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March 28, 2006
Thanks for being a regular guy and a role model for the ages
I was fortunate enough to have been invited to come down to Bay Hill for a corporate outing. Simply being at the tournament was a great pleasure as outside the ropes is as close as I will ever get to that elevel of play. Although I am a 8 handicap, I still live, breathe and sleep golf. My best friend who lives 1500 miles away spends several hours per week with me on the phone talking about our latest golf adventures, misfortunes, and future golf getaways.
I was attending a dinner for my corporate group one night during the Bay Hill last week and Mr. Palmer was our guest speaker. I work in the medical equipment industry designing wheelchair solutions for the disabled and he gave a wonderful talk on the impact our products have on people in need.
The highlight of my evening was shaking Arnie's hand and getting my photo taken with him. Although the photo was out of focus and a bit blurry it has become my prized possesion. Thanks for being a regular guy and a role model for the ages. Best of luck to you Mr. Palmer in all you you do.
Patrick Boardman
Tyngsboro, MA
Posted by scurry at 01:17 PM
What was the week like the first time you came here for your Masters?
Q: In regards to The Masters, obviously it made an impression on you, what was the week like the first time you came here for your Masters?
AP: Well, I suppose my gut feeling was I was so relieved and so happy to be at Augusta. I had played the Winter Tour, and a lot of things happened. One, I couldn’t take any money I won because I had to wait six month. It was a relief to get here because I knew that if I won any money, I’d get it, and that was important.
The other thing was that I played golf courses coming across the sweep in the South that in some cases, I started on the golf course at 5’10” and ended up at 6’0” because the mud on my shoes had built up a couple of inches.
And the greens, the greens on a lot of golf courses there was no grass; they overseed in the winter and it didn’t work.
So to get here where everything was impeccable, it was beautiful, the club, the facilities, and I was relieved. I was looking forward to it so much.
You can talk about it, but you can’t really tell someone how relieved you are. It was an inner feeling, and I knew that I had a chance to do something; that whatever I did play wise I was going to get rewarded for, and that was something I really looked forward to.
Posted by scurry at 12:53 PM
You won four, but how many do you think you left out there that you could have won?
Q: You won four, but how many do you think you left out there that you could have won?
AP: A lot more than four. You mean that I thought I could have won? Oh, yeah. Well, there was a couple of obvious ones, and there were others that weren’t so obvious.
I could go back, oh, probably even before I think in ’57 or ’56, I had a shot with nine holes to go and didn’t perform very well, and then after that, from ’58, oh God, almost up to close to ’70, maybe with a few exceptions, I would have had a shot every year.
Posted by scurry at 12:51 PM
Were there ever any close calls where you didn’t play?
Q: Were there ever any close calls where you didn’t play, like when you had the cancer scare of anything like that, or where you were sick way back in the day and almost snapped the streak?
AP: No, not really. I suppose the cancer situation was one that might have kept me from playing, but that’s probably as close as I came, and I played Bay Hill before Augusta. It was a foregone conclusion that I would come and play here.
Other than that, there was never really a time that it was even close, that I would not play.
Posted by scurry at 12:49 PM
How hard was that to just say, my last Masters?
Q: How hard was that to just say, my last Masters?
AP: Well it’s not easy. When you think about it, after this year, that will have been 50. And, of course, there’s all kinds of reasons why that should be the end. I hope to come back and be here at the Masters.
My game, you know, I suppose that if I made the cut this year.
You know, lightening hasn’t struck lately, and I’m not sure that it’s going to this year.
But I hit the ball pretty good today. Didn’t play particularly well, but I was encouraged; I reached all of the fairways off the tee.
I even made a few pars. So the next Thursday and Friday will be fun for me. I suppose it’s a bittersweet type situation. I’m going to miss coming and playing in the Masters, as I have for 50 years. You do anything that long, it’s like getting married. You get married and have a great time and then things go, sort of cool down, and you start it up again. Who knows?
It’s been great. It’s been a 50 great years, and I don’t think that I think that that’s enough. I think that’s it.
