From the sugarcane plantation to the hall of fame.
The original golf showman, Chi Chi Rodriguez, had humble beginnings in Puerto Rico fetching balls for quarters on the golf course. Rodriguez and his brother, Julio, reflect on their youth and how Chi Chi reached the PGA tour in the 1960s, when golf was considered a sport for the privileged. Through his relentless drive, he changed the norms of the game with his unique style. It brought him fans, and it brought him fame but it also brought him detractors. Chi Chi’s experiences were a reflection of the times - where most people’s impression of Puerto Ricans came from films like “West Side Story.” He found himself defending his “American” status to those who did not realize that Puerto Ricans were U.S. citizens. Yet, Rodriguez always refused to give up his identity. Sports experts discuss his legacy on and off the green. He brought entertainment to the game, one of the first to celebrate on a sports field, used the post- game press conference to build a brand, and one of the first to use his name for philanthropy. Archival footage of Rodriguez on the Senior Tour shows him in his element as the ultimate showman.
Marisol González (Director/Writer/Executive Producer) is a Dominican filmmaker and producer. She lives in New York. Currently she works at HBO. González earned Siempre Mujer Magazine’s ‘Always Inspiring’ honor for her hands-on commitment to important causes in the Hispanic community. In 2011 she was presented the ‘Proclamation Award’ by New York State Senator José Peralta for her “outstanding service to the Latino community.” In 2018, her documentary Children Behind the Wall won an award for Best Produced Documentary (International) and was nominated for Best Director Feature and Best Indie Film at the Hudson River International Film Festival. The same year, González was invited to speak at the United Nations in a roundtable with Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dr. Ernest Kahan and prominent Latino designer Raul Peñaranda; they discussed how creative economy, education, and independent film can be used for development. González is currently in the film festival circuit looking for distribution for her most recent documentary, Remembering Big: Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez story which profiles the sports icon, Chi Chi Rodríguez, and the only Puerto Rican in the golf hall of fame to this point. It has won Best Documentary Feature at the Queens World Film Festival, Best Documentary at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival and it was awarded the Insight Award Winner at the Orlando Film Festival in 2025.
World Premiere: Boston Film Festival 2025
Queens, NY premiere: Queens World Film Festival 2025
Florida Premiere: Naples International Film Festival 2025
International Puerto Rican Heritage film festival 2025
Orlando Premiere: Orlando Film Festival 2025
Queens World Film Festival 2025: Best Documentary Feature
International Puerto Rican Heritage film festival 2025: Best Documentary
Orlando Film Festival 2025: Insight Award - Feature Documentary
Sports Legend- Juan "Chi Chi" Rodriguez
