By Kevin Capstick, RHGC Secretary
At Rolling Hills Golf Club, we celebrate the game’s rich tapestry—its triumphs, traditions, and yes, its downright bizarre moments. Golf, often seen as a genteel pursuit, has a wild side filled with oddities that could rival any sport’s lore. From lunar tee-offs to presidential hostage dramas, here are some of the strangest events in golf history that will have you chuckling on the fairway. We’ve delved into the archives to bring you these fun facts—perfect for sharing over a post-round drink at our clubhouse.
Let’s start with the moonshot that defies gravity—literally. On February 6, 1971, during the Apollo 14 mission, astronaut Alan Shepard smuggled a 6-iron head aboard and attached it to a lunar sample tool. In his bulky spacesuit, he one-handedly whacked two golf balls across the moon’s surface. The second shot, he claimed, went “miles and miles,” though estimates suggest it traveled about 40 yards in low gravity. This extraterrestrial escapade remains golf’s most out-of-this-world moment.
Closer to Earth, the Masters Tournament has hosted its share of head-scratchers. In 1983, while President Ronald Reagan was golfing at Augusta National, an unemployed man named Charles Harris crashed through the gates in a pickup truck, took hostages in the pro shop with a revolver, and demanded to speak with Reagan about steelworker layoffs. Reagan called to negotiate, but Harris hung up, thinking it was a prank. He was later arrested after a standoff and served five years.
Another Augusta oddity occurred during World War II, when the course was closed and converted into a cattle ranch with 200 cows and 1,000 turkeys grazing the fairways to cut costs. The animals devoured azaleas and tree bark, requiring POW labor to restore the grounds.
The Open Championship also boasts its share of weirdness. In 1949 at Royal St. George’s, Harry Bradshaw’s drive landed inside a broken beer bottle. Unsure of the rules, he smashed it out with a wedge, sending shards flying and the ball only 20 yards forward. Rattled, he carded a six and lost in a playoff.
Fast-forward to 1999 at Carnoustie, where Jean van de Velde famously triple-bogeyed the final hole after wading barefoot into a burn, needing only a double-bogey to win. In 1933 at St. Andrews, Leo Diegel air-swung a tap-in putt, missing the ball entirely and costing himself a playoff spot.
Streakers have also made appearances at major tournaments. In 1995, Mark Roberts dashed past John Daly during The Open, sporting the words “19th Hole” scrawled on his back.
Then there’s the 1974 Tallahassee Open, where Mike Reasor, injured from horseback riding, shot a staggering 123—golf’s worst PGA Tour score—playing one-handed with makeshift clubs. Or the 2003 Open disqualification of Mark Roe and Jesper Parnevik for mistakenly swapping scorecards.
These tales remind us that golf’s charm lies in its unpredictability. At Rolling Hills, we’ve seen our share of quirky shots and laughs—minus the moon landings. Join us for a round and create your own stories. Who knows? Your next slice might become club legend!