So, That Golf Club Scene in "The Last of Us Part 2" Was Based on a Real Event

Here’s where creative director Neil Druckmann got his inspiration.

If you spent countless nights playing The Last of Us Part II, you would know that the game is pretty damn brutal.

From violent kill animations to acidic puss-spewing zombies, this game has it all. However, nothing is more mind-blowing than that particularly vicious scene involving a golf club and our favourite character, Joel.

So, what if we told you that the scene was actually based on a real-life event? 

Well, it is.

*Spoilers for The Last of Us Part II below.*

Personally, I remember coming home from the shops on release day, game in hand, excited to continue the journey of Ellie and Joel against the forces of the Fireflies, Hunters, and the terrifying zombie-like infected.

Instead, in less than an hour, I was baulking at the screen as the game's main antagonist, Abby, brutally beat Joel to a gruesome death with a golf club.

It's fair to say nobody saw Joel's death coming so early in the game. Nor could gamers foresee the humiliation they'd have to endure later on when you assume the role of Abby on her warpath of violence.

Killing off a main character though—especially one as beloved as Joel—in such a ruthless fashion was a bold move from the game's creative director Neil Druckmann. 

Although, as it turns out, this method of mindless murder was not the initial plan for Joel's death. 

"For a long time, Abby stabbed Joel in the back then twisted the knife to paralyse him," Druckmann said in an interview with The Washington Post.

"But knife felt more like an Ellie thing. We wanted something different." 

Okay cool, Druckmann. But why did Abby go from brandishing a knife to wielding a golf club? 

Well, it appears that the chaotic idea came from an accident that happened when Druckmann was only 16-years-old. (Don't worry, he wasn't beaten to a pulp with a golf club in his youth.)

Instead, the creative director was unintentionally whacked on the head with a golf club at the driving range by a mate.

"My friend was into [golf]. He invited me to go to a driving range. He was showing me the ropes. I stood behind him, and got smacked on the back swing. Blood everywhere." 

The incident left a permanent dent in Druckmann's skull, so of course the natural progression was to leave a mental dent in gamers' minds with that infamous scene.

Fans everywhere were outraged at Joel's sudden death and voiced their frustrations on Twitter.

Your manipulation of the role Joel had in the #lastofuspart2 trailers was disgusting! You manipulated consumers and it's trash.

Thank you for validating my cancellation! pic.twitter.com/Xy1PqOGD8V

— More Coffee! (@TGeeB) June 19, 2020

Safe to say Druckmann doesn't really care what ya'll think based on his response.

pic.twitter.com/C9w4GBBa9H

— Dr. Uckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) February 17, 2021

Hysteria aside, The Last of Us Part II was one of the top-selling games of 2020, scooping up over 280 awards.

The franchise is set to expand in the future with HBO planning to release a series starring Pedro Pascal from The Mandalorian as Joel, and Game of Thrones' Bella Ramsay as Ellie. 

The Last of Us Part II is now available on PS4.

Header Image: Naughty Dog