Known as "The Little Pro," Merrins was long-time head golf professional at Bel-Air CC and one of the nation's foremost golf teachers. Merrins wrote his landmark book, "Swing the Handle, not the Clubhead" in 1973 and has since produced a video series with the same name. Merrins, who was inducted into the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame, was also the men's golf coach at UCLA for decades; his 1988 team won the NCAA Division I national championship.