# Chapter 6: Quirky Trivia Golf · Chapter 6: Quirky Trivia · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/golf/interesting-facts/chapter-6-quirky-trivia/) Quirky trivia: golf in space, animals, strange shots, rules incidents, superstitions, celebrities, films, weather, odd holes and nicknames. ## 6.61 Golf in Space Alan Shepard's shots on the Moon, a ball hit from orbit and what became of the club. ### Test 1: Golf in space - Mitchell, his crewmate, threw a scoop handle like a javelin. (Source: NASA, Apollo 14 mission records) - He smuggled the head aboard in a sock. (Source: NASA, Apollo 14 mission records; USGA Museum) - Made for him by a Houston club pro, Jack Harden. (Source: USGA Museum, Apollo 14 club) - Image specialists measured it from mission film. (Source: The R&A and USGA (2021), Apollo 14 image study) - He gave it to the USGA in the 1970s. (Source: USGA Museum) - The ball was expected to orbit for days before burning up. (Source: NASA (2006), Expedition 14 spacewalk) - He could barely turn his shoulders. (Source: NASA, Apollo 14 mission records) - 1971, 2006 and 2021. (Source: NASA, Apollo 14 mission records; USGA) - About 24, 40 and 300 yards. (Source: The R&A and USGA (2021); PGA Tour, media guide) - The third crew to land on the Moon. (Source: NASA, Apollo 14 mission records) ## 6.62 Animals on the Course Kangaroos, hippos, crocodiles, alligators, elk and thieving birds. ### Test 1: Animals on the course - On the Victorian coast; visitors come to see them. (Source: Anglesea Golf Club) - Only a fence separates it from the park. (Source: Hans Merensky Hotel and Estate) - A famous local rule beside the Nile. (Source: Uganda Golf Union; Jinja Golf Club) - Players can watch them from the tee. (Source: Sun City Resort, Lost City Golf Course) - Players are told not to go near the water's edge. (Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) - Some clubs have found piles of balls in nests. (Source: RSPB, bird behaviour) - In the Rocky Mountains. (Source: Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course) - From under a kilo to well over a tonne. (Source: National Geographic, animal facts) - Never try to move it yourself. (Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) - They like the watered grass. (Source: Golf Australia) ## 6.63 Lucky and Strange Shots Shots that hit the flag, paused on the lip, struck the player or beat Greg Norman. ### Test 1: Lucky and strange shots - It curved round the trees onto the 10th green. (Source: Masters.com, tournament history) - It hung there for a second or two. (Source: Masters.com, tournament history) - A 4-iron from the fairway. (Source: Masters.com, tournament history) - The air shot counted as a stroke. (Source: The R&A, 1983 Open) - It stopped inches away for a birdie. (Source: USGA, 1972 US Open) - He jumped up and down in the sand. (Source: PGA of America, 1986 PGA Championship) - It bounced off a bunker lip and struck him. (Source: Masters.com, tournament history) - 1986, 1987, March 1990 and April 1990. (Source: PGA of America; Masters.com; PGA Tour, media guide) - 1972, 1983, 2005 and 2012. (Source: USGA; Masters.com) - The only ace on a par 4 on the PGA Tour at the time. (Source: PGA Tour, media guide, 2001 Phoenix Open) ## 6.64 Famous Rules Incidents Wrong cards, a towel, a grounded club, a boulder and a fifteenth club. ### Test 1: Famous rules incidents - The higher score had to stand. (Source: Masters.com, tournament history) - It counted as building a stance. (Source: PGA Tour, media guide; USGA, Rules history) - The area counted as a bunker that week. (Source: PGA of America, 2010 PGA Championship) - Her total was right but one hole was not. (Source: USGA, 1957 US Women's Open) - Viewer call-ins were stopped soon after. (Source: LPGA; USGA and The R&A (2017)) - As a loose stone it could be moved, however big. (Source: PGA Tour, media guide; USGA, Rules decisions) - They forgot to swap cards at the start. (Source: The R&A, 2003 Open) - 1957, 1968, 1987 and 2010. (Source: USGA; Masters.com; PGA of America) - Two strokes, four strokes and disqualification. (Source: PGA of America; LPGA; The R&A) - It cost two strokes on the 1st hole. (Source: The R&A, 2001 Open) ## 6.65 Superstitions and Rituals Sunday colours, lucky coins, curses and celebrations. ### Test 1: Superstitions and rituals - His mother told him it was his power colour. (Source: TGR, Tiger Woods biography) - The colour of Oklahoma State. (Source: PGA Tour, media guide) - He also marked his ball with a coin. (Source: Jack Nicklaus, official site) - Tradition says the player buys gifts and a party. (Source: General Insurance Association of Japan) - He said it cleaned his system. (Source: Golf Digest, Jesper Parnevik profile) - Some players stop at eight holes to avoid winning. (Source: Masters.com, tournament history) - A shot off the hosel that flies sideways. (Source: PGA of America, golf culture) - His famous sword dance. (Source: World Golf Hall of Fame, Chi Chi Rodriguez) - Most do the same steps every week. (Source: PGA of America, instruction) - Some always