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May 30, 2006
AP Design Company Moving to Orlando's Bay Hill
The renamed Arnold Palmer Design Company will move its offices and operations from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to new quarters at Palmer’s Bay Hill Club at Orlando this fall. The relocation will enable Palmer to be more active in his roles as president and chairman of the long-established golf architectural firm, which has designed more than 250 courses in 38 states and 23 countries during its 35 years of existence.
Another motivation for the move was the illness of Ed Seay, with whom Palmer formed the company in 1971. Although unable to be fully active, Seay, a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, will remain involved with the company as Palmer’s personal counselor. All of the firm’s present employees were invited to continue in their present capacities at the new Bay Hill offices. The target date for the transition is October 1.
“Since my golf has not been up to the standards I have always set for myself, I have not been playing in tour events this year,” said Palmer. “So that gives me the time to be more in charge of the company and personally get more involved in the designing. This is something that I have wanted to do for many years.
“With the company right at my club in Orlando, I can be hands-on much more of the time.”
Palmer had high praise for Seay, his long-time associate in the design business.
“Ed has been my lead man in the business and I consider him one of the greatest architects of all time. He has done a fantastic job for us,” he remarked. “Now, as my consultant, I will continue to turn to him for advice on all phases of our company operations.
“We are happy that many of the key people are moving to Orlando. We will be able to continue business as usual during the transition.”
Many of the Palmer-designed courses have been the sites for tournaments on the various tours in the United States and around the world. The new Classic Club at Palm Springs, California, was the headquarters course for this year’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the Palmer-designed K Club course outside of Dublin, Ireland, will be the scene of the Ryder Cup Match in September.
Another notable achievement for the company was the creation of Chung Shan Hot Spring Golf Course in southern China. It was the first new golf course in the country in more than a half century and touched off a golfing boom in that nation.
Interestingly, Palmer’s career as a course designer dates back to the early 1960s. He and his father, Milfred J. (Deke) Palmer, laid out the routing and oversaw the construction when Latrobe Country Club was expanded from nine to 18 holes. Arnold grew up at Latrobe CC, where his father was golf professional and course superintendent throughout his adult life. Arnold acquired ownership of the club in 1971, at about the same time as he and associates purchased Bay Hill.
Posted by dgiffin at 04:28 PM
May 26, 2006
Palmer to Play in U.S. Senior Open in Kansas
Arnold Palmer has submitted a entry for the U.S. Senior Open Championship, which will be played July 6-9 at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas. It is scheduled to be his first tour tournament start of the 2006 season.
Palmer's last competitive appearance was in the Wendy's Champions Skins Game at Wailea, Hawaii in February, where he partnered with Peter Jacobsen, and his most recent Champions Tour start was in the Administaff Small Business Classic at Houston, Texas, last October.
Palmer won the 1981U.S. Senior Open at Oakland Hills Country Club, Birmingham, Michigan, the first year he was eligible to play in the championship. He has competed in all 24 Senior Opens that followed. At Oakland Hills, he defeated Bill Casper and Bob Stone in an 18-hole playoff. He returns to Prairie Dunes for the first time since playing an exhibition match there with Jack Nicklaus in 1962.
"My golf has certainly not been up to par of late," the 76-year-old Palmer said, explaining his reluctance to enter the championship until days before the deadline. Dissatisfaction with his game was a factor in his withdrawal prior to last week's Senior PGA Championship. "Hopefully, by the time I get to Kansas, my game will be much better."
In addition to the Senior Open, Palmer has won four other senior majors and a total of 10 Champions Tour titles. He captured the Senior PGA in 1980, the year he turned 50, and in 1984 and scored back-to-back victories in the Senior Players Championship (then the Senior TPC Championship) at Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland. He won 62 times on the regular PGA Tour and has 92 professional titles on his brilliant record. He also won the 1954 U.S. Amateur Championship at the Country Club of Detroit and is one of only two players to have won the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open. Jack Nicklaus is the other.
