Book Review: The Barber, the Astronaut, and the Golf Ball

Version 100

Category: Nonfiction
Reviewed by: Ted Spitzmiller
Title: The Barber, the Astronaut, and the Golf Ball
Author: Barbara Radnofsky and Ed Supkis
Format: Paperback/Kindle
Pages: 172
Publisher: Stony Creek Publishing
Date: October 2024
Retail Price: $22.95/$6.95
ISBN: 979-8989120345
Find this book

This rather short book and its descriptive title attempts to determine if a golf ball, autographed by astronaut Alan Shepard, had actually been taken to the Moon by the astronaut on his Apollo 14 mission in 1971. It may be recalled that Shepard took a golf club and hit two balls while on the lunar surface that were not recovered. Shortly after returning to Earth, he gave a ball to his barber, Carlos Villagomez. Thus, the speculation about this ball.

Shepherd’s career is briefly reviewed, as is Carlos’, his barber, and their close friendship. Don’t expect to learn much about the early space program or Shepard (who passed in 1998), but the interaction between the two is interesting. Featured prominently is the haircut Carlos gave Shepard before and after his now famous Moon excursion.

The later haircut introduced a new style that transitioned Shepard’s traditional crew cut to a longer, more “modern” hairstyle. Carlos was not just an accomplished barber but an involved member of his community, and his knowledge and interests are impressive.

Shepard was known for being brusque to those he didn’t favor, but he comes through in a much more positive manner, as exemplified by his friendship with Carlos, his family, and friends.

One of several aspects is the revelation of the extended time that each Apollo lunar mission required of the astronauts’ personal time and that mundane tasks (getting a haircut) could prove so awkward. An aside story is Carlos’ disguise of Neil Armstrong via a longer hairstyle and fake mustache that gave the well-known moonwalker some anonymity to allow him to travel more freely.

The question of whether the ball given to Carlos was a “lunar ball,” carried to the Moon by Shepard, is not resolved. Because Shepard declared to NASA that he was taking two balls to the Moon and that he never explicitly told Carlos that his ball had been there, tends to obscure the issue.

© 2025 Ted Spitzmiller

NSS index of over 500 book reviews

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Picture of National Space Society

National Space Society

Leave a Comment

Search
Categories
future 1

Don't Miss a Beat!

Be the first to know when new articles are posted!

Follow Us On Social Media

JOIN THE
GREATEST ADVENTURE

Give The Gift Of Space: Membership For Friends and Family

Book Review

Archives

ISDC 2025:
Together Beyond!

In Orlando at the Rosen Centre Hotel.
June 19 - 22, 2025

FEATURED BLOG

Image of Kalpana One space settlement courtesy Bryan Versteeg, spacehabs.com $32,000 in Cash Awards Given for Best Space-Related Business Plans — Deadline March 1, 2024

Category: Nonfiction Reviewed by: John J. Vester Title: Nuclear Rockets: To the Moon and Mars Author: Manfred “Dutch” von Ehrenfried Format: Paperback/Kindle Pages: 270 Publisher:

Partially Successful Flight Reached Space and Demonstrated New “Hot Staging” System The National Space Society congratulates SpaceX on the second test of its Starship/Super Heavy

Ad Astra, the NSS quarterly print, digital, and audio magazine, has won a 2023 MARCOM Gold Award. The awards are given yearly for “Excellence in

By Jennifer Muntz, NSS Member Coordinator On October 10th, an inspiring breakfast event took flight at the Center for Space Education at the Kennedy Space

By Grant Henriksen NSS Policy Committee Benefit sharing is a concept that refers to the distribution of benefits derived from the exploration and use of

People residing and working in space, space settlements, or on long-duration space flights will need to produce infrastructures and food to maintain healthy lifestyles. The

Image: Artist’s concept of the Blue Moon lander. Credit: Blue Origin. Second Human Landing System Contract Encourages Competition and Innovation The National Space Society congratulates

Your Doorway to New Worlds