Who Was Moe Norman?

[Scaramouche]

I never get tired of the middle. It's beautiful there.

RandyG includes Moe Norman in his discussions of stroke technique. A bit odd to some people, because Moe was: (a) Canadian; and (b) a golfer.

To enlighten:

Moe looked like no other golfer I'd ever come across, nor did his style resemble that of any other golfer. He never took a practice swing - he never took a practice swing in his entire life - but every shot flew dead straight, virtually without any sidespin. Even the best players in the world hit the ball with some sidespin. Moe hit the ball so that it rotated as if it were a Ferris wheel. He could also curve the ball at will. He could hit the ball high or low and everything in between. Moe knew where the ball was going. When somebody asked him to hit a specific spot, he hit it there. "I make narrow holes look wide," Moe told me. "I never get tired of the middle. It's beautiful there."

The faces of his irons were worn with a spots the size of a quarter in the centre, equidistant from either side. He liked to show people the spots.

From:
Moe & Me: Encounters with Moe Norman, Golf's Mysterious Genius
by Lorne Rubenstein
ECW Press

 

[Mitchxout]

Moe was also mentally ill since childhood. A great and sad story. :thumbup:

 

[deanoc]

Moe is an unusual person,plays golf with an unusual grip,clubs and swing
I understand that he is considered the most accurate player ever,hit 1000 shots in a row,each in the fairway and over 225 yards

I haven't kept up over the years,has Moe passed away

Dean

 

[Bob Jewett]

Moe is an unusual person,plays golf with an unusual grip,clubs and swing
I understand that he is considered the most accurate player ever,hit 1000 shots in a row,each in the fairway and over 225 yards

I haven't kept up over the years,has Moe passed away

Dean

He died on September 4th, 2004.

 

[bud green]

There is a swing method called "Natural Golf" based on him. Don't think it will ever become popular. He was laser straight, but I don't think he hit it very far.

Tiger Woods has said only very few players in history absolutely owned their golf swing, Moe being one of them. Hogan and Moe Norman are the two players mentioned most often for being absolutely in control of the ball.

Their are some great stories of him. Coming in after nine holes of practice because he hit the flagstick 3 or 4 times and figured he was dialed in. Hitting a nine iron off the tee on a par 4...and then hitting his driver off the fairway onto the green.

Unfortunately, he was exceptionally nervous in public, and it limited his impact on American golf. I think he still holds a ton of course records in Canada.

Interview in golf digest: http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/myshot_gd0411

 

[champ2107]

i hear bob macowan from the fan talk about him often.

 

[randyg]

I never get tired of the middle. It's beautiful there.

RandyG includes Moe Norman in his discussions of stroke technique. A bit odd to some people, because Moe was: (a) Canadian; and (b) a golfer.

To enlighten:

Moe looked like no other golfer I'd ever come across, nor did his style resemble that of any other golfer. He never took a practice swing - he never took a practice swing in his entire life - but every shot flew dead straight, virtually without any sidespin. Even the best players in the world hit the ball with some sidespin. Moe hit the ball so that it rotated as if it were a Ferris wheel. He could also curve the ball at will. He could hit the ball high or low and everything in between. Moe knew where the ball was going. When somebody asked him to hit a specific spot, he hit it there. "I make narrow holes look wide," Moe told me. "I never get tired of the middle. It's beautiful there."

The faces of his irons were worn with a spots the size of a quarter in the centre, equidistant from either side. He liked to show people the spots.

From:
Moe & Me: Encounters with Moe Norman, Golf's Mysterious Genius
by Lorne Rubenstein
ECW Press

Moe Norman is still part of our classes. Not particularly because of his ball striking but because of his work ethic. Champions are made, not born.

I use the Moe Norman golf swing and it is very simple and easy on my old body. I like it's set up & go philosophy. At 70 I may still hit into the low 80's every once and a while.

Thanks for mentioning us,
randyg

 

[Neil]

............

 

[randyg]

Moe's ball striking was uncanny to say the least.

My favorite video shows Moe giving an exhibition: Moe hits his driver right down the middle of the (fairway?) practice range. A bystander commented that he would bet that Moe couldn't do that again. Moe tees up another ball and hits it just perfect and the ball rolls up and freezes to the first ball. With out saying another word Moe tees up another ball and this time the third ball rolls up and freezes to the other two balls. Needless to say, Moe had no more "hecklers" for the rest of the show.

randyg

 

[pt109]

There is a swing method called "Natural Golf" based on him. Don't think it will ever become popular. He was laser straight, but I don't think he hit it very far.

Tiger Woods has said only very few players in history absolutely owned their golf swing, Moe being one of them. Hogan and Moe Norman are the two players mentioned most often for being absolutely in control of the ball.

Their are some great stories of him. Coming in after nine holes of practice because he hit the flagstick 3 or 4 times and figured he was dialed in. Hitting a nine iron off the tee on a par 4...and then hitting his driver off the fairway onto the green.

Unfortunately, he was exceptionally nervous in public, and it limited his impact on American golf. I think he still holds a ton of course records in Canada.

Interview in golf digest: http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/myshot_gd0411

At one time Moe held more course records in Florida than anybody.
That 9-iron off the tee story came from him asking a caddie how long a hole was ( Moe had never played this course before)...the caddie said
"For you, a drive and a 9-iron." Moe said "Is that right?!"...then he hit
a 9-iron off the tee and a driver onto the green and said " I think you're
right."

My second boss at the pro shop liked playing practice rounds with Moe.
He said that Moe drew more pros as spectators than any other pro.
He also felt that Moe was slightly autistic...which explains a lot.