Posted by dgiffin at 04:11 PM
May 16, 2006
Palmer Withdraws from Senior PGA Championship
Arnold Palmer has withdrawn from the field of the Senior PGA Championship, which will be played May 25-28 at Oak Tree Country Club in Edmond, Oklahoma. He issued the following statement today::
"It is with considerable reluctance that I have come to the decision to withdraw from this year's Senior PGA Championship at Oak Tree. In addition to some serious business scheduling conflicts, I have become convinced that the caliber of my game is such right now that I would not be able to compete satisfactorily in the Championship."
Palmer, a two-time winner of the Senior PGA (1980 and 1984), has only missed the Senior PGA once since he first became eligible as a 50-year-old in 1980. He did not play at PGA National Golf Club in 1986. The tournament at Oak Tree was to have been his first start on the Champions Tour this year.
Posted by dgiffin at 11:04 AM
May 09, 2006
Palmer Lives Up to 'Shoot Your Age' Event
Arnold Palmer was one of just six players among a select field of 60 senior golfers who lived up to the title in the "Shoot Your Age Championship" television special aired on CBS prior to the final round of the PGA Tour's Wachovia Championship on May 7th. The 76-year-old pro great fashioned a one-over-par 73 in the first staging of the unique event on the Palmer-designed Legends Country Club course at The Villages in Central Florida.
Leonard Luken, an 87-year-old resident of Hilton Head, SC, won the tournament when he scored an 81 for his six-stroke margin. He was the only man who had a wider difference between score and age than Palmer and two others -- 87-year-old Joe Cheves, Morgantown NC, who shot 84, and 83-year-old Loyal (Bud) Chapman, who had an 80. Players had to drop out when their scores matched their ages and just two others -- Robert Harris, 77, Boynton Beach FL (75) and Archie Swanson, 87, Crystal River FL (87) -- reached the 18th green on the Legends course at the immense, leisure-oriented residential community.
Gary Player, 70, the other pro golfing great in the field, reached his age and ended his round on the 17th green. Nancy Lopez, the LPGA Hall-of-Famer, who also designed one of The Villages courses, was on hand for the event.
Palmer, who swapped stories and needling with Player, his long-time friend, TV playing partner and frequent tournament adversary, at interviews and events prior to the tournament, was pleased to have beaten his age but was disappointed when a three-putt on the last green deprived him of a par round. "I was reasonably pleased, but I am certainly not playing the type of golf that I would like to be playing. (Overall it was) very encouraging,' Palmer remarked afterward. "I am look forward to next year."
Posted by dgiffin at 03:37 PM
May 04, 2006
The Villages Shoot Your Age Championship
Tune into CBS Sunday, May 7th, 1:00 PM
In golf, there is one feat few have ever accomplished. Sam Snead was the first. Arnold Palmer has done it. So has Gary Player, several times. It is Jack’s burning final goal…Tiger and Vijay have never even come close. The goal…to Shoot Your Age.
For the first time ever, one of golf’s most elusive goals becomes a major television event…as a field of 80 golfers including Arnold Palmer and Gary Player tee off in The Villages Shoot Your Age Championship - to be televised May 7th 1-3 p.m. on CBS. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for any golfer to enter and come to The Villages to compete for the thirty-four (34) qualifying spots in the CBS main event.
SHOOT YOUR AGE WEEK takes place May 1-7, 2006 at The Villages in Florida. The qualifying event will be an 18 hole competition held Thursday, May 4th at Palmer Legends. The concept is simple - Everyone hits from the same tees - No handicaps. PAR IS YOUR AGE. The thirty-four (34) golfers with the lowest scores at or under PAR (their age) - qualify to play as one of the 80 golfers in The Villages SHOOT YOUR AGE CBS field.
Those entering qualifying receive special discounted practice rounds at The Villages - May 1-3 - as they prepare for the Thursday event. It's truly a dream of a lifetime for any golfer who believes they can come to Florida to shoot their age - Qualify - and then play that weekend along with golfing legends on CBS.
Visit www.shootyourage.com for more details.
