“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.