The incredible true story of the time an astronaut played golf on the moon

By Jack Bantock, CNN Video by Jarrod Williams, CNN
9 minute read
Updated 8:32 AM EDT, Tue March 21, 2023
Long fascinated by space, British author and imaging specialist Andy Saunders dedicated over 10,000 hours to restoring flight film from the Apollo missions. The result is "Apollo Remastered," a stunning book that sheds new light on humanity's very first ventures to the moon. Pictured, Buzz Aldrin during Gemini 12's crewed spaceflight in November 1966.
Long fascinated by space, British author and imaging specialist Andy Saunders dedicated over 10,000 hours to restoring flight film from the Apollo missions. The result is "Apollo Remastered," a stunning book that sheds new light on humanity's very first ventures to the moon. Pictured, Buzz Aldrin during Gemini 12's crewed spaceflight in November 1966.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
Still breathtaking in its own right, the original flight film offered an ultimately grainy glimpse into the missions. The footage was frozen in a sealed vault in Houston until NASA opened it to the public in 2019, which is when Saunders began enhancing it.
Still breathtaking in its own right, the original flight film offered an ultimately grainy glimpse into the missions. The footage was frozen in a sealed vault in Houston until NASA opened it to the public in 2019, which is when Saunders began enhancing it.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
Using modern digital processing techniques, Saunders spent years poring through almost 35,000 still photographs to individually restore each one, drawing out previously unseen details in the new, clearer images.
Using modern digital processing techniques, Saunders spent years poring through almost 35,000 still photographs to individually restore each one, drawing out previously unseen details in the new, clearer images.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
For over 50 years, it was unknown how far Alan Shepard struck the second of his golf shots during 1971's Apollo 14 mission. Saunders' restorations finally located the second ball and revealed it to have traveled 40 yards -- not the "miles and miles" that Shepard quipped at the time, but a nonetheless hugely impressive effort given the circumstances.
For over 50 years, it was unknown how far Alan Shepard struck the second of his golf shots during 1971's Apollo 14 mission. Saunders' restorations finally located the second ball and revealed it to have traveled 40 yards -- not the "miles and miles" that Shepard quipped at the time, but a nonetheless hugely impressive effort given the circumstances.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
Saunders' first restored image, released on the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, provided the world with the first clear picture of Neil Armstrong on the moon. "'The detail in it: we can see his face, you can see his eyelid, it's recognizably him," Saunders said. "That image that I'd always felt was missing from the history books was finally sitting there on my screen and that's when I thought, 'No one's ever seen this in this detail, so I need to share it."
Saunders' first restored image, released on the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, provided the world with the first clear picture of Neil Armstrong on the moon. "'The detail in it: we can see his face, you can see his eyelid, it's recognizably him," Saunders said. "That image that I'd always felt was missing from the history books was finally sitting there on my screen and that's when I thought, 'No one's ever seen this in this detail, so I need to share it."
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
Commander Wally Schirra on Apollo 7, the first crewed flight of the program, which launched in October 1968. An amateur photographer, Schirra suggested the use of his own Hasselblad 500C camera for the mission, which ultimately led to a decades-long partnership between NASA and the Swedish manufacturer.
Commander Wally Schirra on Apollo 7, the first crewed flight of the program, which launched in October 1968. An amateur photographer, Schirra suggested the use of his own Hasselblad 500C camera for the mission, which ultimately led to a decades-long partnership between NASA and the Swedish manufacturer.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
One of the most iconic photographs ever taken, "Earthrise" was captured from lunar orbit by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders on December 24, 1968. The mission marked the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon.
One of the most iconic photographs ever taken, "Earthrise" was captured from lunar orbit by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders on December 24, 1968. The mission marked the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
With the Earth reflected in his visor, Lunar Module Pilot Russell Schweickart takes a photo during his Extravehicular Activity on Apollo 9 in March 1969.
With the Earth reflected in his visor, Lunar Module Pilot Russell Schweickart takes a photo during his Extravehicular Activity on Apollo 9 in March 1969.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
Apollo 9 Commander James McDivitt guides the first ever docking of two crewed spacecraft. With McDivitt's outline barely visible in the original shot, the restored photo was chosen as the cover image for Saunders' "Apollo Remastered" book.
Apollo 9 Commander James McDivitt guides the first ever docking of two crewed spacecraft. With McDivitt's outline barely visible in the original shot, the restored photo was chosen as the cover image for Saunders' "Apollo Remastered" book.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
Neil Armstrong guides Apollo 11's Lunar Module, Eagle (LM-5), before landing in the Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969.
Neil Armstrong guides Apollo 11's Lunar Module, Eagle (LM-5), before landing in the Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
Armstrong in the lunar module after completing his moonwalk, captured by Aldrin.<br />
Armstrong in the lunar module after completing his moonwalk, captured by Aldrin.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
Astronaut Fred Hause (right) takes a nap inside the Apollo 13 Lunar Module, nicknamed "lifeboat" after the crew was forced to shelter in it, following the failure of an oxygen tank in the service module.
Astronaut Fred Hause (right) takes a nap inside the Apollo 13 Lunar Module, nicknamed "lifeboat" after the crew was forced to shelter in it, following the failure of an oxygen tank in the service module.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
Commander John Young rakes for samples during Apollo 16's 71-hour stay on the surface of the moon in April 1972.
Commander John Young rakes for samples during Apollo 16's 71-hour stay on the surface of the moon in April 1972.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
Apollo 17, the final mission of the program in December 1972, marked the first in which a scientist-astronaut -- geologist Harrison Schmitt -- explored the moon's surface. Alongside Eugene Cernan, Schmitt remains the last human to step foot on the moon.
Apollo 17, the final mission of the program in December 1972, marked the first in which a scientist-astronaut -- geologist Harrison Schmitt -- explored the moon's surface. Alongside Eugene Cernan, Schmitt remains the last human to step foot on the moon.
NASA / JSC / ASU / Andy Saunders
'Apollo Remastered': New images show moon missions in unprecedented clarity
CNN  — 

