"‪THE MOST AMAZING GOLFER THE WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN.‬"

I have to say, as far as viral videos and backdoor ads go, this is a fun one.

Thanks to reader Greg for passing this plug for a tasty sounding drink that also happens to be a mini-documentary on Moe Norman.



Comments

[Odd job]

RIP Moe. Love the self taught genius aspect...wish I had seen him play.

[themerk]

very well done! My coach used to tell me stories of Moe Norman and Bob Toski he called them legends. Moe was truly incredible.

[Jeff Lewis]

Geoff - Thanks so much for posting that!

[rob]

Thx Geoff - best 6:22 minutes I've spent in a while.

[Old Hornet]

Moe would at times intimidate his opponent in match play by hitting 8 or 9 iron off the tee on a short par 4, followed by a pure 3-wood stiff.

[Carry The Grant]

God Bless you, Moe. Truly a great of the game.

[Wisconsin Reader]

About 40 years ago - in Daytona Beach - where many Canadian club professionals used to hang out in the Winter - I watched Moe Norman hit balls for an audience of about 30 professionals. Everything was amazing and unique - his swing - his constant chatter - and most significant of course were his results. . . Moe's eccentricities made him unwelcome on the PGA Tour the 2 years he tried (1959, 1960) . . . Of course the Tour also did not eliminate its "Caucasians only" clause until 1961 either. . . There has been talk of a Moe Norman movie - let's hope it happens.

[DMazza]

The story of the three balls touching each other is wrong.
Actually it was five balls, and they finished stacked on top of each other!

The problem with these BS stories is that it diminishes the real stuff Moe actually did.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

I've read as much about Moe as I can find. One thing to remember: It was Wally, father of Peter, who gave Moe the $5000 a month stipend that allowed him to live out his life in relative peace, doing what he did best: hit golf balls. As I remember it, all Moe could say to Wally was to repeat several times, "I've used your golf balls all my life." Good story.

Thanks, Geoff. This is a keeper!

[Marky Mark]

He was an innocent and beautiful human being - qualities that are just as inspirational as hitting frozen rope golf shots.

However, it is important that some of the myths get toned down a bit so that his good personal qualities don't get overshadowed.

[LiquidKaos]

Great post Geoff...

Another good quality piece about Moe:

http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/golf/clips/11706/

I wonder if there is enough there for a movie...where's the story arc, lol?



Cheers,


LK

[Used to be Former S&T convert]

My brother played with him once in a mini-tour event in Florida, of course he was wearing a wool turtleneck. Lots of stories from that day, but the best was when he missed a green, he got really excited, saying over and over "Fun for Moe, fun for Moe" he hurried into the bunker, took less than 2 seconds to set up and blasted it to 2 inches.

Also, he said that after playing with him he had to redefine what he considered a straight shot.

[dbh]

Moe used the practice facility at a course I played. Nothing fancy, just a MOR 36 public setup with a range and small putting green but he was there quite often. I got the impression he sort of had the run of the place.
One day, I was a couple of spots to his left on the range and got a chance to stand and marvel at his shot making without feeling I'd make him self conscious. That was pretty cool; the eccentric stance and action and the exact same ball flight time and again with any given club.
The other thing that stood out is the way he dressed. Pants up to his belly button and sweaters that were about 2 sizes too small. He looked like a big little kid. I could never figure golfing in clothing that constricting. Based on results I should probably try it!

[digsouth]

From the first article I read about Moe, where LeeT raved about Moe''s ball striking , i have always been in awe.

Titleist did a great thing.

Thanks for the post.

[Steve Wozeniak PGA]

Titleist scored big with this deal.........did not know this.

I thought he also said of the bridge story, the players asked why he did this instead of laying up, Moe went on to proclaim because "ball fits, ball fits!!"

[hunterdog]

Thanks.

[PWag]

Thanks also to Drambuie!!! Very well done piece and very entertaining! If all ads were this good we wouldn't need the shows. Terrific!

[Press Agent]

Great Stuff!
Going to have to try that drink....maybe tonight.

