Life and times of Arnold “The King” Palmer

“If you’re ‘putting’ well, out on the green, and your ‘stroke’ is one worth being seen, then go on my friend, take a bow, Golfing is a WOW”. ~ Ernestine Northover.

Imagine yourself watching the golden red in the eastern sky when the sun rises after a night’s rain, that sweet odour of the earth, and a cool breeze often splashing your face. What comes to your mind?

Or, imagine yourself walking in the countryside with rough terrains, bumps and ditches. What comes to your mind?

Well, you might have guessed the answer by now if you possess a sporting brain. It involves walking with a club and hitting the ball into those widely dispersed holes. Yes. I’m talking about golf. Not many would love playing the sport, especially those from the cricket mad subcontinent, who would hardly ever think about it. We may see it a pastime, but for some, it’s a profession and more than that, a passion.

Across the ages, the sport has seen quite a few legendary characters. From the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player to the modern day heroes like Ernie Els, Rory Mclroy and Tiger Woods, golf has seen it all. I’d, however, like to stress upon one legendary character who revolutionized the sport of golf, thereby paving way for the modern generation. As they say, “Brevity is the soul of wit”, I’d only like to mention a few of his many achievements. I understand that if I keep writing about each of his numerous feathers in the cap, my write-up would end up as a short novel.

Sixty three years of age is three years into retirement in my nation. But it wasn’t so for a man who hit three birdies on a golf course. In a game which involves encounters with water, wood and lusty green grasslands, Arnold Daniel Palmer was more than a sensation, in fact, one of the greatest golfing gentlemen.

Golf happened to confront him at a very young age. By the age of eleven, he was seen caddying and was seen beating older caddies around him. He grew up in Pennsylvania’s La trobe with his father, Deacon Palmer at the La trobe country club. Honing his skills with the golf club under his father’s tutelage, Palmer rose strongly, yet gracefully. Before he joined Wake Forest University, he had won a West Penn Amateur Championship. But things did not run smoothly for this talented kid. He withdrew from college in his senior year following his close friend’s (Bud Worsham) death and started working as a salesman with the coast guard. Despite the trauma, he continued his love affair with golf. It would be better to say that golf itself continued its tryst with this legend and he was seen playing amateur events. In the fall of 1954, Palmer won his first US Amateur event. This legend tasted superficial stardom in the 1955 shortly after his marriage with Winifred Walzer. The rest is history. He would later go on to win a staggering 92 tournaments, of which 62 were achieved on the PGA tour.

If there was anyone who brought golf to television, thereby revolutionizing it in terms of drawing people towards the game, it was surely Palmer. In fact, this witty, humble man, full of sensible thoughts was the first athlete to achieve lucrative success in this sport. That legendary stance, taking the aid of his club to aim for the hole, that majestic swing and the picturesque approach of the ball towards the hole are a few of many graceful memories associated with this legend. The period around 1963 was another golden time in the unmatched history of Palmer. Not only did he win the prestigious Ryder’s Cup as the captain of the USA team, but also took one giant step in the business and financial sector. He is the President of the Arnold Palmer Enterprises, stationed in Cleveland and also the lone owner of Latrobe Country Club. Palmer and P.B. Seay combined in management and teaching of business and golf course design in Palmer Course Design Company. The Palmer-Seay team has designed over 200 courses on this planet. The annual Pan Tour’s Arnold Palmer International tournament is named after this skilled golfer. This father-figure of golf has been at the receiving end of innumerable honours, trophies and citations. This Charter member of the World Golf Hall of Fame has literally received every national award in golf. To name a few, Hickok Athlete of the Year and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year after a fruitful 1960 season.

Palmer left a strong legacy behind him. He never left golf even after retiring. It would be more correct to say that golf never left him. He was the first golfer ever to have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 and the second golfer after Bryon Nelson to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The airport in Latrobe was renamed as Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. It was in the runway of this airport way back in 1939, that Palmer watched the first ever airmail pick-up. Even now, when asked about golf, this immortal golfer in all humility said,

“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated.”