Posted by scurry at 12:45 PM
What was your first memory of Arnie’s Army?
Q: What was your first memory of Arnie’s Army?
AP: First time I really took notice was when the guys were on the boards and there were holding up Arnie’s Army signs right here. They were the guys from Fort Gordon.
Of course, you know, when I saw that, I found it interesting because I didn’t think, really, about you know, I didn’t know who those guys were, to be very honest and frank with you.
So I went and found out. In the process of finding out who they were, I found out that they were guys that had actually taken leave. They weren’t just given permission to come out here and do that. They took leave from the Army for the week to do the scoreboard.
And then I talked to them, and they said, yeah, we are all in the Army. We’re on the scoreboard and we thought it was pretty good. We’re rooting for you.
And of course their enthusiasm was fantastic, and it expanded from there.
Read more about Arnie's Army.
Posted by scurry at 12:41 PM
How did you feel about your 50th anniversary of the Masters in 2004?
Q: Can you describe emotionally what you were feeling walking up the 18th fairway at The Masters in 2004?
AP: Well, if you just use your imagination, you will understand that emotion. I’ve thought about how many times I’ve walked up that 18th fairway. I can think of the four times that I won the Masters. I can think of a couple of times that I didn’t win that I felt like I should have won. I can think of the fans that have supported me and listened to them, and, of course, they all have something to say, or most of them have something to say about what I’m doing when I’m walking up that fairway.
I think of all the things from the beginning, 1955 and ’56 and ’57, and I think of the times when I’ve teed it off at 10 and before I won the Masters and all of those things. I could go on and one and tell you things that are of no interest to you other than the fact it had something to do with my life and my playing golf here.
Emotion? A lot. Sometimes I just get tired and the emotion overrules and runs away with me. I’m not upset about that. You know, if I can’t handle it, that’s my fault. But it’s a part of me. That’s pretty much it. That’s what I think about, whether it be making a 6 at the last hole to lose the Masters, or whether it be hitting a 7 iron in about four feet to make a putt to win the Masters, all of those things go through my mind.
Posted by scurry at 12:27 PM
Are you leaving the Masters in good hands?
Q: Are you leaving the Masters in good hands? Are there things that you’re worried about that they need to address in the future, distance of the ball, etc., Something that perhaps concerns you as you make your exit?
AP: Well, I think there are always things that you probably have some concerns about. I don’t think that has really much to do with the Masters itself. I think it’s golf. I think it’s the competition. It really, in my feeling and opinion, like it or not, I think the ball needs to be slowed down. I think the best thing that we can do, rather than continuing to try to extend the real estate and make the golf courses longer and longer and longer, we really need to look for a way to slow the ball down a little bit, and rather than if you don’t slow it down, as time goes on, it’s going to get the problem is going to become more severe because these young people are growing stronger, and equipment, the things that they do to shafts and clubs and heads and all within the rules.
The one thing that they can do that would be very key to competitive golf, and that is slow the golf ball down, either the initial velocity, or I suppose there are numerous things that you can do to make a difference. You can probably lighten it a little. You can probably enlarge it a little. There are all kinds of ways to look at slowing it down. But I think that if you’re going to try to do something about the distance these people hit the golf ball, that’s where you have to go.
Posted by scurry at 12:19 PM
March 20, 2006
Thumbs Up
My Father was in the Navy and stationed in Pensacola, Florida when I was a teenager. One year Mr. Palmer was in Pensacola to play in the then Pensacola Open. At that time it was played at the Pensacola Country Club. The Naval Air Station there had an 18 hole Golf Course, A.C. Reid and Mr. Palmer played a round there before the tournament started. I can remember how excited I was. Through some unforseen circumstance I was not able to see Mr. Palmer play and it was, I remember, a sad sad day for me.
