The filmmakers' purpose for this passion project
Uncomfortable in off-the-course settings, Moe Norman lived out of his car while traveling with his golf clubs and equipment
You know the name. You’ve seen the golf swing. You’ve probably heard the myths.
But how well do you know the Man behind the Legend of Moe Norman?
He’s a sports figure who’s captured the curiosity of PGA Tour players and golf enthusiasts—casually mentioning his name in golf carts all over the world.
But the Legend doesn’t end there—a prodigy with the "feeling of greatness” golf swing—it goes well beyond the tees and greens and into the courses of countless lives impacted by the Man.
For those who crossed his path alongside a fairway, hit golf balls on nearby driving ranges or briefly shook his rugged right paw in passing, they always seem to have a story to tell about their encounter with Moe—often times a positive encounter but sometimes not. Regardless of how substantial or favorable their chance upon Moe had been, it was surely memorable. And one remark seems to repeat itself in the never-forgotten narratives:
“That’s just Moe.”
It’s a recurring theme that is to say the Man is much more than the Legend as you may know it—a legend not-so-long ago headlined across Canadian sports pages in the latter half of the 20th century, flipped through by fingertips in golf magazines or played back on the flagship programming of major television networks.
For those outside of Moe Norman’s tight-knit circle of trusted friends or his most fierce competitors, that may be the extent of the story. But it’s only part of it.
The story of Moe is the character of Moe. The eccentricities of that character are commonly attributed to a rare ‘Savant Syndrome’ or falling somewhere on the Autism scale, and that character has supplemented the ‘successes’ and ‘shortcomings’ of a storied golf career.
Producer and Academy Award-winning Screenwriter of ‘Rain Man,’ Barry Morrow, summed it up:
“Moe is the 'Rain Man' of golf. It's a character drama. It's an underdog story. It’s the story of a man who shouldn’t have succeeded but did.”
Producer Barry Morrow conducts interviews for the documentary
The character drama of Moe Norman captures the imagination. It brings to light simple gifts too often overlooked. It inspires others to strive for their own greatness in ways they didn’t know already existed.
It’s a character drama delivered best by the people it impacted directly or indirectly. And that’s why there is continuing interest in a man whose legend has surpassed his humanity. It’s because those people affected by Moe Norman are still telling the story to anyone who will listen.
And what better forum to give voice to the seemingly never-ending narrative than the screen—where the sentiment in storytelling shines through those who came face-to-face with the Man.
It’s for that reason an in-depth documentary, ‘The Feeling of Greatness: The Legend of Moe Norman,’ is currently being produced. While the process may be challenging, especially given roadblocks presented in the year 2020, the purpose remains: tell the story of the Man behind the Legend of Moe Norman.
Keenan Garrett is an Associate Producer and Camera Operator for the documentary and is currently the Video Production Manager at Graves Golf