Posted by scurry at 11:34 AM
Palmer Foundation Makes $2 Million Cancer Grant
The Arnold D. Palmer Charitable Trust is making a $2 million grant to the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute for the establishment of an "Arnold Palmer Endowed Chair in Cancer Prevention." This new initiative in cancer prevention enabled the UPCI to recruit Dr. Emanuela Taioli, a renowned expert in cancer risk and individual susceptibility, to head its division of cancer prevention and population science.
The announcement by Palmer and University of Pittsburgh officials preceded the annual UPCI fund-raising gala May 3 at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on Pittsburgh's South Side, where the school's football team shares expansive, modern training facilities with the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The gala, which was attended by more than 1,000 supporters and raised $8.2 million for the UPCI, was held in the beautifully-decorated indoor football practice field at the Sports Complex.
Palmer has been a strong and active supporter of cancer programs on a national scale since undergoing successful prostate cancer surgery in 1997. The dreaded disease took the life of his first wife, Winnie, in 1999 and his daughter, Mrs. Amy Saunders, recovered completely following breast cancer surgery in the mid-1990s.
Posted by dgiffin at 11:25 AM
May 02, 2006
Prestwick to Host 2006 Palmer Cup presented by Monster
College golf’s Ryder Cup-style competition tees off at the Birthplace of the Open Championship
ORLANDO, Fla. — Historic Prestwick Golf Club has been selected as the site for the 2006 Palmer Cup presented by Monster announced the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The annual Ryder Cup-style competition will be played June 29-30, on the 6,544 yard, par 71 Prestwick Golf Club when the top collegiate players from the United States tee off against their counterparts from Europe. The Americans lead the series, 5-3-1.
“We are very pleased to hold the 10th Palmer Cup at the birthplace of championship golf, Prestwick Golf Club,” said GCAA President Tom Drennan. “I’m sure that both the finest college players from America and Europe will be looking forward to competing at such a prestigious venue. We are grateful to the members and staff of Prestwick for making this wonderful opportunity possible.”
Situated on the famous Ayrshire coast of Scotland, Prestwick shares a stretch of land with legendary courses Royal Troon and Turnberry, all who have played host to the Open Championship. Prestwick boasts the distinction of being the birthplace of the Open Championship, having hosted 24 Open Championships, including the first 12. In 1872, the club joined forces with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh to acquire the Claret Jug.
“Prestwick Golf Club is delighted to act as this years host Club for the Palmer Cup,” said Ian Bunch, Prestwick Golf
Club Secretary. “We look forward to welcoming the super stars of tomorrow to our very unique Club and Course. I believe Prestwick is one of the finest match play venues in Scotland and it will be a privilege to see these young players test their skills. The course is a true links layout with narrow fairways and fast undulating greens; there are a number of old fashioned blind shots which most of the participants will not have experienced. There will be a premium on accuracy as opposed to length and if the wind blows both sides will discover the special delights of golf in Scotland.”
Prestwick has been a strong supporter of amateur golf, having hosted 11 Amateur Championships. The first was in
1888 and the most recent in 2001 as part of the Club’s 150th Anniversary.
“Monster could not be happier with the opportunity to stage this top collegiate competition at the birthplace of the
Open Championship,” commented Andrew J. McKelvey, Chairman and CEO of Monster Worldwide. “The whole Prestwick experience will be outstanding for the talented young men who qualify for the Palmer Cup presented by Monster – college golf’s equivalent to the Ryder Cup.”
The 10th annual Palmer Cup presented by Monster returns to Scotland for the first time since 1998, when the event
was played at St. Andrews. Previous Palmer Cup host venues include Bay Hill, The Honors Course, Royal Liverpool, Baltusrol, Doonbeg, Cassique, Ballybunion and Whistling Straits. Past participants include Open Champion Ben Curtis, Jonathan Byrd, Luke Donald, Charles Howell III, Hank Kuehne, Bo Van Pelt, Michael Hoey, Matt Kuchar, Peter Lawrie, Hunter Mahan, D.J. Trahan and Ryan Moore. More information is available on The Palmer Cup at www.arnoldpalmer.com.
