Eddie Merrins, teacher to the stars, enters World Golf Teacher Hall of Fame

He's not a name-dropper, but when pressed Merrins will talk about playing with stars like Dean Martin. The Rat Pack's boozy lounge lizard was a fictional character; Merrins remembers Martin coming to Bel Air every day during the week, teeing off in money matches with friends at 12:30 p.m., playing cards till 6 p.m. afterward and then going home to his wife.

"The whole time he'd be there, he'd have one drink, if at all," Merrins said.

Through Bel Air, Merrins also met the UCLA chancellor, Charles Young, who asked Merrins if he'd be interested in coaching the college golf team. Merrins agreed and coached for 14 years, a run that included future PGA pros Duffy Waldorf and Corey Pavin and peaked in 1988 when the Bruins won the NCAA championship.

"I felt if I could teach these boys 'swing the handle,' we could win the championship in five years," Merrins said. "It actually took 14 years, but in the end the championship justified the involvement all those years."

While at UCLA, Merrins forged another close friendship, this one with basketball coach John Wooden. He admired Wooden's coaching, particularly how well-prepared his teams were, his modesty and his sense of humor. The worst expletive he'd ever heard Wooden say was "Oh, my!"

"As a human being, Coach Wooden is the epitome of character," Merrins said.

Words that many would use to describe the Little Pro himself.