Fifty-five years ago, Alan Shepard made the journey to the Moon and decided to take a swing at something other than space exploration—golf! On February 6, 1971, the Apollo 14 astronaut teed up and took a few swings with a six-iron club head he cleverly snuck into his space suit pocket. His first couple of attempts were less than stellar, however, with Shepard topping and slicing the balls. But not one to give up, he eventually connected and proclaimed that he sent them “miles and miles and miles” away.
What’s fascinating is that this lighthearted moment wasn’t just for kicks; Shepard was proving that even astronauts could have fun in the most unconventional settings. After the moonlit golf outing, he brought the club head back to Earth, where it is now displayed at the US Golf Association Hall of Fame in New Jersey. The date is noteworthy for other reasons, too—Bob Marley was born on this day in 1945, and the Sámi People celebrate their historic congress anniversary, firmly establishing February 6th as a day filled with both fun and significance in history. From golf on the Moon to exploring cultural milestones, who knew February could be so eventful?
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
