For a guy who forges a living making people laugh, his tone quickly turns serious when it comes to golf. George Lopez fell in love after his very first round on Christmas Day more than 20 years ago. Today, he is a proud owner of a 13-handicap and is infatuated with the game both as a player and as an astute fan.

Star, co-creator, writer and producer of the ABC show that bears his name, Lopez's star has never shined brighter. The George Lopez Show was just picked up for another season and his latest movie, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D, opened in mid-June. All of this while maintaining an active schedule as a sell-out, stand-up comedian.

Recently given a clean bill of health after a kidney transplant, Lopez hopes to double his annual round count of 100. The former Emmy Awards host will play golf anywhere and with anyone who "respects the game." Crediting the sport with changing his life and teaching him patience, golf is not just a pastime for the comedian.

Lopez took time out of his busy schedule to candidly discuss his passion for golf, his home in Pebble Beach and his acting endeavors. —Hilary Howard

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How did you first get involved in golf?
Every Latino family has a lemon tree and I used to hit lemons in my backyard as a kid. We had a couple of clubs that were used primarily to make sure the dog didn't escape. We used the 7-iron as a wedge between the wall and the door. I'd go in the backyard and I would pull off the green ones that were most shaped like golf balls and hit them into the alley. That is how I started to swing the club.

How would you describe your golf game?
I have a compact, tight swing like Darren Clarke. I am not long off the tee, but I have lengthened my backswing a little bit. Also, we both smoke cigars. My swing is powerful and I get through like Darren. Not the Darren Clarke on the back nine at Harbour Town, but the Darren Clarke who plays so well at the Ryder Cup. Note: Darren Clarke shot a 40 on that Sunday back nine, including two double bogeys, to lose his lead at the MCI Heritage Classic in April.

What is the best golf tip you ever received?
I got a sand wedge tip at Pebble Beach from Luke Donald about opening the face and pretending to put the sand in the hole and not the ball. It works incredibly well and helps me finish the swing.

What are some of your best memories from competing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am?
The first year, Jesper Parnevik and I, we were right on the cut line at Pebble Beach. I was scrambling on No.14, and the guys at CBS, Jim Nantz and David Feherty, were ragging on me for laying up. I end up making five (par) on the hole. I drained a 12-footer from off the green and threw my putter in the air. Jesper and I hugged like we had just won the Ryder Cup. That got us to 19-under. On the next hole, the announcers ragged on me again. I hit it short, chipped it up and mad a 20-footer for par. Jesper birdied 17 and we finished at 21-under-par and made the cut. That day I was a thousand feet in the air. I talked to Golf Central after the round and the expression on my face is one that I don't think I've ever had since. I've got a new kidney and I don't think I have that same expression.

Who is better dressed, you or Jesper?
That is a very good question. I am more traditionally dressed, and I think Jesper looks like a kid's playroom exploded. The J Lindeburg I could never wear because I am a bigger man and those are tiny man clothes. He wore a snake-print, pink vest this year on Saturday. I tried to not to be near him on the tree box because it was nasty looking.

What did you think of Jesper forgetting his clubs at the Masters?
The guy has two planes and they are both fully loaded with clothes and he forgets his clubs. I think it is hilarious. The first year we became partners, the second year we became really good friends. This year we missed the cut but we had more fun together. We were playing No. 10 at Poppy Hills when he shanked a ball that never got off the ground and went 40 yards into the woods. He said in his downswing he waw a ladybug had landed on his ball. He didn't want to hit it, so he tried to pull out of the shot. That was on Friday, the rest of tournament he wasn't Jesper, his name was "Lovebug."

Any thoughts of giving Bill Murray a run for his money as the "King of Golf" at the AT&T?
I have a lot of respect for Bill Murray. The people love him. There is an alternative--Coke has Pepsi. I am a different person. I do my thing and Bill does his thing and we make the tournament better. I am favor of anything that makes the tournament more fun for people to come and watch. Bill Murray has a sweet game, I would like to have his game.

Is it difficult to have your golf game critiqued on national television?
I don't mind it because it is what it is. I came out of a shot and I hit it pretty far into the woods. David Feherty comments, "that ball is so far into the woods, if it was wrapped in bacon, Lassie wouldn't even find it." That was a killer line and brilliant. As a comedian, I appreciate the comedy.

Who do you play golf with most often?
I play with Cheech Marin and guys from my crew all the time. i am playing in the Celebrity Cup in August in Wales. It is American celebrities versus European celebrities and our captain is Mark O'Meara and their captain is Colin Montgomerie. Our side is Clint Eastwood, Ray Romano, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Costner, Andy Garcia and Bill Murray. Their side is prince Andrew, Sean Connery, Hugh Grant and I couldn't name 12 European people if you spotted me eight. I need to go home and google the guys on the European team.

