How a $35 8mm Film Camera Gave Kermit Zarley Confidence
Kermit Zarley's confidence was soaring thanks to great green reading and a $35 8mm camera.
Kermit Zarley arrived in Napa, CA, for the 1968 Kaiser International Open Invitational, chock-full of confidence. It was the inaugural event for the Kaiser conducted over the Silverado Country Club and featured a $125,000 purse.
Zarley was given the nickname “The Pro From the Moon” or “Moon Man” ever since he’d been interviewed on-air by Bob Hope who said, “Kermit Zarley, with a name like that he must be the pro from the moon.”
After serving six months of active duty in the Army, Zarley began competing on the PGA TOUR in 1964. After four years without a victory, he had learned the valuable lesson “you can’t let up” when you’re in contention. With his level of confidence at Silverado, it was easy to not let up. His confidence was a result of how much he liked the Silverado course.
“When I played a practice round, I liked the course,” Zarley said after he held off Dave Marr by matching the course record 65 in the final round. Billy Casper shot a 65 two days earlier. “I noticed that I could really read the greens.”
It was really his long game that fueled his conviction in his game and that confidence came from a $35 investment.
During his first year on tour, Zarley purchased an 8mm movie camera. He then enlisted his wife, Marilyn, and fellow University of Houston golf teammate Babe Hiskey, to help him film his golf swing. A roll of film was processed just two days before he arrived in Napa and, once he viewed the films, he noticed a flaw on his drives.
“They showed I was setting up all wrong and coming over the ball” Zarley explained. “I had no balance at all on my swing. The films really helped.”
The added confidence that viewing the films provided really paid dividends in the final round. Zarley started the day four shots behind Marr. After a bogey on the first hole, Zarley birdied the second, fifth and sixth holes. He then tore up the back nine with birdies at the 11th, 12th, 13th, 16th and 17th holes. He then waited for Marr to finish and when Marr could do no better than a par on the final hole, Zarley had his first victory on tour. He credited his putting — and his movie camera.
"Once I started with the regular 8mm camera in my first year on tour, I used it all the time," Zarley recently told the Tour Backspin Newsletter.
With all the video, biometrics and launch monitor data that today’s pros utilize, it might have been Kermit Zarley who began the trend way back in 1964 with a $35 movie camera.
Kermit Zarley reacts to a missed putt at the 1968 Kaiser International Open in Napa, CA (kemitzarley.com)
Check out the Bonus Story below to learn what Kermit Zarley is up to today.
Tour Backspin Quiz | Three Courses and a Lie
We love a good golf course name. Three of these are real golf courses while you'll only be able to play one on Xbox or Playstation.
Adios Golf Club
Shepard's Staff Golf Club
Mayacama Golf Club
Cascata Golf Club
Answer below
Bonus Story
Kermit Zarley along with his Houston golf teammate Babe Hiskey and Babe's brother Jim, both players on the PGA TOUR, co-founded the PGA Tour Bible Study group. He led the group for 18 years and it still flourishes today throughout the world of professional golf.
Zarley has written numerous books on religion and faith. He credits the work that he did with the bible study group for introducing him to faith leaders who helped him on his path to becoming an author. You can learn more about Zarley’s books HERE.
Blind Shot
Click for something fun. 👀
COMING SOON!
Quiz Answer: You can play Shepard's Staff only from your couch.
We'd love to hear your feedback! Email me at larry@tourbackspin.com.
