Moe Norman Conversations

HOME ABOUT CONTACT

Dialogue with Moe Norman

August 1991

Moe Norman and Bobby Wilson (The Longest and the Straightest Tour) traveling to Quebec.

Growing Up

"I was one out of six kids"
"I had one pair of pants growing up"
"Hitch-hiking home with a T.V. or Fridge or Lawnmower".
"Two Canadian Amateur Titles, 1955 in Calgary and 1956 in Edmonton, N.B."
"I hitch-hiked home to Kitchener - there was 5 other kids, 3 sisters and 2 brothers."
"I don't see them often, but love to play with their kids - I drop a golf ball down, them back - none of them golf."

Relationship with his Father

"I used one end of the golf club to hit the ball and My dad used the other end to tan my ass".
"My second year as a pro I got fouteen $1,000.00 bills and wrapped them around my clubs and left them in the hallway as I was going to Florida the next day. As a joke, I asked my Dad to go get my clubs and asked him "Who's crazy now?"

About his golf career

"I slept in bunkers and woke up with a snake across my legs - newspaper headlines "Norman sleeps outside under a park bench - shoots 61 wins tournament".

"Eddie Shack (known as "the entertainer") and I were different - he was teh clown prince of hockey and I was the clown prince of golf. Crazy to people, NOT crazy to ourselves but crazy to other people. Tournament par 5 I hit a driver then my wedge adn then my three wood onto the green. Everyone trying to tell me how to play with a three-stroke lead in the Manitoba Open. Last hole par 5, I knocked it on in two with a three shot lead adn 1000 people watching, putted it into the trap and exploded it out to one foot and still won by two. Had a little fun with the people but they thought I was crazy - just having some fun."

"That's why I was never got a sponsor. People called me the nonchalant golfer. Never knew what I was going to do, hit it off the tee marker, turn left handed club upside down and hit it".

About Public Speaking

"Now I know it means something to thank people."
"I finish 10th and still grab the mike to say thanks. I get standing ovations".

Conversation with Gary

Gary: "When did you realize that?"
Moe: "Oh! Twenty years ago when I was 40".

Gary: "Did someone tell you about it"
Moe: "Westlock (Nick Westlock) - he taught me a lot. Act the same way off the course as you do on and you will be a complete golfer. Takes one happy family to run anything - business, committees. One happy family".

Gary: "Do you remember 1972 when I asked you to come out to Islington Golf Club and give the assistant pros a clinic and a speech?"
Moe: "Yeah - callouses on their asses instead of thier hands. They were all sitting down drinking - couldn't break 80."

Gary: "Was the one of the first times you give a speech".
Moe: "Yes, In front of that many. Never done that before not in front of 50 or 60 guys. That was a big crowd for me. Showed them my left hand. They all shooting 76 or 78 when their left hand is like mine they'd shoot 68. I know the mind now. I can tell people what causes things. Five years ago, started playing with women. Companies had me play three holes with different groups. Try to help them with their games. Then I studied to know things - got a different perspective to this whole world. Now I know why the world is flat, why the birds sing, why water is wet, branches on a tree, now I know why there are stars in the sky, now I know whylights shine, why there are lines on the road".

Gary: "What did you see before"
Moe: "Nothing, Nothing, I couldn't feel the harmony of things in life. Good things, I haven't got a bad shot in my golf bag and I don't have a bad thought in my mind. Understand it, Feel it, Acknowledge it - what a different life, what a different world that is! Orientation, enthusiasm, administration, preparing my speech on the 4th hole of a tournament preparing myself to walk into the winners circle. Now I know what's in front of me before I didn't. Can only control one thing at a time that's why I'm so relaxed and comfortable with myself."