use the same coin. (Source: PGA of America, golf culture) ## 6.66 Celebrities Who Golf Stars of sport, music and film who are hooked on golf. ### Test 1: Celebrities who golf - On a sponsor's invitation in California. (Source: PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour (2017)) - He qualified through a sectional event. (Source: USGA, 2019 US Senior Open) - With her husband René Angélil. (Source: Le Mirage Golf Club) - He plays most days off a low handicap. (Source: Golf Digest, Alice Cooper interview) - So he can play on days off. (Source: Golf Digest, Samuel L. Jackson interview) - He grew up near Memphis. (Source: Mirimichi Golf Course) - It is now the Farmers Insurance Open. (Source: PGA Tour, media guide, Farmers Insurance Open history) - 1968, 2017, June 2019 and November 2019. (Source: PGA Tour, media guide; USGA; Football Association of Wales) - Golf's ball is the smallest of the four. (Source: Governing bodies' equipment rules) - It listed his priorities in order. (Source: Football Association of Wales (2019)) ## 6.67 Golf at the Movies Caddyshack, Happy Gilmore, Tin Cup, Bagger Vance, Bond and the biopics. ### Test 1: Golf at the movies - His slap-shot swing sends the ball huge distances. (Source: Universal Pictures, Happy Gilmore (1996)) - He keeps going for the green over water and holes his last ball. (Source: Warner Bros., Tin Cup (1996)) - Will Smith played the caddie. (Source: DreamWorks, The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)) - A young amateur who beat two British stars. (Source: Disney, The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)) - Filmed at Stoke Park in England. (Source: Eon Productions, Goldfinger (1964)) - Glenn Ford played him. (Source: 20th Century Fox, Follow the Sun (1951)) - Both won the Open in the 1860s and 1870s. (Source: Tommy's Honour (2016)) - 1951, 1996, 2000 and 2016. (Source: Film studios' records) - He chose glory over a safe lay-up. (Source: Warner Bros., Tin Cup (1996)) - Bill Murray played the greenkeeper. (Source: Warner Bros., Caddyshack (1980)) ## 6.68 Wild Weather Lightning, storms, frost, floods and golf on frozen lakes. ### Test 1: Wild weather - Jerry Heard and Bobby Nichols were hit too. (Source: PGA Tour, media guide, 1975 Western Open) - It ended his hopes of a Grand Slam that year. (Source: The R&A, 2002 Open) - He said it after being struck by lightning. (Source: World Golf Hall of Fame, Lee Trevino) - Rubber blades roll the water away. (Source: USGA Green Section) - Frozen blades break under feet. (Source: USGA Green Section) - Sometimes the event is cut to 54 holes instead. (Source: PGA Tour, media guide, regulations) - Open fairways offer no cover. (Source: US National Weather Service, lightning safety) - 1975, 1996 and 2002. (Source: PGA Tour, media guide; The R&A) - Each extra club makes up for the wind's effect. (Source: PGA of America, instruction) - The balls are often coloured. (Source: Engadin St. Moritz Tourism, Snow Golf) ## 6.69 Strange Holes and Borders Courses across borders and time zones, inside racetracks and at the ends of the Earth. ### Test 1: Strange holes and borders - Some holes start in one and end in the other. (Source: Tornio Golf Club (Green Zone Golf)) - Finland is an hour ahead of Sweden. (Source: Tornio Golf Club (Green Zone Golf)) - A marker post shows the line. (Source: Prestwick Golf Club, the course) - In Tierra del Fuego. (Source: Ushuaia Golf Club) - Racing and golf share the ground. (Source: Royal Bangkok Sports Club) - A bunker waits right behind the hill. (Source: Prestwick Golf Club, the course) - Players drag a mat to smooth their line. (Source: Golf Australia, country golf) - Finland, Scotland, Thailand and Tierra del Fuego. (Source: Club sites) - Par 3, 4, 5 and 7. (Source: Club sites; Masters.com) - The Brickyard Crossing course. (Source: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Brickyard Crossing) ## 6.70 Nicknames The Shark, the Big Easy, Boom Boom, Super Mex and the Golden Bear. ### Test 1: Nicknames - In full, the Great White Shark. (Source: World Golf Hall of Fame, Greg Norman) - For his smooth, relaxed swing. (Source: World Golf Hall of Fame, Ernie Els) - The 1992 Masters champion. (Source: World Golf Hall of Fame, Fred Couples) - He loves fast cars and fixing them. (Source: DP World Tour, player profile) - Tiger came from a friend of his father's. (Source: TGR, Tiger Woods biography) - He grew up in Dallas, Texas. (Source: World Golf Hall of Fame, Lee Trevino) - He was 19 and pushed Tiger Woods at the PGA. (Source: DP World Tour, player profile) - 1914, 1958, 1986 and 1994. (Source: World Golf Hall of Fame) - 1912, 1939 and 1980. (Source: World Golf Hall of Fame; DP World Tour) - His company still uses a bear as its logo. (Source: Jack Nicklaus, official site) Sources: Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia: NASA, the USGA Museum, The R&A, tour and club records, film studios, halls of fame. Facts already asked in golf Knowledge Testing and the Rules of Golf category are left out. Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral