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February 18, 2007
My Meeting with 'Uncle' Arnie
Larry Bohannan
The Desert Sun
Arnold Palmer opens the door of his home and is kind of surprised to see a visitor standing there.
"Most people just walk in," Palmer said, completely serious but with a twinkle in his eye that lets you know you really are supposed to just walk into the Palmer household at Tradition Golf Club in La Quinta. You find yourself hoping you haven't insulted him by knocking on his door before entering.
It's that kind of familiarity that has made Palmer more than just a successful golfer for a couple of generations of golf fans. Palmer is your favorite uncle, the one you actually want to come over for Thanksgiving dinner. He's your next-door neighbor, the one you invite over for barbecues and who lends you his lawn mower.
Sitting in the main room of Palmer's modest home at Tradition, just a short walk from the main clubhouse of the project, it's impossible to know that you're in the home of one of the sport's most successful and recognizable players. The room has no visible signs that Palmer won four majors, 62 PGA Tour events or five Bob Hope Chrysler Classics. On a hutch just behind the dining table is the only real acknowledgement of Palmer's profession. It's a frame containing separate pictures of Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gray Player with an engraved plate proclaiming "The Big Three."
Besides those pictures, it could be anyone's house.
Palmer is dressed in a pink golf sweater featuring a small logo of Tradition Golf Club on the front. That logo is a silhouette of Palmer in his characteristic high follow through, and you can't help but think this is one of the few men in the world who can wear clothing with his own likeness on it. Seriously, who else can get away with that? Rappers? Ralph Lauren?
As Palmer talks freely about his time as the game's most popular and in-demand player, he constantly squeezes rubber doughnuts designed to strengthen his famously strong hands and forearms. Occasionally he'll run a hand through his silver hair, one of the signs that Palmer truly is 77 and that his playing days, at least in official tour events, really is over.
Palmer offers you a beer, water, anything you need. He weaves the offer effortlessly between stories of the road, of driving from tournament to tournament, of looking puzzled as he recalls having never played in the South African Open.
He talks of how this is his last full day in the desert for the season. He'll be off to his home at Bay Hill, outside of Orlando, Fla., where in a few weeks the PGA Tour event he has shepherded through the last two decades will debut with a new name - the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
As you leave, Palmer shakes your hand, because part of Palmer's very being is shaking your hand, looking you in the eye and calling you by your name. He tells you to come to the Orlando tournament sometime.
And you hope you aren't insulting him by not booking a flight for Orlando right away.
Posted by scurry at 05:25 PM
February 12, 2007
First time I saw Mr. Palmer in person
In 1966, Mr. Palmer came to Midland, TX to play in an exhibition with Bob Charles,Bobby Nichols and Gary Player ( not for sure ). My Mother took myself and my twin brother to the exhibition to watch our hero ( Mr.Palmer ). We were following the golfers on a par 4 hole and we were trying to get as close as possible to Mr. Palmer. My twin brother was behind me and by accident pushed me forward and I clipped Mr. Palmer's heel while he was walking. Needless to say Mr. Palmer turned around and very politely told me not to follow so close. A very embarrassing moment, but Mr. Palmer was very nice about the whole deal.
G. Clifton
Marble Falls, TX
Posted by scurry at 04:52 PM
February 07, 2007
In Awe of a Legend
I was attending the 3M championship with my son a couple of years ago and we were standing at the driving range, when a cart pulled up right beside me and when i looked to my left it was Arnold Palmer..Wow!! I couldn't even speak..I just poked my son and told him to look at the great Arnold Palmer.. I am reading a golfers life and am enjoying that..when i go back to the 3M I am hoping you are there again and I will bring the book for you to sign if I could get so lucky. You are my idol in the golf world..and on my last minute golfer.com page you are on my dream foursome.
Best wishes,
S. Hanson
Burnsville, Minnesota
Posted by scurry at 04:56 PM