Golf has long been known as a game of precision, skill, and patience—but did you know it also has a place in space history? On February 6, 1971, astronaut Alan Shepard made history when he took a golf club to the moon and struck two golf balls in the reduced gravity of the lunar surface. But what club did he use?
The Lunar Golf Club: A Wilson Staff Dynapower 6-Iron
The club Shepard used wasn’t an ordinary golf club—at least, not entirely. It was a Wilson Staff Dynapower 6-iron, but not in its original form. The head was attached to a collapsible tool that was originally designed to scoop lunar rock samples. Because space is at a premium (pun intended) in the lunar module, Shepard needed a club that could fold and fit within the spacecraft. The shaft was custom-built from aluminum and Teflon, making it strong but lightweight.
To modify the club, Shepard enlisted the help of Jack Harden, a well-respected club pro at River Oaks Country Club in Texas. The final product allowed Shepard to demonstrate the dramatic difference in gravity between Earth and the moon. With only one-sixth the gravity of Earth, he was able to send his shots much farther than any drive he had ever hit on Earth—despite taking them with just one hand while wearing a restrictive spacesuit.
The Moon Shots: One Lands in a “Hazard”
Shepard took two swings with his makeshift club, hitting two balls on the surface of the moon. While the first was a bit of a duff, the second traveled an estimated 200 yards—not bad considering he was hitting one-handed in a bulky spacesuit! However, in a moment that every golfer can relate to, one of the balls ended up in a lunar crater—a “hazard” that still holds the ball to this day.
The Club’s Legacy and Its Connection to Wilson’s Modern Line
The Wilson Staff Dynapower name may have been immortalized on the moon, but it has recently made a comeback in Wilson Golf’s modern lineup. Wilson revived the Dynapower brand in 2023, updating the name for a new generation of clubs that feature state-of-the-art technology. Today’s Dynapower irons and drivers focus on artificial intelligence (AI) optimized weighting, forged power, and enhanced forgiveness, a far cry from the original 6-iron head that made its way to the moon.
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Where is the Club Now?
While the actual club used by Shepard remains on the moon, a replica of the lunar golf club is proudly displayed at the USGA Golf Museum and Library in Liberty Corner, New Jersey. This piece of golf and space history serves as a reminder of the ingenuity and adventurous spirit that connects golf with the pioneering nature of human exploration.
The Ultimate Golf Story
Shepard’s lunar golf stunt wasn’t just a fun experiment; it was a testament to the universal appeal of the game. Golf can be played on rolling greens, deep bunkers, and, as it turns out, even the moon. Who knows? Maybe in the future, golf courses on Mars could be the next frontier.
Until then, the next time you step onto the fairway, take a moment to appreciate the fact that your golf ball won’t be floating through low gravity or landing in a crater that’s a quarter-million miles away!
