One of the most surprising cameos in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F seems to suggest that the movie takes place in the same cinematic universe as a classic Adam Sandler comedy. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F sees Eddie Murphy’s renegade Detroit cop Axel Foley heading back to Beverly Hills for another close-to-home investigation when his estranged daughter Jane, a successful defense attorney, is threatened by mysterious criminals. While he’s in Beverly Hills, Axel teams up with his old pals Billy Rosewood and John Taggart – as well as Jane’s ex-boyfriend, Detective Bobby Abbott.

There are a bunch of unexpected cameo appearances by famous faces in the sequel, from Nasim Pedrad as a real estate agent to Luis Guzmán as a drug dealer who spends his days singing karaoke. But perhaps the most surprising is when a character from another movie seems to wander into the Beverly Hills Cop universe. Christopher McDonald’s cameo in the Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F cast is almost as bizarre as the Mad Men reunion in Jerry Seinfeld’s Unfrosted.

Happy Gilmore’s Christopher McDonald Has A Cameo As An Angry Golfer In Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Axel crash-lands a helicopter on a golf course

Christopher McDonald as a golfer in Beverly Hills Cop Axel F

After being captured by some corrupt cops, Axel’s escape plan involves getting up to the roof with Bobby – a former L.A.P.D. air support officer – so that he can fly them away from the bad guys in a helicopter. However, much to Axel’s dismay, it turns out Bobby crashed a helicopter, ended his career in air support, and has been terrified of flying ever since. So, their escape isn’t quite as smooth as Axel had hoped, leading to some of the film’s funniest moments.

Rather than landing smoothly on tarmac, Bobby crash-lands the helicopter in the middle of a private golf course. There, the duo is confronted by a hot-tempered golfer, played by Christopher McDonald, best known for playing Happy Gilmore villain Shooter McGavin. But is this just a nod to McDonald’s most iconic role, like his recent cameo at a celebrity golf tournament in Hacks, or is it a confirmation that Beverly Hills Cop and Happy Gilmore take place in the same cinematic universe?

Is Shooter McGavin The Golfer In Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F?

McDonald is credited simply as “Golfer”

Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin celebrating in Happy Gilmore

In the end credits of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, McDonald is credited simply as “Golfer,” so it’s likely not a canonical crossover with Happy Gilmore. Don’t expect Axel Foley to share the screen with Happy Gilmore any time soon. However, casting McDonald in the role of an angry golfer does seem like an intentional reference to the Shooter McGavin character – and it could even be a subtle setup for Netflix’s much-hyped sequel to Happy Gilmore.