A documentary about golfers is far from what anyone would expect to be rife with personality, emotion and humor, but “The Short Game” might just be the only one to fit that description. What makes the documentary so great comes down to the one thing that sets it apart from every other golf documentary: children.
Josh Greenbaum’s documentary focuses on the trials and tribulations of eight young golfers competing at the 2012 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, N.C. The initial setup introduces the 7-year-old prodigies, whose personalities are so fascinating and distinct, it is as if they were written for a scripted film.
The children hail from nations around the world including South Africa, France and China. Early on, the film gives an inside look at how the parents’ culture shapes each child’s personality, and how each child’s personality shapes his or her golf game. Each child puts countless hours into training for Pinehurst, which is referred to as the Super Bowl of kids golf. They each have their own varying levels of self-confidence, ranging from hot headed to incredibly camera shy. Greenbaum expertly personifies the individuals and uses this to tug at the viewer’s heart strings when the competition gets tough.
The competition itself is where the emotion really starts to kick in. Following each of the three tournament days, the film presents the events almost as a live television broadcast, commentators and all. For those who are not fond of slow-paced live golf broadcasts, Greenbaum makes his documentary the perfect way to follow golfers throughout a tournament. The documentary forces the viewer to realize just how crucial emotions can be in competition, especially for children, whose hot tempers can lead to a bad game.
In “The Short Game,” Greenbaum proves that if executed properly, a documentary can be more relatable and emotional than any theatrical film. His documentary allows the viewer to experience the stresses of the competitors straight from the competitors themselves. It places the viewer next to the golfers as they get pep talks from their “daddy caddies,” making it all the more satisfying when they play well. Not only do these pep talks reinforce the idea of “playing for fun, not just to win” to the kids but also to the viewer.
The camera work, editing and music mixing put “The Short Game” among the most visually satisfying documentaries out there. The Temper Trap’s “Sweet Disposition” played as the camera swoops over the beautiful golf course creates an air of grace, while Eminem’s “Won’t Back Down” played over slow-motion shots of the female competitors striking the ball added a sense of empowerment to the golfers. No matter what emotion the film is trying to achieve, it does so in strides.
“The Short Game” is a case of documentary magic where cinematography and content come together to turn the slow-paced game of golf into a battlefield of emotion and triumph. It is clear that one day, when these kids are the top adult golfers in the world, “The Short Game” will be a viewing requirement for fans looking to see where their idol got started.
