Actor McClure finds his second calling

In his 34 years as an actor, Marc McClure’s movie credits include playing Jimmy Olsen in “Superman” and its three sequels, roles in “Back to the Future”, “Apollo 13” and “Freaky Friday” and numerous guest star spots on major network television shows.

So what did the 50-year-old longtime Glendale resident decide his next big project would be?

Try a starring role on the Glendale Community College’s men’s golf team.

McClure, who has never played competitively on a golf team before, will be one of 13 players on the Vaqueros roster to start the 2008 season. The chance for McClure to be a part of the school’s first men’s golf team since 1985 — when the program was axed due to budget cuts — is something that clearly has him brimming with elation and anticipation.

“It’s a lot of excitement for Glendale college,” said McClure, who boasts “around a seven” handicap which he hopes to lower throughout the season. “It’s a lot of excitement for the area how the golf program went down and never came back is almost unheard of. … I have found myself to be in such a great spot to have the opportunity to do this. It’s unbelievable.”

While McClure hasn’t totally traded in the Hollywood scripts for golf clubs and school books – he plans on continuing to audition and act while at Glendale college – it is something he says he’s committed to for two full years.

“When I tell people I’m going back to school at 50, they’re like ‘What?,’” said McClure, who was persuaded to join the team by longtime friend and Glendale college Coach Greg Osbourne. “Nobody seems to understand that. But this is a great opportunity for me and I’m just proud to be able to pull this off. I can’t thank Greg enough for the opportunity.”

For Osbourne, the addition of McClure provides the perfect balance to some of the younger players on his roster.

“What it does is, it solidifies our team,” said Osbourne, who grew up with McClure in the Glendale area. “We have a mixture of different age brackets. Having Marc, it gives the younger guys the respect of someone who is playing as their equal, but is 30 years older and is very successful in life and brings a lot of maturity to the team.”

McClure had to learn maturity at a very young age when he was sent to a military school at age 8 with his brother. The two brothers later wound up at the Army-Navy Academy in Carlsbad to complete their high school education and it’s where McClure first discovered his passion for golf.

“My brother and I came up with the idea to play golf in the 11th grade and I’ve been trying to figure it out ever since,” McClure said.

Osbourne, for one, feels McClure has more than “figured it out.”

“Seeing him play now versus when we first talked about him coming out, now that he’s motivated to practice and play more, it’s like night and day,” he said.

While golf has taken over McClure’s life as of late, acting is where he made his name.

The thespian wandered into acting after a chance encounter with an agent in a beauty salon of all places. While it took a few years for McClure to follow up on the lead, the fresh-faced 18 year old began to do commercials and Walt Disney films after high school before landing the role of Jimmy Olsen when he was 20.

His career then took off as he had the chance to work with stars like Michael J. Fox and the late Christopher Reeve; two people McClure says have greatly influenced his life.

While McClure says he still has the passion for acting all these years later, he felt his life was missing something and the fortuitous break with the Vaqueros came at the perfect time.

“I always think to myself, it can’t all be acting,” said McClure, who has a role in the upcoming Ron Howard picture “Frost/Nixon,” slated for release later in 2008. “There’s got to be something else for me. And I think this experience, it just fit in perfect.”

McClure appears to have passed the golf gene onto his 18-year-old daughter, Melody, who is a member of the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy girls’ golf team and is headed to college at Santa Cruz in the fall, meaning father and daughter will be college bound at the same time.

“The funniest thing for me is to tell people I’m going back to college,” said Marc, who coached Melody’s youth softball team. “I’m a collegiate athlete and on the golf team.”

Marc also has a unique distinction when it comes to the Vaqueros’ home course of Oakmont Country Club. He and his wife, Carol, were married on the 13th hole 22 years ago.

While things are fun now, Marc realizes the intensity is about to pick up soon, commencing with qualifying this week for the Vaqueros’ Sunday match in Victor Valley.

“With golf, you really have to have a competitive spirit,” Marc said. “You’ve got to want to make the birdie. You’ve got to want to hit the shot. You’ve got to focus. I can’t wait to test myself with all that stuff.”

For those hoping to catch a glimpse of McClure outside of the links, he will be appearing as a guest star on the Jan. 31 episode of the CW’s “Smallville,” a return to his Superman roots.

Until then, you can find McClure alongside his 12 college teammates on the fairways and greens, working to make himself, his community and his team better.

Would Superman want it any other way?