Kermit Zarley
Encyclopedia
Kermit Millard Zarley, Jr. (born September 29, 1941) is an American
professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
and the Champions Tour
. He is also an author of several books.
. He graduated from the University of Houston
and was a distinguished member of the golf
team. He was the individual champion at the 1962 NCAA Division I Championships
and also led his team to victory.
Zarley had three dozen top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events during his 18 years on Tour including two wins. Zarley had three top-10 finishes in major championships
; his best was a solo 6th at the 1972 U.S. Open
.
Due to his unusual name, Zarley was often called "the Pro from the Moon" or "Moon Man." It is because comedian Bob Hope
once interviewed him on national television and remarked, "Kermit Zarley, with a name like that he must be the pro from the moon." In a Wayne and Shuster
sketch about a golf tournament being held on the streets of Toronto
, Johnny Wayne
's character is named "Zarley Kermit, Jr."
In 1965, Zarley co-founded the PGA Tour Bible Study group with fellow PGA Tour players, Jim and Babe Hiskey
. It still flourishes today and has proliferated throughout the world of professional golf. In the period between his careers on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, he authored three books on religion and world affairs. He received an honorary doctorate degree in 2001 from Chicago's North Park University
, which has a lecture series named for him. Zarley lived much of his adult life in the Houston metropolitan area, but now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona
.
Servetus the Evangelical - his stated reasons for doing so were: "if my fellow Evangelicals ever knew about my christological beliefs they would not accept me as a genuine Christian and ostracize me from the Evangelical community." His book endorses a Unitarian
viewpoint of Christology
, similar to that of the original Servetus.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
and the Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
. He is also an author of several books.
Biography
Zarley was born in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. He graduated from the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
and was a distinguished member of the golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
team. He was the individual champion at the 1962 NCAA Division I Championships
NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships
The NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, played in late May or early June, is the top annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. It is a stroke play team competition, starting in 2009 the competition changed to a stroke play/match play competition with the top 8 teams after 54 holes of...
and also led his team to victory.
Zarley had three dozen top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events during his 18 years on Tour including two wins. Zarley had three top-10 finishes in major championships
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
; his best was a solo 6th at the 1972 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
.
Due to his unusual name, Zarley was often called "the Pro from the Moon" or "Moon Man." It is because comedian Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
once interviewed him on national television and remarked, "Kermit Zarley, with a name like that he must be the pro from the moon." In a Wayne and Shuster
Wayne and Shuster
Wayne and Shuster were a Canadian comedy duo formed by Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster. They were active professionally from the early 1940s until the late 1980s....
sketch about a golf tournament being held on the streets of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Johnny Wayne
Johnny Wayne
Johnny Wayne was a Canadian comedian and comedy writer best known for his work as part of the comedy duo Wayne and Shuster alongside Frank Shuster....
's character is named "Zarley Kermit, Jr."
In 1965, Zarley co-founded the PGA Tour Bible Study group with fellow PGA Tour players, Jim and Babe Hiskey
Babe Hiskey
Bryant "Babe" Hiskey is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.Hiskey was born in Burley, Idaho. He won the Idaho Amateur three times. He attended the University of Houston and was a member of the golf team...
. It still flourishes today and has proliferated throughout the world of professional golf. In the period between his careers on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, he authored three books on religion and world affairs. He received an honorary doctorate degree in 2001 from Chicago's North Park University
North Park University
North Park University is a four-year university located at 3225 W. Foster Avenue on the north side of Chicago, Illinois in the North Park neighborhood. It was founded in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church and shares its campus with the denomination's only seminary...
, which has a lecture series named for him. Zarley lived much of his adult life in the Houston metropolitan area, but now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
.
Controversial religious writings
The publication of his most recent book, The Restitution of Jesus Christ, was preceded by his usage of the pseudonymPseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Servetus the Evangelical - his stated reasons for doing so were: "if my fellow Evangelicals ever knew about my christological beliefs they would not accept me as a genuine Christian and ostracize me from the Evangelical community." His book endorses a Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
viewpoint of Christology
Christology
Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the nature...
, similar to that of the original Servetus.
PGA Tour wins
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 21, 1968 | Kaiser International Open Invitational | 1 stroke |  Dave MarrDave Marr David Francis Marr, Jr. was an American professional golfer and sportscaster, best known for winning the 1965 PGA Championship.-Early years:... |
|
| 2 | Jul 5, 1970 1970 PGA Tour The 1970 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to December 13. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Billy Casper won the most tournaments, four, and there were six first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below.... |
Canadian Open | 3 strokes | Gibby Gilbert Gibby Gilbert C.L. "Gibby" Gilbert II is an American professional golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.... |
Other wins
- 1964 Arizona OpenArizona OpenThe Arizona Open is the Arizona state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Southwest section of the PGA of America...
- 1972 National Team ChampionshipNational Team ChampionshipThe National Team Championship, which was played under a variety of names, was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1965 to 1972.It was only considered an official event in 1970 and 1971.-Tournament hosts:...
(with Babe HiskeyBabe HiskeyBryant "Babe" Hiskey is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.Hiskey was born in Burley, Idaho. He won the Idaho Amateur three times. He attended the University of Houston and was a member of the golf team...
) - 1984 Tallahassee Open (Tournament Players Series - precursor for Nike Tour)
Books
- The Gospel (1987). Scripture Press. Out-of-print. German adaptation--Das Leben Jesu: Die authentische Biographie (1991). Hanssler.
- The Gospels Interwoven (1987). Scripture Press. Reprinted by Wipf & Stock (2001). ISBN 1-57910-775-3.
- Palestine Is Coming: The Revival of Ancient Philistia (1990). Hannibal Books. Re-issued by Wipf & Stock (2005). ISBN 1-55635-181-X.
- The Third Day Bible Code (2006). Synergy Books. ISBN 1-933538-43-0.
- Warrior from Heaven (2009). Synergy Books. ISBN 0-9815462-2-6.
- The Restitution of Jesus Christhttp://servetustheevangelical.com/restitution_of_jesus_christ_1.html. Self-published. no ISBN.