[Fatbaldydrummer]

...and Drambuie is Dee-licious too!
Very nice mixed 50/50 with a wee Grouse or Bell's for a 'Rusty Nail'. Most warming on a bitter colld Scottish winter day at the gowf!

[Kingston]

As a kid I was lucky enough to see him hit balls - a marvel!

One of the joys of playing in Ontario, although it's hard to find any joy in December... but I digress, is sharing Moe stories out on the course. It is rare to be in a 4 ball where at least one person doesn't have a story to offer. For me that only adds to the legend, while he was a true genius with a golf club, he also possessed a tragic quality that transended golf and spoke to the human condition.

Wow! that English degree really did pay off!

[Tim in Hoylake from Ottawa]

Kingston - no it didn't; and I'll have fries with my McCheese. ; / I think Lorne Rubenstein (Globe & Mail (Toronto) golf writer wrote a book or a few articles about Moe.

[Ivan Morris]

Wonderful stuff - Well done Drambuie, you 'nailed' it!

[Tim O'Connor]

Re Tim in Hoylake in Kingston

Lorne Rubenstein wrote many great columns about Moe, and wrote a wonderful essay which I believe was called The Eccentric Genius in his book Links.

I wrote Moe's biography, The Feeling of Greatness: The Moe Norman Story. I believe that many of the anecdotes in the Drambuie video are from my book, or they originated from people telling stories after reading my book.

Of course, the beauty of Moe is that there are thousands of stories, and many are close to the mark but many are embellished and wrong. That's why the substantial stories about Moe that reflected on his character in my book are based on first person interviews.

The video includes a story about Moe's hole-in-one in which he told friends that he wasn't putting on a particular day. This story is in my book and is based on an interview that I did with Moe's playing partner that day, Gary Slatter. According to Slatter, they were playing in a practice round for the Montreal Open and Moe was talking to reporters.

Re DMazza post. Perhaps there are other stories re Moe's golf balls rolling up and touching but the anecdote in the video about the three balls touching is likely from my book. I interviewed Moe's friend, the late Ken Venning, and he told me this story about playing with Moe at Tomoka Oaks near Daytona Beach.

The video was certainly a nice tribute and a great reminder of Moe's eccentric genius, the phrase that I believe Lorne came up with which nicely captures Moe.

[Robert]

I was on the driving range that day in 1995 at The National GC of Canada when Moe was hitting balls for the pros shown at 4:47 of this video (FYI, it's Faldo, Crenshaw, Couples and Price). If I hadn't seen Moe with my own eyes a few times, I would think his story was false.

Great tribute.

[James Denyer]

I met Moe just after the large article written about him in the magazine. He used to spend his winter days playing and practising at The Royal Oak in Tittusville, Florida. He was near the putting green and I remarked to him that the article must have made him proud, his reply; "only fourteen pages, fourteen pages, not enough pages" and walked away. He came accross as being slow, but I realized he was as sharp as a tack. Excellent piece and you have to really believe there is more than enough to make a film.

[David]

I saw Moe Norman at the Devil's Pulpit driving range one day in 2000. He hit balls with any club and landed them in the same area.I think he was about 73 at the time.

[Ken Swan]

I was a junior when the Manitoba Open was played at my home course in 1964(?). I was caddying for Frank Whibly, who had left for the day. After a practice round, Moe was looking for a caddy to go out with him and 2 other pros for another 9 holes. I volunteered. When he found out that it was my home course, he asked questions, on each tee, about every hole - how far to certain landmarks, what was around the corner of dog legs etc. I have told virtually everyone that I have ever played with that in those 2 early evening hours, I learned more about how to think about playing than I have in the rest of my life.
The man was an unbelievable talent. His constant talking drove the other players nuts, but I believe they wanted to play with him to get a free lesson. He gave a continual narrative on how he was going to play each hole. The only time he stopped talking was when he was swinging.

