As a six year old, Arnie and the game of golf made an great impression on me at the time. I continued to follow Arnie's career and his wins over with other great golfers for several years, up to the 1973 Bob Hope Desert Classic win. In probably July or August 1974, I purchased a ticket to the Greater Hartford Open and traveled by myself some 20 miles from my parents home in Waterbury to see Arnie perform in person...and Oh what a performance Arnie put on. He battled Bruce Devlin (the eventual winner) and Rick Massengale on the back nine at the Wethersfield CC making at least six birdies on the remaining nine holes only to lose the tournament by a stroke. What a thrill it was to see this great man make birdies from all over the green with the crowd roaring in its approval and joy over Arnie's classic charge. What also struck me was the personal contact I felt that day with Mr. Palmer. He made eye contact with me several times from the opening tee shot to the final green. He winked, smiled and glanced in my direction all day which gave me a great feeling that this superstar golfer was a real champion and a wonderful role model. The story does not end there but on the porch of the clubhouse. A massive throng of fans followed Arnie from the eighteenth green to the scorers tent and then up to the clubhouse and of course I was amongst them.
I really wanted Arnie's autograph, so following Arnie and the crowd I jumped up on the veranda just before Arnie was to enter the building and I held out a small piece of paper above the crowd and asked Arnie for a signature which he gladly provided with a wink. I thought my hero was a great man to do this with everything else that was going on around him with people pulling and pushing him. My day was complete and I've proudly shared this story with my children and others over the years.
Arnie has inspired me to play golf since I was nine years old and age 50 today I still maintain a 4 handicap at my club. I played high school and college golf and have taught my three children who are all outstanding junior golfers who I am certain someday will teach their children to golf...and relate the above story to them. I wished you many more happy birthdays Arnie...you are the heart and soul of golf and truly the people's pro.
Kindest regards
Bruce Carusillo, CPA