Monster, headquartered in Maynard, Mass., is the leading global careers website. Monster connects the most
progressive companies with the most qualified career-minded individuals, offering innovative technology and superior services that give them more control over the recruiting process. The Monster global network consists of local content and language sites in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, France, Scotland, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Luxembourg, India, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland and Finland. Monster was the official online career management services sponsor of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. More information about Monster is available at www.monster.com or by calling 1-800-MONSTER.
Prestwick Golf Club was founded in 1851 and is located just 30 minutes southwest of Glasgow, Scotland, on the
famous golfing Ayrshire coast, a stretch of land unequalled anywhere in the world for prime golfing terrain. Prestwick shares its boundaries with Royal Troon and is just 20 minutes from Turnberry. More information is available on Prestwick at www.prestwickgc.co.uk.
Posted by scurry at 03:49 PM
U.S. Announces Palmer Cup presented by Monster Team
Haack to lead American team for second time
NORMAN, Okla. — Ryan Baca of Baylor, Duke’s Ryan Blaum, Roberto Castro and Kevin Larsen of Georgia Tech, Georgia’s Brian Harman and Chris Kirk, Luke List of Vanderbilt and Brigham Young’s Clay Ogden have been selected to represent the United States in the 2006 Palmer Cup presented by Monster announced the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).
The annual Ryder Cup-style competition between American collegiate golfers and their counterparts from Europe will be held June 29-30, on the 6,544 yard, par 71 Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, Scotland. Georgia Head Coach Chris Haack has been named to lead Team USA, his second stint as Palmer Cup coach.
“I’m really happy with the team that we’ve put together for this Palmer Cup,” said Haack. “Not only do we have experienced players who are having great college seasons, but we have guys who have competed in Palmer Cups, Walker Cups and The Masters. Hopefully we will have as much success as we did last time I coached.”
Blaum and Castro each posted 3-1 records in last year’s Palmer Cup and teamed up for a four-ball victory in the
event’s opening round. Castro also served as team captain while Blaum was assistant captain. Haack - the only U.S. coach to have been selected twice to coach Team USA - previously served in 2002 when he lead the Americans to a 15.5-8.5 victory at Doonbeg Golf Club in Ireland.
Baca, Harman, Kirk, Larsen, List and Ogden will be competing in their first Palmer Cup.
Team USA leads the Palmer Cup series 5-3-1.
Posted by scurry at 03:37 PM
European Palmer Cup presented by Monster Team Announced
Players from six different countries compose squad
NORMAN, Okla. — Alejandro Cañizares of Arizona State, East Tennessee State’s Rhys Davies, Oscar Floren of Texas Tech, Georgia State’s Mark Haastrup, Stephen Lewton of NC State, Randstad Topsport Academie Rotterdam’s Joost Luiten, Pablo Martin of Oklahoma State and Stirling’s Richard Ramsey have been named to represent Europe in the 2006 Palmer Cup presented by Monster announced European Head Coach Peter Mattsson.
The annual Ryder Cup-style competition between American collegiate golfers and their counterparts from Europe will be played June 29-30, on the 6,544 yard, par 71 Prestwick Golf Club. The European squad - which trails the United States 5-3-1 - represents players from six different nations.
“We have players with a wide range of abilities from across Europe,” said Mattsson, the director of coaching for the English Golf Union. “Several of our players have links experience, which will be of great benefit, and a good mix between players based out of the United States and Europe.”
Cañizares, a senior from Manilva, Spain, will be competing in his fourth Palmer Cup. The Palmer Cup all-time leader in victories and points, the former NCAA champion has a 9-3 career record in the event.
Davies, a native of Bridgend Wales will be competing in his third Palmer Cup while Martin, hailing from Malaga, Spain, will be participating in his second. Davies Palmer Cup record is 3-4-1, although he did register a 3-1 mark while leading Europe to victory at Ballybunion in 2004. Martin went 1-2-1 last year at Whistling Straits Irish Course.
Floren (Sweden), Haastrup (Denmark), Lewton (England), Luiten (The Netherlands) and Ramsey (Scotland) will be
competing in their first Palmer Cup.
Posted by scurry at 02:43 PM