Is it true you turned down six figures of cash for 45 minutes of work in Las Vegas because it would have ruined you round that day?
Absolutely. I turned down $130,000 to open for Rod Stewart at an Indian casino in the desert because that Thursday I was playing with Samuel L. Jackson, Cheech Marin and Justin Leonard at the Bob Hope. I did not want anything distracting me from my golf game. They upped the price twice and I told Rod Stewart I would have to pass. The promoter thought I was crazy, and I am, crazy about golf.

You were just honored at the California Golf Writers Banquet--what have you done with your Caddyshack Award?
The Caddyshack Award sits in the kitchen on my show. If you come in from the back, between the door and the stairs sits the award. It will be there for the run of the show, however long it goes. It has been there for seven shows now. If we do 80 more shows it will still be there. It was so funny the night I received the award, because everyone was getting Waterford crystal and I got this trophy that looks like you bought it on your way out of Tijuana with some gum.

Who would be a part of your dream foursome?
Elvis Presley, Lee Trevino and Freddie Prinze.

You've played in celebrity golf tournanments and hosted NFL Opening Kickoff--away from the cameras how much of a sports fan are you?
I am a huge sports fan, but I not one who is devoted to one team. I love Shaquille O'Neal as a basketball player so I follow the Miami Heat, and I went to a Nascar event and got bitten by the bug. Between Golf Central, the Sprint Pre and Post Game Shows and ESPN, I stay connected to sports. As a comedian, and someone who references topical events, I am very aware of what is going on. Every year for the British Open, I go to this Mexican restaurant in my hometown of San Fernando and get tamales and menudo and watch the coverage that starts at six in the morning. I've been doing it for 15 years now. It is so funny because instead of fish & chips for the British Open, I eat a huge bowl of menudo.

Who are your sports role models?
Lee Trevino. I met him in Valencia. I played in a senior event and we became friends. The fact that I know Lee Trevino is beyond what I ever imagined. Peter Jacobsen is a good friend. I playyed with Mike Weir two years at the Bob Hope and we have become quite friendly and then I did his event in Canada. As we were walking down the fairway he asked me to join him in his press conference. I asked the first question. I said how does a guy who spent a week in Hawaii come back looking like he never left the house?"

Talk about the success of The George Lopez Show?
The George Lopez Show is the first time in the history of television that Mexican-American actor has led a show successfully. There have been a handful of shows that have tried but they all failed. I've done 80 episodes as yyou and I are talking and that is 76 more episodes that the second guy. It's historical in the fact that the family is dysfunctional, it just so happens, we are who we are. I take pride in the fact that our problems are problems that every family has. Sometimes we leave thing undone, much like real families.

Sandra Bullock had thoughts about doing a Latin-oriented show. When she saw you perform, she said, "Our idea is stinky. George is much better. His stand-up surpasses what we've come up with."
I haven't told this to many people, but Sandra had a writer who was writing True Lies 2 and who had a Latina girlfriend. The story the guy pitched to Sandra was the "Latino Beverly Hillbillies." I thought, there is no way I am going to be Jethro Godinez. I rejected it immediately, but my manager talked me into having Sandy come and see me. Sandy had another idea where Latino teenagers were the lead and the parents were the secondary characters. When she saw me perform, the True Lies guy and the teenagers went out the window. She went with what was in my act.

What is it like to have the 15th hole at Pebble as your front yard?
It's a lot more foot traffic that I would like for somebody who lives in the Forest. I cannot think of a more beautiful place. One of the things people think about Pebble Beach is that the people are snobby and upper-crust. The people could not be more genuine and caring. I get up in the morning and go to the Bagel Bakery and sit outside--I love the pace. When I am done with the show I want to live 100% in my house in Pebble Beach.

How important is you charity work with the First Tee?
Nobody cared about us as kids, nobody came back to encourage us and nobody came back to tell us that we could succeed. I learned all the nine core values, but I taught them to myself because there wasn't a First Tee program. Joe Louis Barrow Jr. is doing and incredible job and it is an amazing organization. I approached him the first year I saw him at Pebble and told him I wanted to be deeply involved. This summer I am going to do some events at Twin Creeks and I already did their video presentation on my stage. Whatever the First Tee wants from George Lopez, they will have at any place and anytime. For a kid who used to hit lemons in the backyard to learn what I've learned from the game of golf starting at age 20 is amazing. If a kid could start learning those lessons at seven or eight years old, he would be much better off in life.