Tales from the Ranks: Archives
September 05, 2006
Happy Birthday Arnie!!!!!!!!
Arnie,
Thank you for the autographs that you always sign for me!!! Although, I would rather see you play!!! As a child I had no interest in golf because golf was too expensive for my family so I wish I saw you play in tournaments. I do remember seeing you on the Pennzoil commercials.. You have'nt changed. I was thrilled when you told me that you would be playing in Baltimore next week. I just bought my plane ticket.. Thank you again for your time and Happy Birthday!!!
Durl S.
Arizona, USA
Posted by scurry at 02:41 PM
August 31, 2006
My Golf Hero
I have always followed your career since I first started playing this great game in 1958. I bought my first set of matched clubs in 1965 being Arnold Palmer Dunlop clubs. I played with these until 1996 when I passed them on to a friend who was just starting out. They were the best clubs I have ever owned and you were my inspiration. I just wish I could get another set as good as they were. Anyway have a great 77th birthday on the 10th and I hope you have many more as you have done so much for this wonderful game that we play. Thank you so much.
Yours in Golf, Tony Pitcher.
Sydney, Australia
Posted by scurry at 10:39 PM
April 12, 2006
2 Months Older
You are two months older than I am. I want to thank you for all the pleasure I have had watching you play.
You are true gentleman. You are the greatest role model in my life. You have made my life much more enjoyable.
Thank you,
Charles Wood
Posted by scurry at 02:57 PM
October 22, 2005
Go Arnie!
Dear Mr. Palmer,
As junior golfers back in the middle 70's, a group of us went to royal montreal golf club to see the Canadian Open, from Malone, NY.
I insisted on following you on the course. On one particular hole (can't remember exactly) you were preparing to hit a tee shot while the gallery, me included, passed underneath on a bridge. I yelled 'GO ARNIE!' and you looked me right in the eye and winked.
I don't think you did very well in that tournament but it was a moment i'll never forget.
I've read your book 'GO FOR BROKE' many times, it has been an inspiration for me. I've lost many balls in the water and in the woods following your philosophy, but also made many eagles and 'hole-out' birdies, going for the hole.
Happy birthday, Mr. Palmer, and I wish you many more. I would like to speak on behalf of so many of your fans - we would like to see you playing more tournaments, no matter how you score. We will always be there.
From a lowly private in Arnie's Army.
Best regards,
Will Waryha
Malone, NY
Posted by scurry at 12:08 PM
October 14, 2005
Extremely memorable moment in my life
Dear Mr. Palmer:
First of all, let me wish you a very happy 76th year. I was fortunate enough to have won our city golf championship in Sioux City, Iowa in 1964 at the age of 17. You were gracious enough to play a golf benefit in our home town that year and little did I know that that would be one of the luckiest days of my life. I had won our city junior championship that year and was so proud to qualify as your caddy in the exhibition. By winning the city championship, I was elevated to the extreme privilege of being able to play with you. I am now 59 years old, looking at our picture on my wall, watching you just make a birdie on TV in this weeks Senior tour event and am so proud that I got to spend a wonderful afternoon which seems so long ago with you.
Needless to say, you have presented me with many, many years of beautiful memories and very cherished pats on the back for having qualified for that beautiful experience. I live in New Mexico now and have even met two people here that I have played golf with that were in that gallery that day back in 1964. It's an unbelievably small world.
Again, Happy Birthday Mr. Palmer and I wish you all the best for a wonderfully pleasurable rest of your life. Thank you so much for the beautiful memories in mine.
Sincerely,
Don Sorensen
Posted by scurry at 05:55 PM
September 15, 2005
The Palmer Logo on a U-2 spyplane?
Dear Mr. Palmer,
Just a quick note to wish you a happy birthday on the 10th! We had a chance to meet several years ago at Bay Hill. The meeting was special for me because we had a chance to talk aviation and I had the opportunity to share some photos of my career flying the U-2 spyplane. You may recall the photos since the Palmer Logo appeared on the tail, purely out of admiration for you.
From a lifelong fan, please accept my best wishes for a great birthday. You continue to be an inspiration.
Most Sincerely,
Dan Sanders
Chief Executive Officer
United Supermarkets, Ltd.
Posted by scurry at 07:52 PM
A Special Note
My father turned 81 this year, but it was his 80th that was so very special. Mr. Palmer was generous enough to send him a special note on that day. They had met at the Phx. Open in 1964, and this was an important time for my father. Turning 80 can bring about mixed feelings, so how appropriate to open a letter from his lifetime hero and fellow prostate cancer survivor. I also added a case of your 2002 wine from Northern California. He called me up and could barely get through the phone call. My Dad is the most important person in my life and it has always been difficult to get something for his birthday. I'm sure your kids can relate. So, to surprise him on that day was no small feat. I just wanted you to know how special you are to my family and to me.
I pray for your continued good health and best wishes on your upcoming birthday.
Sincerely,
David M. Simmons, son of James Pat Simmons
Posted by scurry at 07:44 PM
How about that finish on the 17th and 18th at laurel valley??!!
dear arnold,
very happy birthday and many, many more! i still love to watch you play. how about that finish on the 17th and 18th at laurel valley!!
all the very best-you can't have a bigger fan than me.
bill raymond
Posted by scurry at 07:37 PM
My golfing buddies call me Arnie, because my name is Palmer
Dear Arnie,
My caddie mates used to call me "Sam". That was before you appeared on the tour scene. Now, my golfing buddies call me Arnie, because my name is Palmer. A fine old name. My English ancestor, Walter Palmer arrived in Salem, MA in 1629, along with other relatives about the same time. Because our facial features are pretty close, I have often wondered if we were somewhat related. I notice that our dad descended from Quaker stock. My folks were more of a Congregational bent. I have followed you on the course a few times, twice in Hawaii '67-'69 timeframe, when I was a Navy pilot in a patrol squadron. Being an avid golfer, although not very talented, I have admired your career.
Best wishes for many more Happy Birthdays.
Sincerely,
Bill Palmer
Posted by scurry at 07:03 PM
Arnold, Your 82 is Like a 62 to Me
Arnold, your 82 is like a 62 to me. Play forever if you can, I love to see you play.
Happy Birthday!
Enjoy!
Tim S.
Posted by scurry at 06:50 PM
September 04, 2005
3M Championship Meeting
Arnold Palmer has "long" been a hero to this 25-year-old fan. Despite my rather brief history of golf enjoyment and fan-dom, Arnold has always been my favorite. His writings and videos have been some of the greatest inspirations to this aspiring young golfer. Can you imagine how much more I liked him when I discovered that he and I share the same birthday (although quite a few years apart)? :-)
Today, while attending the Coldwell Banker Burnet Pro-Am at TPC Twin Cities, I was treated to the rare opportunity to watch my favorite golfer playing live. Of course, part of the thrill for me was seeing him play one of the very courses he's designed!
After he teed off on the seventh hole, I noticed that he slipped into the cart with his caddy that happened to be parked just behind me. He waited there for the amateurs he was partnered with to tee off. This provided me the golden opportunity to walk over and enjoy this brief exchange (as best as I remember it):
"Mr. Palmer?"
"Yes?"
"Your birthday is September tenth is it not?"
"Yes."
"As is mine! It's a little early, but happy birthday."
[At this, he reached out his hand to match mine for a handshake.]
"Happy birthday," he replied back.
"Thank you," I said while shaking his hand and then added, "God bless you sir."
That was about all there was time for, but I enjoyed every last second of it.
I have never before had the privilege of meeting anyone who shared my birthday, and now the first I've "met" is Arnie himself.
Thank you, Mr. Palmer, for this kind act toward one of your fans. You're one of the greatest ever and I'm privileged to share this memory--and the same birthday--with you.
Posted by scurry at 08:04 PM