Bill Murray: The Beloved Star of the Pebble Beach Pro Am

What Is the Pebble Beach Pro Am? (Explained Simply)

The Pebble Beach Pro Am is a golf event held on the Monterey Peninsula in California. It’s a tournament where professional golfers and amateur guests (like actors or athletes) play together.

For years, the funny actor Bill Murray has been the "face" (the most recognizable star) of this event. He is a legendary actor and comedian who started coming to the event in the early 1990s and has made fans smile ever since.

Bill’s Funny and Memorable Moments

Bill Murray has done many things at this golf party:

• He arrived in the early 1990s and has delighted fans along the Monterey Peninsula.
• He had a "walk-off rules violation" (he once left the game because of a rule disagreement).
• He won the pro-am portion (the amateur side of the contest) in 2011.
• He even punted a teddy bear (kicked a stuffed toy like a football) into the crowd during one round.

Important: Bill isn’t just a golfer—he’s an entertainer who turns the event into a comedy show!

What Is It Like to Play With Bill? (Mark Grace’s Story)

A baseball legend named Mark Grace (he played for the Chicago Cubs) talked about playing with Bill. He shared his experience on the latest episode of GOLF’s Subpar Podcast with hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz.

Mark said this exact thing:

“Playing with Bill, gosh, red carpet for everything. From the after parties and all that to huge galleries. It was the Bing Crosby back then. It should’ve been the Bill Murray at Pebble Beach. He’s so beloved. At that time, it was Stripes and Caddyshack, all of his movies. So every time you’re over a putt, Bill can just look and people start laughing. He doesn’t say a word and people start laughing. He just abuses people and they love it.”

In kid-friendly words: Mark means that Bill got VIP treatment (red carpet) with parties and big crowds. The event was originally linked to singer Bing Crosby, but Mark thinks it should be named after Bill because everyone adores him. Since Bill’s movies were popular, just his funny look makes people giggle while they try to putt (a soft golf hit). Bill playfully teases people, and they enjoy it.

The Time Bill Yelled at a Vice President

Mark also remembered a specific tournament at the Poppy Hills Golf Course where Bill got impatient with a very important person:

1. Dan Quayle, who was the U.S. Vice President, was playing in front of them.
2. He had a tiny putt—only about two feet from the hole.
3. He kept lining it up and stepping back to check (“getting back in”).
4. Finally, Bill shouted at him: “Hurry up!”
5. Grace said this moment was super awkward.

Here is the exact memory from Mark:

“Quayle was over a two-footer in front of us. He’s over a two-footer. He’s lining it up, he’s getting back in. Finally, Bill screams at him, ‘Hurry up!’ That went over like a fart in church.”

(“Went over like a fart in church” is a silly saying meaning it was very unwelcome and embarrassing!)

Where to Listen and Watch

To hear more from Mark Grace, you can check out the full conversation:

• GOLF’s Subpar Podcast (with Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz): Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Full video episode on YouTube: Watch here

Summary

Bill Murray has been the beloved, funny center of the Pebble Beach Pro Am since the early 1990s. He has won the amateur title in 2011, kicked a teddy bear to fans, and even left a game over a rules spat. Baseball star Mark Grace described on the Subpar Podcast how Bill gets red-carpet treatment and makes everyone laugh with just a look. In one famous moment, Bill yelled at Vice President Dan Quayle to speed up his tiny putt—a comment that fell flat. For the full stories, the podcast and YouTube links above have you covered!

FAQ

Q1: Who is Bill Murray?
A: He is a famous actor and comedian known for movies like Stripes and Caddyshack. He is also a huge personality at the Pebble Beach Pro Am golf event.

Q2: What is the Pebble Beach Pro Am?
A: It’s a golf tournament in California where pros and celebrity amateurs play together. It used to be associated with singer Bing Crosby.

Q3: What happened with Bill Murray and Vice President Dan Quayle?
A: At Poppy Hills Golf Course, Quayle took a long time on a two-foot putt. Bill yelled “Hurry up!” which was very awkward, like “a fart in church.”

Q4: What is the Subpar Podcast?
A: It’s a golf chat show by GOLF, hosted by Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz. Mark Grace appeared on the latest episode to talk about Bill Murray.

Q5: What does “walk-off rules violation” mean?
A: It means Bill once disagreed with a golf rule and left the game early, like stomping off the field.