February 6, 1971, was a relatively uneventful day for US sports.

Larry Costello’s Milwaukee Bucks swept past the San Francisco Warriors in the NBA, the Boston Bruins defeated the Buffalo Sabres to continue an eight-game unbeaten NHL streak, and Arnold Palmer shot 68 to tie for the lead at the Hawaiian Open.

Nothing out of this world you might say, incorrectly. Because some 230,000 miles away, Alan Shepard was playing golf on the moon.

Beamed back to TV sets on Earth in grainy images, Shepard’s exploits on Apollo 14 – the eighth crewed Apollo mission and only the third to land on the lunar surface – left viewers stunned, including those at mission control in Houston.

An avid golfer, Shepard had sought out Jack Harden, a club pro at River Oaks Country Club in Texas, to build him a modified club. The resulting creation, a Wilson Staff Dyna-Power 6-iron head, was tucked away in Shepard’s space suit for launch, with a few balls hidden in a sock.

None of this was on NASA’s inventory. The Apollo program cost almost $25 billion – some $246 billion today according to a 2019 analysis by The Planetary Society – bringing a new meaning to the phrase “time is money.” With minutes worth millions, moonwalk schedules were meticulously strategized to ensure maximum efficiency.

It is rumored that only mission director Bob Gilruth knew of the astronaut’s plan, with Shepard gaining Gilruth’s reluctant permission only on the promise that any golfing would be saved for the end of extravehicular activities (EVA), and only if there was time.

American astronaut Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr (1923 - 1998), Commander of NASA's upcoming Apollo 14 lunar landing mission, with the mission's insignia behind him at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, 14th November 1970. (Photo by Space Frontiers/Getty Images)
Video Ad Feedback
The incredible true story of the time an astronaut played golf on the moon
03:22 - Source: CNN

After nine hours walking the surface and several scientific experiments, Shepard was returning to the lunar module when he saw his chance. Attaching the modified club head to a tool designed for scooping lunar rock samples, the commander prepared