I have, since those years collected sports magazine covers of Arnold, pictures, a replica of "The Tractor" made famous by Arnold, an Arnold Palmer, Latrobe license plate and other keepsakes. But I never got to see Mr. Palmer in person until the 2004, 25th Senior Open at the Bellerive Country Club in St. louis. I followed Arnold for the time that I was at the tournament and enjoyed every shot that "The King" made. I tried to get an autograph when the round was over as Mr. Palmer left the scorer's area but security was such that I was not able to get close enough. But several young boys got the thrill and autograph of a lifetime. It was heartwarming to see the great big smiles on their faces.
I did call out to Arnold and told him I loved him and thanked him for coming to St. louis. I was probably just wanting it to happen, but Arnold turned to acknowledge my words and gave me a big smile and that ever present big "thumbs up". I went home that day a very happy senior citizen for I had finally seen my boyhood hero in person, spoken to him and recieved a return salute.
Now that I am close to retirement and more able to travel, I hope to some day soon see my friend again. And maybe this time be able to shake his hand, maybe even give him a hug and tell him thanks for all the hours and years of enjoyment he shared with me and the rest of his millions of fans.
Posted by scurry at 09:46 PM
Not in My Backswing!
During a practice round before Bay Hill one day in 1980, my husband, a golf professional himself, my my 9 year old son, my 2 year old daughter and I were following Arnie and his group around the course, being careful to keep the child quiet and far from the action.
On the 17th tee, there isn't much room to get far away and I was holding my daughter in my arms and standing as far away as I could when Arnie's partner took his club back and just at the top of his swing my daughter made a rather loud noise. It really didn't affect the shot and everyone turned around and smiled, but I was so embarrassed! Arnie grinned and said "No problem, as long as she doesn't do it in MY backswing!"
We finished watching the round and after the 18th hole, Arnie came over to our family and chatted with the children, signed an autograph for my son and myself and joked about what had happened. That was my first "celebrity" golfer and because of my husband's pro career, I came to see Arnie many more times. He is a wonderful man and I will never forget his graciousness at that first meeting.
We lost my husband, John 11 years ago and he thought so much of Arnie and the years he spent working on the Senior Tour with him. Bay Hill will always be so special to my children and I, we always went and John passed away during the tournament 3/15/95. I like to think he's there every year still. Thanks for the memories Arnie!
Nancy Trimboli Burgess
Posted by scurry at 08:21 PM
Father's Greatest Round of Golf
Mr. Palmer, my name is Matt Welter. About eight years ago you gave my father a memory he will never forget. He was given the opportunity he had always dreamed of and that was being able to play Latrobe. He was there with a friend for a business outing. My dad had always considered you the greatest golfer of all time and is your biggest fan.
When he was playing the round he was driving up to the 18th and noticed a cart was already there. He pulled up and it was you, standing on the 18th tee, looking over the course. He always tells me about how he scalded a ball because he was so nervous in front of you but you told him that you could tell that wasn't his best hit because he was so nervous. The funny thing is that he was with a big goofy guy who is pretty bad and he hit the ball of his life and never lets my dad live it down. Anyways, you all chatted for a while and eventually they played on.
A few weeks later my dad received a picture that had been autographed by you and he charishes that moment and that picture unlike anything I have ever seen. I just want to thank you for being such a great guy and for accidently fulfilling one of my father's life long dreams of meeting THE man, Arnold Palmer. And by the way, I am addicted to the Arnold Palmer drink from Arizona tea. That is the best drink I have ever had and it keeps me going out on the links. Matthew Welter
Posted by scurry at 03:25 PM
March 05, 2006
I'm a New Part of Arnie's Army
Mr Palmer,
I live in San Jose,CA. I started playing this wonderful game a little more than a year ago. I am in my mid twenties so unfortunately I never had the privedledge to watch you play on TV or live. But thanks to the Golf Channel I have been able to see some of your most memorable moments. You really inspire me not only with your aggressive style of play, but more with your conduct on off the course of play. You are truly a gentleman and more than a legend of the game. Mr. Palmer thanks for the hope you and joy you bring me and the rest of the Army!
Your Fan
Chi Kim
Posted by scurry at 03:52 AM