[BB]

I grew up in Kitchener and obviously knew of Moe but never saw him play until one junior tournament at St. Georges in Toronto where he came and did a demo for us on the range. He put an aluminum garbage can out by the 50 yard flag and after warming up with a few practice balls, he then started "trying" and proceeded to nail 11 shots in a row. Absolutely the most amazing thing I've ever seen on a golf course.

[Rick Joslin]

I heard so much of Moe Norman and it would be so cool to watch a movie of him and his life.

[mark mckee]

I saw this man hit golf balls in beaverton ont. he was the best.

[Glenn P.]

Yes, a truly talented Canadian , and I have heard many stories about him , like in an exhibition he stepped on a ball in a sandtrap and it was about a foot or so buried in the sand and he blasted it out to inches of the cup . Then he gets a kid from the crowd out to step on the ball and really bury it and he does the same thing , inches from the cup . Before he played at Augusta he went to the driving range and hit 800 balls cause he worried about his performance and he had so many blisters on his hands he couldn't finish the first round , at least that's what i read once.

[david mc donald]

I had the great thrill to actually follow Moe around the course when he played on the seniors tour at GreenHills Golf and Country Club in London Ontario when I was younger. My Father in law insisted we follow him that day. It was a real treat to watch this incredible golfer hit it down the middle time after time. One of the bye standers asked Moe why he didn't get new clubs because the irons he had were worn down to almost flat with no grooves at all to be seen in the center ( sweet spot) of his irons. He then proceeded to hit perfect iron shots time after time. He remarked " why do I need grooves I hit it straight without them" He got up on the tee block on one of the holes on the back 9. Was all ready to hit the ball. Dropped his driver on the ground, walked over and pulled out a 6 inch tee from his golf bag teed it up and hit a pure shot down the middle and never touched the tee. I will always remember my encounter with the great Moe Norman that day.

[Brian O'Reilly]

The drambouie, I have . Now if I can find ginger beer here in Dallas Texas...a few 'pops' will be downed in his honor. Wish I could have seen him play.

[Reg]

A lot of years ago now I saw Moe giving a demonstration and the one that stood out the most was when he hit a ball off a tee being held in the mouth of a very attractive young lady as she lay on her back on the ground. Like most others I did close my eyes as the driver came down and opened them again as I hear the samck of the club on the ball. The lady sat up and she still had the tee in her mouth. He was indeed a Canadian icon who's career was killed by the USGA.

[Frank Peirce]

As kids we used to ride our bikes to DeHaviland Driving Range in North York. That's when Sheppard Avenue and Dufferin Street was pretty much farm country. There was a young man who worked there that would always show us card tricks. He was always most comfortable with us kids. I later realized that he was Moe Norman and I followed his life from a distance, always intrigued by the new adventures.
I applaud Titleist for their generosity. Moe had lived in his car for too many years.
If Moe had been born 40 years later his life would certainly have been much different and we would all have the chance to enjoy a truly great character and incredible golfer.

[GP]

Moe was a generous man. While working at a bank in Downsview, Ontario in the late 60's I wondered why all the female staff virtually fell over themselves trying to help this guy with a golf sweater get to his safety deposit box. Seems he didn't trust bank accounts. Turns out he would tip them $20. on his way out to get into his Cadillac parked right in front. GP

[Elaine K. Hergert]

Was Moe related to Greg Norman?

[Kimball Smith]

Followed Moe at the Quebec Open in Sherbrooke - late 70`s early 80`s - he almost drove
the second a 360 dogs leg - but more amazing was his bouncing a ball on his driver all the
way down the fairway to his drive . I`ve heard all yhe stories but Kudos to Max Oxford
who was at Titleist ( I believe when they set up Moe with some cash ..._)

[Broker 74]

Saw Moe at a few charity tourney's.......he was that good......bent shots around an old pine tree left then right left then right out about 150......then he'd hit a seven iron and drop the balls all in a 6 foot circle.they would start off low, rise and and then just fall out of the air in the same dame spot......

HE was Unique......and a special Canadian ! Thanks for the Video !

[Wayner_d@shaw.ca]

47 yrs old, love golf, never heard of him. Saskatoon, Sask. wow, amazing, he should be recognized. WOW.