Tom Cruise is desperate to win the respect of his father-in-law in spite of his eyebrow-raising personality and bizarre devotation to Scientology. The veteran actor is trying to bond with Katie Holmes’ dad by playing golf-he has even offered to buy his wife a membership at Los Angeles’ prestigious Bel-Air Country Club so they can all play with her father, Martin Holmes.

“Katie’s father is not crazy about Tom, but Tom is really determined to win him over,” a Star Magazine insider reveals.

Martin was unhappy when his daughter started dating the Risky Business actor in 2005, and even more disturbed when she married him a year later, tabloid tattles tell Star. The protective dad was left feeling his famous son-in-law is a bad influence after he encouraged Katie to join Scientology despite her Catholic upbringing.