Clerks Golf Weekend
Leonardo, NJ
Buena Park, CA
The story of Kevin Smith and Clerks ever getting famous is a shining example of the American dream. The movie, written and directed by film school dropout Smith, was shot on black-and-white 16mm and made for $27,000 garnered from hawked comic books, 10 maxed-out credit cards, and paychecks from the film's Quick Stop convenience store (where Smith actually worked and did much of the filming... while getting paid). Kevin then managed to get his film into the minor-league 1993 Independent Film Festival. The only screening happened to get seen by indie film consultant Bob Hawk, who was the only person in attendance other than Smith's family and friends. Hawk loved the movie, and his influence got Clerks into the 1994 Sundance Festival, which got Miramax interested. On top of that, it was originally rejected by Harvey Weinstein as a Miramax acquisition after he walked out during the anti-smoking scene at the beginning. Miramax then had to hire Alan Dershowitz of the O.J. defense team to fight the original NC-17 rating to get the R-rating required for national release. It was only good ol' blind American lottery-type luck that Smith ever made it out of Jersey. Well, that and his little film was funny as shit.
The epicenter of any Clerks golf weekend would be Quick Stop Groceries and RST Video (58 & 60 Leonard Ave) in Leanardo, New Jersey.
Stop there first to stock up on Twizzlers and Mountain Dew. Bring a boombox for hanging out in front of the place.
The funeral home is Posten's, 59 E. Lincoln Ave, Atlantic Highlands, and Comic World is at 1690 Rt. 38 in Mount Holly.
Where To Play: For a movie that announced the new indie trend in Hollywood, the good area golf offerings are all old school. Hominy Hill GC (Colt's Neck, 1965 RTJ, Sr.) has garnered various rankings from national golf magazines, from Top 10 Golf Digest Publics in 1990 to #3 Most Affordable Courses in 1996. The routing is tree-lined with a few water holes. Old Orchard CC (Eatontown) is a 1929 A.W. Tillinghast with narrow fairways, fast greens, and water on 8 holes. Or try Colt's Neck GC (Colt's Neck). The front is open and linksy, while the back is tree-lined parkland, with Scottish-style bunkers throughout.
Where To Grub: One would hope against hope that there actually was a Mooby's (from Clerks II) somewhere in Jersey, even if you can tell in one glance that it's an over-the-top fictional chain. Personally I think Clerks II is at least as funny as, if not funnier than, the original. It easily makes my Top 5 Funniest Movies Of All Time. The dialogue Smith comes up with, particularly for Randall, is some of the most original rapid-fire hilarious filth ever written (I can't even imagine being actor Jeff Anderson and having to memorize all those lines jam-packed with curses and details). And Jay's antics are always a howl. I laugh out loud the whole way though that movie, even after multiple viewings. Not to mention the sexy character played by Rosario Dawson. If that scene of her teaching Dante to dance up on the roof of the Mooby's in that tanktop doesn't make you want to simultaneously fall in love with her and ravage her right there and then, then I don't know what will. Add to that the "A-to-M" dialogue Kevin has her spouting, and I just can't get enough of that movie.
The sad thing is, I'm such a hyper-observant TV/movie addict that I could tell by the quality of the sunlight in the movie that it wasn't really filmed in Jersey. Somehow you can just tell when it's California sunshine on screen. Sure enough, a check of IMDB revealed that the fictional Mooby's was a converted Burger King in Buena Park, CA that's since been torn down. Find any Jersey B.K., and it'll be a close enough approximation.
[Fat Guy Note: I have not taken this trip or explored any of these courses/locations. As always, proper research and reservations are required. I'm just the idea guy on this one.]