Samuel L. Jackson's Biggest Addiction

Samuel L. Jackson plays a tee shot during the Shooting Stars charity event at England's The Grove Hotel course in June 2013.

 He took on "the Dark Side," overcame a plane-load of rogue reptiles and struck down his enemies with "great vengeance and furious anger."
However, Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson is more at home on the genteel fairways of a golf course.
The actor, whose numerous film credits include Pulp Fiction, the Star Wars prequels and, yes, Snakes On A Plane, is so dedicated to perfecting his game that he has a clause written into his contracts that allows him time off to play golf.
"
They have to let me play at least twice a week," Jackson said "Generally they either move me onto a golf course or I join a club so I can play there."
The 64-year-old plays off a six-handicap and is a regular at celebrity pro-am tournaments, having lined up at famed courses such as St. Andrews and Pebble Beach.
ackson has teed off alongside peers such as Clint Eastwood and Don Cheadle, as well as saxophonist Kenny G -- the man he rates the best amateur golfer he has played against -- but his favorite round was with 14-time major winner Tiger Woods.

Read: Clock ticking for Tiger?

"The first time I played St. Andrews (in Scotland) I actually played with Tiger," Jackson said. "That's kind of a big deal.

"When I was shooting Freedomland (filmed in the state of New York) the producers gave me as my wrap gift three rounds of golf at Augusta."
Golfing good deeds

The Pulp Fiction actor is one of the most prolific golfers on the celebrity circuit, and has it written into his movie contracts that he can play twice a week.

Jackson's love of golf is now such an intrinsic part of his off-screen character that the profile on his Twitter page shows him channeling movie star in a sharp black suit -- while he holds a putter behind his back.
He also blends his celebrity status with his golf game to raise funds in his annual Shooting Stars charity fundraiser.
The 2013 event, held just outside London, raised funds for the Alzheimer's Association -- a charity that has a personal meaning for the actor.

"My mum passed from Alzheimer's last year -- my grandfather had it, her sister's got it, her brother had it, my paternal grandmother had it, so it seems like I'm kind of surrounded by it," Jackson explained.
"I may need the help of that organization at some point so I better raise some money for them!"
As henchman Jules Winnfield in 1994's breakthrough Pulp Fiction performance, Jackson memorably quoted the Bible as he sought "the path of the righteous man" -- and he also has advice for those seeking the perfect golf stroke.
"The first thing is keep your head down," he says.
"That's the hardest thing to do when you're a beginner because you always want to see where the ball is going, so you always tend to look up before you swing.
"So keep your head down, swing easy -- not hard -- find a tempo that's comfortable for you, and have fun. Don't take it seriously."

August 17, 2013