He has nearly 10 books to his credit. His autobiography “Arnold Palmer, A Personal Journey; in conversation with Thomas Hauser” is a must read. However, I would like to end this article by listing out Academic Honours, Awards (golf and general) and golf books and videos made in his name.

ACADEMIC HONORS

Honorary Doctor of Laws, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NCHonorary Doctor of Humanities, Thiele College, Greenville, PAHonorary Doctor of Laws, National College of Education, Evanston, ILHonorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL

AWARDS

GOLF:

Charter member, World Golf Hall of Fame, Pinehurst, NC – 1974American Golf Hall of Fame, Foxburg, PAPGA Hall of Fame, Palm Beach Gardens, FL – 1980All-American Collegiate Golf Hall of Fame, Man of Year – 1984Ohio Golf Hall of Fame – 1992Phoenix Open Hall of FameBob Jones Award, U.S. Golf Association – 1971Walter Hagen Award, International panel of selectorsWilliam D. Richardson Award, Golf Writers Assn. of America – 1969Charles Bartlett Award, Golf Writers Assn. of America – 1976Herb Graffis Award, National Golf Foundation – 1978Gold Tee Award, Metropolitan (NY) Golf Writers Assn. – 1965Golf Digest “Man of Silver Era” – 1975Old Tom Morris Award, Golf Course Supt. Assn. of America – 1983Golfer of Century, New York Athletic ClubCommemorative Honoree, 1987 Golf Digest Commemorative Seniors TournamentGolfer of Decade (1958-67), Centennial of Golf, Golf Mag. – 1989American Senior Golf Association National Award – 1989Chicago District Golf Assn. Distinguished Service Award – 1989Ambassador of Golf Award, World Series of Golf – 1991Bing Crosby Award, Metropolitan Golf Writers Assn. – 1992Memorial Honoree, Memorial Tournament – 1993

GENERAL:

Associated Press Athlete of Decade – 1960-69Hickok Athlete of Year – 1960Sports Illustrated Sportsman of Year – 1960Western Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, Cambria County, North Carolina, Florida Sports Halls of FameWake Forest Hall of FameArthur J. Rooney Award, Catholic Youth Assn., Pittsburgh PADapper Dan Man of Year, Pittsburgh, PA – 1960Lowman Humanitarian Award, Los Angeles, CADistinguished Pennsylvanian – 1980Partner in Science Award, March of Dimes Birth Defects FoundationTheodore Roosevelt Award, National Collegiate Athletic AssociationBusiness Leaders Award, Northwood InstituteNational High School Sports Hall of FameGold Medal, Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters – 1988Sports Appreciation Trophy, Atlanta AC CC, Atlanta, GA – 1990Van Patrick Career Achievement Award, Dearborn, MI – 1990Eagle on World Award, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York – 1990.Pathfinder Award, Youth links Indiana – 1992Outstanding American Award, Los Angeles Philanthropic Foundation- 1992National Sports Award, Washington, D.C. – 1993Sports Legends Award, Jr. Diabetes Foundation, Pittsburgh – 1993Humanitarian Award, Variety Club International – 1993“Good Guy” Award, American Legion National Commanders – 1993

GOLF BOOKS AND VIDEOS:

Arnold Palmer’s Golf Book, 1961Portrait of Professional Golfer, 1964My Game and Yours, 1965 revised 1983Situation Golf, 1970Go For Broke, 1973Arnold Palmer’s Best 54 Holes of Golf, 1977Arnold Palmer’s Complete Book of Putting, 1986Play Great Golf, 1987-9 (book, videos)The Arnold Palmer Story, 1991 (video)A golfer’s life, 2000.Arnold Palmer, A Personal Journey (in conversation with Thomas Hauser, 1996.