Golfing Legend Eddie Merrins, Known as the ‘Little Pro’, Passes Away at 91

Eddie Merrins, the adored Bel-Air Country Club teaching pro and longstanding UCLA golf coach, famously distilled the striking of a golf ball into one simple thought:

Swing the handle.

He advised his students to focus on the club handle and not to worry about the club head, conveying a message of control and simplicity.

Similarly, the golf world recalls Merrins in a singular and simplistic manner. His kind, unfailingly polite stewardship earned him the nickname, the Little Pro, portraying his significant impact on golf in Southern California.

According to David Reneker, a Bel-Air Country Club member, “He had this slow Southern drawl and easy way about him. He had this way of putting you at ease.”

Even during lessons, Merrins, from Mississippi, was always impeccably dressed with a coat, tie, and Hogan cap.

CBS commentator Jim Nantz described Merrins as Hollywood’s sweetheart, comparing him to Jimmy Stewart in the movie business- gentle, kind, real, and family-oriented.

Merrins’ students included Hollywood celebrities, famous athletes, and everyday people whom he taught with the same dedication. He also coached professional players and college players, such as Tom Brady, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and others. Merrins was not just part of golf, he was golf.

Merrins was UCLA’s golf coach from 1975 to 1989, developing the program into a national champion in 1988. Under him, the Bruins won three Pacific-10 Conference titles, and twice he was named conference coach of the year. The school produced three Hall of Fame players during that stint: Pavin, Duffy Waldorf and Steve Pate.

Beyond UCLA, Merrins established the nonprofit Friends of Collegiate Golf in 1979 to support junior golf in Southern California. The program has donated over $10 million to youth golfers across the country.

Eddie Merrins, born in Meridian, Miss., was a lifelong golfer, winning numerous titles and being inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. He was not just a great golfer; he also brought his wisdom and expertise to the next generation of golfers.

Merrins made his mark as a teacher, as noted by the Los Angeles Times’ Bill Plaschke in a 2002 column. In any setting, he was willing to share his swing wisdom. His famous phrase, “Swing the handle,” was not just about golf; it was about leading life in a smooth, measured and repeatable manner, where everything else would fall into place.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.