about the fact that Carl is a very dedicated groundskeeper but is simply not very good at his job. He has a passion for the work but his eccentric approach to it makes it clear that he thinks he is doing a much better job than he really is. One aspect of his dedication comes when Ty stumbles into his work area and Carl shows him some of the different styles of grass he is experimenting with.

Carl growing his own grass to become more knowledgeable about the key aspect of groundskeeping is a funny idea, especially with the idea that he is doing hybrid strains of the stuff. However, when he suggests that the grass can also be smoked for more recreational purposes, it becomes clear what the whole purpose of this is. It also helps to explain a lot of Carl’s behavior.

5 “Thank You Very Little.”

Ty Webb (Chevy Chase)

While Caddyshack is a comedy, it is also a great sports movie and every great sports movie needs at least one great athlete in it. This is the role Ty has in the film, as he is the most exceptional golfer in the club, even though he seems to care the least and try the least.

Chevy Chase plays this charming arrogance quite well in an early scene in which Ty, after clowning around on the course for quite some time, showcases just how good he is.

To add a wonderful bit of showmanship to the moment, when his caddy Danny compliments him on the performance, Ty responds “Thank you very little“, showing that he needs no praise. It could have come off as annoyingly pompous for Ty, but Chase’s performance perfectly balances these moments with a sense of goofiness that really makes Ty a more endearing character than expected.

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4 “By Height.”

Ty Webb (Chevy Chase)

That charming jerk persona that Chevy Chase pulled off so well was especially effective when aimed at an unlikable character. Though he is a skilled golfer, Ty proves many times that he is too cool and laidback for the stuffy people of the country club, especially Judge Smails. It is clear that he does not like the man, and unlike many other characters who are trying to stay on Smails’ good side, Ty doesn’t try to hide it. Ty’s constant take-downs of the oblivious Smails throughout Caddyshack are funny and satisfying.

Though Smails thinks he’s buddying around with the club’s most talented golfer, Ty isn’t being too subtle about what he thinks of the judge or that he has no interest in connecting with him. Ty tells the judge he doesn’t keep score when golfing, Smails asks how he measures himself against other golfers. Ty’s witty response, “By height,” signals how doesn’t take Smail seriously at all. It is a subtle line that fits perfectly with Chase’s effective dry humor.

3 “Hey Baby, You Must’ve Been Something Before Electricity.”

Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield)

One of the joys of watching Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack is how he effortlessly sets himself up for each one-liner. He has a proven pattern to his joke-telling that shows why he is a legend in the comedy world. While it might be outdated now, these kinds of simple insults in Caddyshack are hilarious thanks largely to Dangerfield’s perfect delivery. It is not meanspirited but simple Al’s way of having a little fun with the uptight crowd.

When Al waltzes his way into another fancy party, he once again sets his sights on Smails to torment. This time, Al cuts in and steals a dance with Smails’ wife. Not only does this insult Smails who is standing beside them fuming, but he offers this hilarious insult disguised as a compliment. Similar to Chevy Chase’s performance as Ty, Dangerfield is able to get away with these moments with charm and the sense that he is the life of the party.

2 “So I Got That Goin’ For Me, Which Is Nice.”

Carl Spackler (Bill Murray)

The great thing about Carl in Caddyshack is that it is impossible to determine how much of what he’s saying is in his head and how much of it is true. This is especially true of his iconic story about when he was a caddy for the Dali Lama. As he absent-mindedly holds a young man by the point of his pitchfork, Carl relates this bizarre story about joining the Buddhist spiritual leader on the golf course only for him to stiff Carl on the tip.

However, Carl insists there are no hard feelings as the Dali Lama promises he will achieve total consciousness on his deathbed. Carl’s proud but subdued delivery of “which is nice” makes it one of the funniest quotes in Caddyshack. The entire story is hilarious with the idea of Carl having to confront the beloved spiritual leader over a lack of a tip. However, the casual way he brags about the idea of achieving this higher plain of knowledge is a terrific moment of Carl’s charm.