It’s part Caddyshack, part Siddhartha, and somehow, it works. “Fairways to Happiness” explores whether a perfect round can lead to a more perfect life.
Trailer for “Fairways to Happiness”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- The UAE created a real Ministry of Happiness in 2016—and even has a Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing.
- The Ministry runs a “National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing” with happiness surveys and well-being metrics built into public services.
- The doc shows kids learning positive psychology in school as part of “well-being science.” It’s not just math and reading—there are happiness report cards now.
Watch “Fairways to Happiness”
You can find streaming options and more info about “Fairways to Happiness” on JustWatch.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 80/100
- IMDB Rating: 9.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Users (na), Critics (100/100)
Director’s Note: Doug Morrione moved from NYC to Dubai in 2014, burned out, and seeking a fresh start. This doc is his personal search for what happiness means, set in one of the world’s most futuristic and diverse cities. Runtime is 1 hour 24 minutes.
Release Date: 2022
My Review of “Fairways to Happiness”
The Setup
The film takes place in the United Arab Emirates—home to the world’s first Ministry of Happiness. An American filmmaker explores what happiness means for people living in Dubai: from educators to spiritual leaders, from immigrants to citizens. At the same time, Eugene, a British amateur golfer, fights to improve his golf game—a humble struggle that mirrors the bigger search for contentment.
More Highlights from the Doc
- The emotional swings of Eugene’s golf rounds (par, double bogey, repeat) reflect the doc’s deeper message: happiness is unstable, and maybe that’s the point.
- We hear from a monk, a Catholic priest, Bangladeshi workers, a Ukrainian expat, and more—each with different ideas about joy, family, and purpose.
- Footage travels from Dubai to Nepal, England, Bangladesh and the U.S., comparing lives “back home” with expat life in the UAE.
- The Dubai golf course, with its manicured greens against desert backdrops and skyscrapers, becomes a metaphor for striving in a designed world.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- The UAE’s happiness policy includes a formal “UAE Declaration of Happiness and Positivity”—it’s a government-wide philosophy with legally defined roles.
- The doc never forces answers—it allows people to contradict each other. One person says happiness is purpose; another says it’s letting go of purpose.
- Eugene’s story arc isn’t neatly resolved. His scores fluctuate. His attitude does too. And that’s exactly the film’s point.
Wrap Up
This is a quiet, thoughtful film that asks big questions without shouting. If you like your docs low-key but insightful, give this one a shot. And if you like golf docs, you will love these.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc