Arnold Palmer News: Archives

ARNOLD PALMER JOINS CENTOCOR ORTHO BIOTECH AND US TOO INTERNATIONAL TO LAUNCH MY PROSTATE CANCER ROADMAP

September 01, 2010

Prostate Cancer Often Misunderstood, Thought of as Less Threatening Than Other Cancers

HORSHAM, Pa. — World-renownedgolf champion and prostate cancer survivor Arnold Palmer has teamed up with Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. and the non-profit organization Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network to launch My Prostate Cancer Roadmap (www.myprostatecancerroadmap.com), an educational program that provides resources and information specific to advanced prostate cancer patients and those who love them.

Every year, approximately 8,000 cases of cancer of the prostate are diagnosed at an advanced stage and roughly 32,000 men are projected to die this year from the disease in the United States. Despite these statistics, many people think prostate cancer is less dangerous than other cancers. In fact, cancer of the prostate is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men the United States, and the National Cancer Institute predicts a 17 percent increase in prostate cancer deaths this year compared to 2009.

Arnold Palmer knows first-hand about navigating prostate cancer. Diagnosed with the disease in 1997, Palmer has worked as an advocate for people affected by cancer of the prostate for more than a decade. He is helping to launch the My Prostate Cancer Roadmap program to raise awareness of advanced prostate cancer and this new support resource.*

“I was very lucky -- my family and friends were with me every step of the way as I faced prostate cancer, finding information and accompanying me to each doctor’s appointment that I had,” said Palmer. “Often, men don’t reach out for support, or they feel that being strong means that they have to face this disease on their own. Having information and support to help navigate every part of the journey is critical, especially to men facing advanced disease, where comprehensive information can be more difficult to find.”

Prostate cancer occurs when cancer cells form in the tissues of the prostate. The prostate is a gland located around the urethra (under the bladder) in men that produces part of the seminal fluid. In some cases, cancer of the prostate can grow slowly compared with other cancers. However, depending on factors including characteristics specific to the patient and the tumor, prostate cancer can also grow very quickly and spread to other places such as the lymph nodes, bones or other parts of the body. Prostate cancer is considered to be advanced once it has spread beyond the prostate region.

“Advanced prostate cancer is a disease that is poorly understood. Prostate cancer kills more men in the United States than any other cancer, except for lung cancer,” said Tom Kirk, President & CEO, Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network. “Us TOO International is deeply committed to helping men and those who care about them understand the unique challenges, and how to live to the fullest, with advanced disease. My Prostate Cancer Roadmap is made especially for them, putting targeted information and resources at their fingertips. It nicely complements the educational materials, support groups and online discussion communities that Us TOO International provides for men and their families fighting the disease.”

The information on the Web site is presented visually as a roadmap and visitors can navigate various “stops,” each of which provides unique, current information. Topics include health and wellness, work, relationships, and sex and intimacy. Visitors are offered tips on nutrition, exercise and maintaining relationships. There are even suggested questions to help guide difficult and often emotional discussions with employers.

Although any man can develop cancer of the prostate, there are certain factors that increase the risk. These include age, family history, pre-cancerous prostate changes, genetic abnormalities, and ethnicity, where African Americans are at the highest risk. My Prostate Cancer Roadmap provides information for these high-risk populations.

Each stop on the journey offers a choice of two paths – one for men with advanced prostate cancer and the other for family, friends and caregivers – to help address their overlapping but also different needs.

“Until now, men with advanced prostate cancer and those who love them lacked comprehensive and easily accessible resources to help them cope with advanced disease,” said Robert Bazemore, President, Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. “We are pleased to work with Us TOO International on My Prostate Cancer Roadmap, an important resource that focuses on the needs of men with advanced prostate cancer and their loved ones.”

As a resource for advanced prostate cancer patients and their loved ones, MyProstateCancerRoadmap.com will continue to offer new content based on their feedback and input, along with insights and expertise of scientists, clinicians, nurses, social workers and other experts. Visitors can register to receive alerts when new information is posted.

Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network (www.ustoo.org) is a source of peer-to-peer support and free materials for men and their families to make informed choices on prostate cancer detection, treatment options and coping with ongoing survivorship. Founded in 1990 by prostate cancer survivors and their families “who recognized that cancer affects us, too,” the 501(c)(3) non-profit is headquartered in Illinois and works with volunteers in 325 affiliated support group chapters worldwide. Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, Us TOO is a member patient advocacy organization of the National Health Council.

About Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc.

Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. redefines the standard of care in immunology, nephrology and oncology. The company was formed when Centocor, Inc. and Ortho Biotech Inc. were consolidated in late 2008, and was renamed Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. Built upon a pioneering history, Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. harnesses innovations in large-molecule and small-molecule research to create important new therapeutic options. Beyond its innovative medicines, Centocor Ortho Biotech is at the forefront of developing education and public policy initiatives to ensure patients and their families, caregivers, advocates and healthcare professionals have access to the latest treatment information, support services and quality care. For more information about Centocor Ortho Biotech, visit www.centocororthobiotech.com.

* My Prostate Cancer Roadmap campaign is brought to you by Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. in partnership with the non-profit organization Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network. Arnold Palmer was compensated for his time in preparing for and participating in the My Prostate Cancer Roadmap program and was reimbursed for travel expenses related to the program. Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. provided sponsorship funding to Us TOO International in support of the My Prostate Cancer Roadmap program and other education and support initiatives benefitting prostate cancer patients and their families.

Posted by scurry at 03:23 PM

Arnold Palmer, Concord Hospitality to Build Springhill Suites Hotel in Latrobe, Pa.

July 27, 2010

"Green" Hotel Expected to Open in 2011

LATROBE, PA./RALEIGH-DURHAM, N.C., July 27, 2010 – Officials of a joint venture that includes Palmer Hospitality, L.P, owned by golfing legend Arnold Palmer, Concord Hospitality Enterprises, one of the nation's top-ranked hotel developer/owner/operators, and Keith H. McGraw, a Sewickley, Pa.-based Concord partner, today announced plans to build a 109-suite Springhill Suites by Marriott hotel in Latrobe, Pa. Located near the intersection of Route 30 and Route 981, the four-story hotel will be directly across from one of the area's largest employers, Kennarnetal Inc., and in close proximity to Latrobe Country Club, Palmer's home course.

"I've wanted to build a hotel for some time to complement the country club, working with the right kind of developer and operator," Palmer said. "I found both with Concord. We share the same philosophy and outlook in terms of guest care and attention to detail." Palmer's remarkable golfing career will inspire the hotel's design and will showcase a number of his awards and memorabilia. The hotel will be a LEED-certified prototype that was pioneered by Concord in conjunction with Marriott. Construction is expected to begin in December, with the hotel slated to open towards the end of 2011.

The hotel project is the latest of many economic and civic contributions that Palmer has made to the community where he was born and has spent much of his life. In addition to the employment provided by the country club and his automobile dealership, he has been closely involved with the local hospital and other health-care facilities in the area and created the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, a community park dedicated to his late wife. The major county airport bears his name.

"The mid-priced, all-suite concept is ideal for this market," said Mark G. Laport, president and CEO of Concord Hospitality. "Its spacious suites with separate areas for sleeping, working and relaxing are well-suited for golfers and other leisure guests, as well as for business travelers visiting the area. It also will have strong appeal for social functions held at the country club." Other area attractions include St. Vincent College, Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, Fallingwater, Idlewild Park, historic Ligonier and the year-round activities in the Laurel Highland Mountains. The smoke-free hotel will feature complimentary daily breakfast buffet, in-suite microwave and mini-fridge, pull-out sofa bed, free high-speed Internet access, swimming pool and whirlpool/spa, fitness room and on-site business services.

About Palmer Hospitality, L.P.
Palmer Hospitality, L.P., is an entity created by Arnold Palmer, the golf professional whose legendary career includes 92 national and international championships, 62 of them on the regular PGA Tour during his prime playing years. These followed an impressive formative amateur career that pealced with his victory in the 1954 U.S. Amateur Championship. Most prominent among the professional titles were four Masters, two British Opens and the memorable U.S. Open Championship at Cherry Hills in 1960. For nearly a half century, Palmer has been one ofthe best-Imown sportsmen and businessmen in the world. For more information, please visit www.amoldpalmer.com.

About Concord Hospitality
Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company, an award-winning hotel management and development company based in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., manages over 70 hotels with more than 8,000 guest rooms in 15 states and two Canadian providences. The company operates under such well-known industry elite brands as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Choice Hotels, is an approved franchisee for Starwood, and also operates an independent boutique hotel. Formed in 1985, Concord was recently listed as one ofthe top management companies in the nation by independent sources, and recently won Marriott's elite Partnership Circle award for the sixth time. Concord properties are some of the most awarded hotels in the country, having won nearly 30 honors in the past two years alone, including Marriott's Hotel of the Year and Developer of the Year awards. For more information, visit www.concordhotels.com.

Posted by scurry at 10:40 AM

Big Three reunion for record fundraiser featured on CBS

July 01, 2010

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, who dominated the 1960s and 1970s as golf's "Big Three" and have represented the best the sport has to offer, now lay claim to a record that will impact the lives of deserving children for years to come.

Reuniting on June 8 at The Olde Farm Golf Club in Bristol, Va., for a 19-hole scramble to benefit historic Mountain Mission School in nearby Grundy, they helped raise nearly $15.2 million, a single-day record for any golf tournament. The money will help to establish a sustained endowment for the school, which has sheltered and educated an estimated 20,000 needy children over its 87 years while operating totally from private donations.

This extraordinary day was documented by PGA TOUR Entertainment for The Big Three for Mountain Mission Kids Presented by Johnson & Johnson, a one-hour special that will air on CBS at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 10, prior to third-round coverage of the John Deere Classic.

Wearing wireless microphones, Nicklaus, Palmer and Player give viewers a taste of their camaraderie and interaction with guests. The event, sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and organized by Grundy native Jim McGlothlin, founder of The Olde Farm, saw participants pay $100,000 to play one hole with the Big Three.

Nicklaus, Palmer and Player have symbolized excellence off the golf course as well as on, each having successful charitable foundations that have helped millions of individuals, mostly youth. At The Olde Farm, they reunited to help an institution that has a history of remarkable successes and inspirational stories by accepting any child with a legitimate need, whether it relates to economics, abuse, family emergencies, home stability or other issues.

The Big Three for Mountain Mission Kids Presented by Johnson & Johnson focuses on Mountain Mission School, which has 230 resident students ages 18 months to 20 years, attending a private school made of grades pre-kindergarten through 12. In recent years, more than 90 percent of the schools graduates have enrolled in colleges. The campus has grown from a single building when it opened in 1921 to the campus it is today, with an educational building, vocational and fine arts building, campus chapel, administration building and three separate residences for girls, four residences for boys and a toddler hall for boys and girls.

Posted by scurry at 06:34 PM

AHEAD re-signs Arnold Palmer to represent their headwear line

June 25, 2010

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- AHEAD, the leader in branded headwear and apparel, has announced that it has re-signed legendary golfing great, Arnold Palmer, to represent the company's headwear line.

"We are thrilled that Arnold Palmer has re-signed with AHEAD," said Ken Shwartz, President, AHEAD. "We appreciate his loyalty and support of AHEAD over the years. It is a testimony to the quality of our product line and leadership role in the industry. Arnie's magnetic personality and outpouring of kindness to everyone he encounters over the years has endeared him to millions throughout the world. He is a true asset to AHEAD and we look forward to continuing our relationship with him."

Palmer, nicknamed "The King," is one of golf's most popular stars. His incredible charisma helped him become a trailblazer in establishing golf as a compelling television sports event in the late 1950s. Palmer, one of the most decorated golfers in history, has 92 worldwide wins, including 7 majors. His accomplishments off the course are just as impressive. He is a highly-successful executive, prominent advertising spokesman, skilled aviator, talented golf course designer and consultant and devoted family patriarch.

Palmer, whose licensing rights are managed cooperatively by Arnold Palmer Enterprises (APE) and IMG, will continue to appear in AHEAD's headwear catalog, point of sales materials and website. Additionally, AHEAD is planning to develop an Arnold Palmer label within its golf assortment.

"We are excited to renew this relationship between Arnold Palmer and AHEAD, one of our long-time partners," added Cori Britt, Vice President, Arnold Palmer Enterprises. "Because of his success on and off the course, Arnold Palmer is a fan favorite with all generations, and we're pleased to pair that success with a company like AHEAD."

In addition to the program with Arnold Palmer, AHEAD headwear is also represented on the 2010 PGA TOUR by Retief Goosen, Aaron Baddeley and Jim Furyk.

About AHEAD
AHEAD® is a designer and marketer of branded headwear, apparel and accessories. Headquartered in New Bedford, Mass., the company operates four distinct business units: the AHEAD® men's apparel line; AHEAD® Headgear, AHEAD® "Heavy Metal™" line of golf accessories and the Kate Lord™ Collection of ladies hats, ladies apparel and ladies accessories. AHEAD is a supporting partner of PGA Golf Retirement Plus, a licensee of the USGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the official headwear of the AJGA. For information on AHEAD, visit www.aheadweb.com.

About IMG Licensing
IMG Licensing is the premier independent licensing agency in the world. Since 1962, IMG Licensing has been one of the core business units of IMG and with nearly 50 years of experience IMG Licensing offers an unparalleled resource in the licensing of sporting brands. IMG Licensing also offer expertise in a number of different markets and services outside of sports, including corporate trademarks, brands, and entertainment and celebrity properties. In April 2009, IMG Licensing was voted the No. 1 Licensing Agent in the annual Top 20 List in License Magazine.

Media Contact:
Jackie Beck, 860.304.3643, jackiebeck00@hotmail.com
Tricia Hornsby, 770-618-8418, tricia.hornsby@imgworld.com

Posted by scurry at 03:46 PM

ARNOLD PALMER TO SERVE AS HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF 2010 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN AT OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB

June 22, 2010

OAKMONT, PA – The United States Golf Association and Oakmont Country Club announced today that western Pennsylvania native Arnold Palmer has been named the honorary chairman of the 65th U.S. Women's Open, to be held at Oakmont Country Club from July 5-11, 2010.

"We approached Arnold to serve in this capacity because we wanted to honor his lifelong commitment to the game of golf and his connection to western Pennsylvania, Oakmont Country Club and the United States Golf Association," said Carol Semple Thompson, general chairman of the 2010 U.S. Women's Open and World Golf Hall of Fame member.

By serving as honorary chairman, Palmer will assist in the promotion of the championship by appearing in a ticket sales advertising campaign. He will appear at an exhibition during the week of the championship to welcome the crowds back to Oakmont.

Palmer, a Latrobe, Pa., native, competed in four U.S. Opens at Oakmont Country Club including his final Open appearance in 1994. Palmer's most memorable performance at Oakmont came in 1962, when he lost to Jack Nicklaus in an 18-hole playoff.

"It is an honor to serve as honorary chairman for the U.S. Women's Open and the USGA," said Palmer, who added with a chuckle, "It will be fun to participate in a championship that I could never win."

Deacon Palmer, Arnold's father, was the head professional and greens keeper at Latrobe Country Club and introduced him to the game a very young age. Arnold was awarded a golf scholarship from Wake Forest University but left to serve his country as part of the United States Coast Guard. After a three-year break from the game, Palmer returned to competitive golf and won the 1954 U.S. Amateur Championship.

Shortly thereafter, Palmer began playing golf professionally and has recorded an impressive 92 wins during his lengthy career, including one U.S. Open Championship, one U.S. Senior Open Championship and four victories at The Masters Tournament.

For additional information on the 2010 U.S. Women's Open, please visit www.2010uswomensopen.com. Championship tickets are now on sale and limited volunteer positions are still available.

About the 2010 U.S. Women's Open
The 2010 U.S. Women's Open will bring a field of 156 of the world's best professional and amateur women golfers to Oakmont Country Club. It will be the second time the Women's Open will be contested at Oakmont. Patty Sheehan won the 1992 championship in a playoff over Juli Inkster after finishing at 4- under-par for 72 holes of regulation play.

About the USGA
The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the USA and Mexico, a combined territory that includes more than half the world's golfers and golf courses.

The Association's most visible role is played out each season in conducting 13 national championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open. Ten additional USGA national championships are exclusively for amateurs, and include the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Women's Amateur.

The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, funds research for better turf and a better environment, maintains a Handicap System and administers an ongoing "For the Good of the Game" grants program, which has allocated more than $65 million over 13 years to successful programs that bring the game's values to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

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Contact: Lindsay Weber – 2010 U.S. Women's Open – lweber@2010uswomensopen.com - (412) 828-2010
Tom Wallace – Oakmont Country Club – twallace@oakmont-countryclub.org – (412) 828-8000

Posted by scurry at 10:14 AM

Big 3 reunite to raise more than $15 Million for Mountain Mission

June 09, 2010

BRISTOL, Va. -- Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player have set many records over the course of their Hall of Fame careers, but what happened on Tuesday at The Olde Farm Golf Club will be hard to top.

"The Big 3" came together to help raise $15,149,183.98 in The Big 3® for the Mountain Mission Kids sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, a 19-hole scramble event in which they competed against 19 different teams of three amateur players for the benefit of the Mountain Mission School.

"The Big 3" won the competition with a 10-under 63 defeating the amateur teams by three strokes, but the real winner was Mountain Mission School. The $15.1 million raised is the most ever by a golf tournament in a single day.

"What happened here today is very special and this is a historic occasion," said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem on Tuesday. "The efforts of Jim McGlothin, Johnson & Johnson, the membership of The Olde Farm and especially 'The Big 3' really epitomize what we mean when we say that Together, anything's possible."

The Big 3® for the Mountain Mission Kids, sanctioned by the PGA TOUR, was organized by Grundy native Jim McGlothlin, founder of The Olde Farm and a longtime benefactor of the school.

"To be able to do this is a testament to the hard work of a lot of dedicated people," said McGlothlin. "It is very rewarding to be able to make this donation to the Mountain Mission School. The work they do there is incredible and is making a huge difference in the lives of many kids."

"I am very happy to thank all of you who have made such a wonderful contribution," said Palmer. "It was a privilege and honor to be here today."

"The day was spectacular," said Nicklaus. "We go to a lot of places and we raise a lot of money, but I have never seen a group that has absolutely been as philanthropic as you."

"There was great enthusiasm that took place here today," said Player. "This is a country of giving back. I've been coming back for 55 years and people are always giving back. It's such a fantastic thing."

Historic Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Va., which has sheltered and educated an estimated 20,000 needy children over its 87 years, will receive substantial support from the event. The school operates entirely from private donations and today's efforts will help establish a sustained endowment for Mountain Mission School.

Mountain Mission School is a non-profit institution that has 230 resident students ages 18 months to 20 years, attending a private school made of grades pre-kindergarten through 12. In recent years, more than 90 percent of the schools graduates have enrolled in colleges.

The campus has grown from a single building when it opened in 1921 to the campus it is today, with an educational building, vocational and fine arts building, campus chapel, administration building and three separate residences for girls, four residences for boys and a toddler hall for boys and girls under the age of seven.

A one-hour special about the Mountain Mission School and The Big 3® for the Mountain Mission Kids will air Saturday, July 10 from 2-3:00 p.m. ET prior to the third-round telecast of the PGA TOUR's John Deere Classic on CBS.

To find out more about The Big 3® for the Mountain Mission Kids and how you can help, log onto PGATOUR.COM/Together or to make a donation directly through PGA TOUR Charities, Inc. to support Mountain Mission School click here.

Posted by scurry at 03:26 PM

ARNOLD PALMER INTERVIEW ON PEBBLE BEACH

June 02, 2010

LATROBE, PA - Arnold Palmer discusses the recent changes to the Pebble Beach Golf Links that he and his golf course design company recently performed for the upcoming 2010 U.S. Open.

The primary purpose of the course renovation was to maintain Pebble Beach's historic value.

"It's been a great privilege for me to be on the board at Pebble. And of course my position as a board member is looking after the golf course and the operations that concern the golf course. We tried to really keep it, much as the intentions for maintaining the historic value of the golf course. And of course for me to be doing it, it has been a lot of fun." said Palmer.

"We're extremely pleased to have the Open coming and to work with the USGA. We think it's going to be one of the great Opens of all time."

In looking at old photos of the course, Palmer and his design team "put the golf course where it was when it was beginning." said Palmer. "We tried to restore the greens to their original positions." Play will be shaped in the U.S. Open this year with the changes to the fairways and "will force the players to go closer to the ocean."

The most dramatic hole changes were:

• Hole #1 - Restored green & greenside bunkering to original from 1918 photo
• Hole #3 - Added bunkers on the right side of the fairway; turns hole visually to the left
• Hole #4 - Added a trio of new bunkers short and left of the green
• Hole #6 - Reconfigured bunkering left of fairway to tighten landing area
• Hole #18 - Replaced pine in front of the green with cypress

A total of 4 greens and 16 bunkers were rebuilt, altered or installed. 11 tees were enhanced and 6 holes have new or adjusted trees.

The total length of the course is now 7,014 yards with an average green size of 3,500 sq. ft.

So how will PGA TOUR players fare with the changes at this year's U.S. Open? "I would look for the scores to be pretty good. Moving the hitting areas to the ocean on 9 of the holes is going to have some effect and the fact that some of the greens are smaller will also have an effect. I look for a great tournament. I think the excitement of seeing the guys scoring well at Pebble will be good, but they'll be some disasters too." said Palmer.

[Click here to download a Quicktime of the whole interview. ] Length 20 Min / 48MB

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Palmer discusses the Pebble Beach renovation

Courtesy of the USGA

Posted by scurry at 03:12 PM

Big 3 Golf Legends Palmer, Nicklaus, Player Team Up for Charity Event at The Olde Farm

May 28, 2010

BRISTOL, VA. - Three of the world's renowned golf legends are coming to Bristol, Va., this summer to join forces and raise money for children attending Mountain Mission School, located in Grundy, Va. On June 8, The Olde Farm will host golf's Big 3, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, in a charity event to benefit the children and establish a sustained endowment for Mountain Mission School.

The Big 3 for Mountain Mission Kids, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, is a unique, one-day golf event featuring a 19-hole scramble match pairing Nicklaus, Palmer and Player competing with three different amateur sponsor teams on each hole.

The Olde Farm club grounds will open at 9 a.m. on June 8, with introductions and a Big 3 warm up beginning at 12:30 p.m. The 19- hole scramble kicks off at 1 p.m., concluding at 5:30 p.m. with a presentation ceremony on the 19th hole.

Tickets are available for the June 8 event by visiting www.thebig3forthekids.com, calling 276-669-1042 or e-mail Ajessee@theoldefarm.com.

Posted by scurry at 12:11 PM

PALMER TO RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREE FROM UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS

May 11, 2010

ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – Arnold Palmer and two other multiple winners of the British Open will be honored by Scotland’s oldest university on the eve of the 139th Open Championship at St. Andrews. Palmer will join fellow American Tom Watson and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington at a ceremony on Tuesday, July 13, when they will be awarded honorary degrees by the University of St. Andrews in the town’s Younger Hall.

The University will award the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa in recognition of their achievements and outstanding contributions to the game of golf.

The awards ceremony - a traditional feature of Open Week in St Andrews - will take place at 3 p.m. on July 13th in the University's graduation venue at Younger Hall in North Street, St Andrews.

The degrees will be conferred by University Chancellor Sir Menzies Campbell.

Members of the public are warmly invited to attend the ceremony. Tickets are free and interest may be registered by email to golfgrad@st-andrews.ac.uk

University Principal Dr Louise Richardson said : "Individually and collectively, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Padraig Harrington exemplify excellence, drive and achievement at the highest levels of professional sport."

"This will be an opportunity for St Andrews and Scotland to honour their determination and achievement in the game of golf and the pursuit of excellence. We are absolutely delighted that they have agreed to accept these Honorary Degrees at the home of golf on the eve of the 150th anniversary of the Open Championship."

Founded in the 15th century, St Andrews is Scotland's first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world.

The University is one of Europe's most research intensive seats of learning. It is one of the world's top rated for research, teaching quality and student satisfaction and is consistently ranked among the UK's top five universities.

Previous recipients of Honorary Degrees from St Andrews include golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Gary Player, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Peter Thomson and Peter Allis. All have been invited to this year's ceremony to witness their fellow professionals receive their degrees.

Posted by scurry at 09:09 AM

PALMER ATTENDS 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUAIL HOLLOW

May 04, 2010

CHARLOTTE, NC – Golf legend Arnold Palmer will be attending a dinner honoring the 50th anniversary of Quail Hollow Club on May 6. Palmer was personally invited by his long-time close friend John Harris.

The club has hosted a number of PGA TOUR events - Kemper Open '69-79; World Seniors Invitational '80-89 and the TOUR returned to Quail Hollow in 2004. The 2010 championship will have been played the week before the anniversary celebration.

The course was originally designed by golf course architect George Cobb in 1961 to capture the beauty as well as challenging terrain of the Piedmont region.

From 1985 to 1986, Palmer and his golf course design company made modifications to holes 3, 7, 9, and 17.

Palmer, a long-time Quail Hollow member, has many friends at the club and for years had a home on the 15th hole. Palmer was part owner of the city's only Cadillac dealerships for many years and his name remains on the dealership through a licensing agreement to this day.

"I'm looking forward to catching up with a lot of my old friends." said Palmer.

Posted by scurry at 04:34 PM

ARNOLD PALMER PRESENTS JIM NANTZ WITH THE 2009 NATIONAL SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR AWARD

May 03, 2010

SALISBURY, NC – May 3, 2010, golf legend Arnold Palmer presented Jim Nantz with the 2009 National Sportscaster of the Year award in Salisbury, NC. The award is given by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

"He's been a friend, a great broadcaster and a great guy. Jim has been so good to the sports industry and the golf industry." said Palmer in his speech.

This marks the fifth time and third consecutive year, Jim will be honored with this prestigious award (1998, 2005, 2007 and 2008).

"He's very special to me," Nantz explained. "And when I won this award I called him and said, 'Arnold, I would give anything if you would come to Salisbury on May 3 and present the National Sportscaster of the Year Award to me.' I expected him to say something like, 'I'll check the calendar.' But he said, 'I'll be there.' It took him a millisecond to say yes. That's Arnold Palmer."

At the NSSA Awards Dinner, Bob Ryan of The Boston Globe will receive the National Sportswriter of the Year award; baseball's Peter Gammons and football's John Madden will be inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportwriters Association Hall of Fame.

Posted by scurry at 06:29 AM

PALMER ATTENDS 2010 KENTUCKY DERBY

April 23, 2010

LOUISVILLE, KY – Golf legend Arnold Palmer and his wife Kit will be attending, for the first time ever, the 136th Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010.

The Kentucky Derby is one of the USA's oldest thoroughbred horse races which first began in 1875.

The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner.

"I'm pretty excited to attend this event so steeped in American tradition." said Palmer.

"My wife Kit has good Irish luck. Maybe she'll pick the winner."

Posted by scurry at 04:39 PM

AP Golf Card Game, Among First Apps on Intel's AppUpSM Center

January 08, 2010

INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW, Las Vegas, Jan. 8, 2010 –- As unveiled Thursday during President and CEO Paul Otellini's CES keynote speech, Intel Corporation has launched a beta version of its software application (app) store -- the Intel AppUpSM center -- for the popular category of netbook computers. The first apps are now available for free download or purchase by visiting www.intelappup.com, where consumers can find the store.

The first apps are now available for immediate free download or purchase. These apps cover education, entertainment, games, health, social networking and other categories.

Among the first apps is the Arnold Palmer Golf Card Game.

Four other Intel industry partners Acer, Asus, Dell and Samsung -- also announced store collaboration and plans.

Posted by scurry at 05:39 PM

PALMER TO ATTEND ICAP CHARITY DAY

December 07, 2009

NEW YORK, NY – Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer will be participating in the 2009 ICAP Charity Day in New York City Wednesday December 9th. Since its inception in 1993, ICAP’s Charity Day has raised US$100 million and supported over 700 well deserving and needy causes worldwide.

For one day in December, ALL revenue and commissions from ICAP's worldwide offices are distributed to charities. Since ICAP is driven by revenues and commissions, every single employee works a 10-hour day (at least) and all of their hard work goes straight to the charities.

Each regional ICAP office nominates charities they wish to support. Those charities can range from organizations with a national reach to local charities that help fulfill a specific need. These organizations typically change from year to year in order to further expand impact.

The selection process is based on how the charity uses donations to make a direct impact on the community and world at large. In 2007, ICAP made a donation to the Arnold Palmer Medical Center where the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies are located.

This year, as the golf world celebrates Arnold's 80th birthday, the hospital celebrates two decades of service. During the last 20 years, the Arnold Palmer Medical Center has delivered more than 186,000 babies, cared for more than 26,000 of those babies in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and treated more than 1.5 million patients. The Medical Center was named thePGA TOUR Charity of the Year in 2009.

Mr. Palmer will be representing his namesake Medical Center on the trading floors among other celebrities. Some of the prior NY attendees have included figures such as JonBon Jovi, Michael J Fox, Denzel Washington, Joe Torre, Yogi Berra, Katie Couric, Heather Graham, Jorge Posada, Steve Buscemi, John McEnroe, Harry Carson, David Blaine, Mary Louise Parker, Joe Montana, Anna Kornikova, Jeff Gordon, Stanley Tucci, Mat Dillon, Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep and President Clinton to name a few.

More information on ICAP and Charity Day can be accessed at www.icap.com.

Posted by scurry at 04:09 PM

Palmer and his Namesake Invitational Lend Support to Orlando Economic Development Commission

November 06, 2009

ORLANDO, FL — Arnold Palmer took time this week to talk to members of the Orlando Economic Development Committee’s Board and Investor Councils about what is most important to him. On the list: golf, family, helping children and economic development.

The legendary golfer, who was among the first in the world to transform his sport success into a business empire, addressed this group of EDC supporters from a room in the Lodge that he built, overlooking the Bay Hill Golf Course that he recently renovated into what he suggests is among "the best anywhere." Among many topics, Mr. Palmer spoke about his personal satisfaction at seeing the region’s recent growth as a center for the medical research and life science industries.

Arnold Palmer's connection to Central Florida dates back to the 1960s. First coming to Orlando for a tournament in 1962, he saw potential in the region that led him to buy out other investors in the then fledgling Bay Hill Club in 1969. The PGA TOUR event played at Bay Hill annually that bears his name, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, has grown from humble beginnings to an event which today accounts for 165 full time jobs; more than $5 million in annual earnings, which translates in to $18.5 total spending; and attracts more than 100,000 attendees each year. Plus, proceeds benefit Orlando Health’s Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

Mr. Palmer's commitment to the EDC goes even further. He personally invests in our organization through the membership of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard. One of his goals for addressing this group, which was reinforced by EDC Board Chair Meg Crofton, was to encourage more local businesses to support the work of the Economic Development Commission.

Posted by scurry at 05:04 PM

American Legend Arnold Palmer Lends His Voice to No Plane No Gain Campaign

October 21, 2009

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)

Orlando, FL, October 20, 2009 – Golf legend and accomplished businessman Arnold Palmer is lending his voice to support the value of business aviation to citizens, companies and communities in a new video and print advertising campaign for No Plane No Gain, the advocacy program jointly sponsored by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

“Arnold Palmer has always been an advocate for business aviation, because he has a first-hand understanding of its essential role in serving towns and communities across the country,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “For his entire career, business aviation has made it possible for him to succeed in golf and business – all from his hometown of Latrobe, PA, which doesn’t have airline service.”

GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce added: “Through these new ads, we will be able to draw even more attention to the messages No Plane No Gain has been communicating: that business aviation supports over a million jobs, represents a lifeline for small- and medium-sized U.S. towns, enables companies to compete and succeed, and helps provide relief to people and communities in times of crisis.”

The new advertising, rolled out during the Opening General Session of NBAA’s 62nd Annual Meeting & Convention, includes three print ads and three 30-second video ads. The print and video ads complement one another, and build upon the efforts already undertaken through the No Plane No Gain program to educate policymakers and opinion leaders about the value of business aviation to citizens, companies and communities across the U.S.

With a simple, yet powerful delivery, Palmer speaks to the benefits of business aviation in the ads and responds to those who would devalue the use of an airplane for business. For example, in one print ad, Palmer states: “People who build business airplanes make things fly. People who use them make things happen. A few others make things up.” In one of the video spots, Palmer states plainly: “For more than 50 years, using business airplanes is the single most productive thing I have done.”

Addressing the large crowd gathered at the Opening General Session, Palmer explained why he felt compelled to lend his voice to the No Plane No Gain program. “I know the value of business airplanes,” Palmer said. “I know what they have done for me and my companies. I know how important they are to my hometown. And I know how important they are to this country. So I wanted to speak out and help set the record straight.”

To view the video ads, visit the No Plane No Gain web site: www.noplanenogain.org/Video_Advertisements.htm?m=47&s=385

To view the print ads, visit the No Plane No Gain web site: www.noplanenogain.org/Print_Advertisements.htm?m=47&s=416

Posted by scurry at 10:10 AM

PALMER UNVEILS BAY HILL COURSE RENOVATIONS DURING MEDIA DAY

October 01, 2009

ORLANDO, FL - Arnold Palmer hosted select national and local media at his Bay Hill home course Tuesday September 29th to unveil the course changes he and his design company recently completed. The par on the Bay Hill course is now 72 (7,400 yards), from 70 (7,162 yards), which should yield more birdies at the upcoming 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

"We're going to go with four par 4s again, with the thinking that the galleries and the people enjoy seeing players make birdies. said Palmer. "We're going to give them an opportunity to make birdies."

The media day at Bay Hill started with breakfast followed by golf, lunch, Q&A and the property was open for tours, including the design office where Palmer's Bay Hill changes were meticulously planned.

Palmer treated 10 foursomes to play the newly-renovated course by setting up groups of three media members paired with a staff member from Bay Hill, Arnold Palmer Design Company, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy.

Palmer's staff included:
Bay Hill: Roy Saunders, Blake Terry, Brian Kennedy
Arnold Palmer Design Company: Eric Wiltse, Thad Layton, David Couch and Brandon Johnson
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard: Scott Wellington
Arnold Palmer Golf Academy: John O'Leary, Tom Garner

Quite a number of golf publications and local print media were in attendance including The Golf Channel and local Channel 6 Orlando and were able to engage directly on the course with Palmer's design company architects andBay Hill grounds crew Matt Beaver and John Anderson to discuss the renovation specifics in detail.

In 2008, Bay Hill was ranked No. 18 out of 54 for course difficulty on the PGA Tour. Changing holes 4 and 16 from par 4 holes to par 5 holes is not going to make the course play any easier.The shifted and reshaped fairway bunkers on these holes add a new dimension while increasing birdie opportunities.

Also benefiting from the increase in birdies will be the "Birdies for Babies" program which benefits one of the tournament's official charities, the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies at the Arnold Palmer Medical Center in Orlando.

Then there is Hole No. 17 which is already known as one of golf's most difficult par 3s. Palmer made it slightly more intimidating by reshaping and extending the beach bunker, increasing the number of pin locations along the perimeter of the green and reshaping bunkers that are closer to the green surface.

Bay Hill has recently been listed as one of the top 50 resorts in Golf World's second annual "Readers' Choice Awards." Golf World readers based their evaluation of the nation's golf facilities on 13 different performance criteria, such as quality of the course, course conditions, reputation/prestige and service. More than 46,000 individual facility ratings were received and the top 50 courses in each category, as voted on by their readers. The pre-renovation ranking will be published in the September 28 issue of Golf World.

Palmer expects excitement with the new birdie making potential when Tiger Woods returns to defend his title at the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

"There's a risk-reward situation there, I like that." said Palmer. "I'm really pleased with the outcome."

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Bay Hill Course Tour (Before/After)

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Posted by scurry at 12:20 PM

PALMER RECEIVES CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

September 30, 2009

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today at 1:30pm, Arnold Palmer will stop at the White House where President Barack Obama will sign into law The Congressional Gold Medal honoring the golf legend.

The award will make Palmer the first sports person in history to receive all 3 of the United States highest civilian honors including the National Sports Award from former President Bill Clinton in 1993 (a one-time award) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President George W. Bush in 2004.

"I don't know that I've done anything to deserve it, but I accept," Mr. Palmer said yesterday from his office at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla. "That's pretty fantastic."

The Congressional Gold Medal was first given to George Washington in 1776 and to 141 exemplary Americans since. "I didn't know George Washington," Palmer said with a grin. "But if I did, I would shake his hand and say, 'You're the first, and I won't be the last.'"

Palmer will become the fifth athlete to receive the honor from Congress, which is considered the highest expression of national appreciation for achievements and contributions. Byron Nelson is the only other golfer to receive the medal, which was given posthumously in 2006.

The Arnold Palmer Gold Medal Act, H.R. 1243, was introduced by Congressman Joe Baca (D-California) and first passed the House of Representatives in April and was unanimously passed by the Senate on Palmer's 80th birthday on September 10th. U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., who lives in Orlando, sponsored the Senate bill nominating Mr. Palmer for the medal. Such bills must be cosponsored by at least two-thirds of the members of the House and 67 in the Senate before even being considered in the respective chambers.

"Arnold Palmer is a legend and a giant among golfers," said Rep. Baca. "Arnold elevated the game of golf both at home and abroad, and is respected across the globe. He won 92 championships in professional competition, but even more significant, he is an exemplary American who always gave back to others."

Arnold Palmer's charismatic personality, swashbuckling style of golf and unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness have endeared him to millions throughout the world. Palmer and his late wife Winnie have supported numerous philanthropic causes, including the March of Dimes, nature conservation, cancer prevention and women's and children's health. He has founded the Arnold Palmer Pavilion at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Medical Center in Orlando, Florida where the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies are located, which celebrated it's 20th anniversary on its namesakes' birthday this year.

Adding to the historical significance, one year later to this day, Coast Guardsman vet Palmer received the prestigious Lone Sailor Award in Washington by the U.S. Navy Memorial to Sea Service veterans "who have excelled with distinction at their respective careers while exemplifying the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment." Palmer told the crowd, "Those three words are what life is all about as far as I'm concerned."

"It's pretty good stuff," Palmer said. "Quite overwhelming."

Posted by scurry at 12:28 PM

Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando: Fit for a king

September 23, 2009

Courtesy of GolfChannel.com
By WorldGolf.com
Posted: September 22, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. - Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer will forever be intimately linked to the Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

And that, perhaps, is the best indicator of how special this private southwest Orlando golf course really is. Marketing executives couldn't dream up a better pair of icons to be associated with their course.

Palmer has long served as the face of Bay Hill, bringing his Arnold Palmer Invitational to Florida every year since 1979. The course's daily afternoon shootout, sometimes with Palmer in the game, has become the stuff of legend. Woods is linked to Bay Hill for one reason: how thoroughly he has dominated the Invitational, winning a record six times, including a PGA Tour-record-tying four times in a row from 2000 to 2003.

Bay Hill General Manager Ray Easler calls the Woods-Palmer connection to Bay Hill "an incredible marriage."

Bay Hill is one of the toughest courses on Tour, one of the reasons why Tiger Woods has won a record six times here. "It seems to be fate that the two are tied together," Easler said. "Tiger only lives a mile and a half away. He plays with us every year. You have the new legend coming about next to the living legend."

Past champions of the Invitational reads like a hall-of-fame banquet: Ernie Els (1998), Phil Mickelson (1997), Ben Crenshaw (1993), Fred Couples (1992), Tom Kite (1989), Payne Stewart (1987) and Fuzzy Zoeller (1985), to name a few.

Only Doral Golf Resort and Spa's Blue Monster has hosted a pro tournament longer than Bay Hill. The 7,157-yard course continues to stand up to the world's best players and put on a show while doing so. The 31st annual Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard had a new slot on the PGA Tour calendar this past March, just two weeks before the Masters. And for the second consecutive year, Woods won with a dramatic birdie putt on the 72nd and final hole.

"I like the new dates, and it could make our field stronger, although we've always enjoyed having great fields," Palmer, winner of 62 PGA Tour titles, including seven majors, told PGATour.com.

Nothing's easy at Bay Hill

To keep up with today's long bombers, Bay Hill, designed by the venerable Dick Wilson in 1961, converted in 2007 to a par-70 layout for the tournament with two member par 5s playing as par 4s.

Playing the 27 holes of Bay Hill without a tour card requires an invitation from a member or a stay in its 64-room lodge. The added expense of spending the night is well worth the chance to tee it up at a place so steeped in history. Tennis courts, a health club, a luxury spa and the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy make Bay Hill feel more like a resort getaway than just a private club.

The layout itself has a few pedestrian Florida holes, where the typical bunkers and water hazards await. But they are offset by several stunners that confound even the world's best.

The 558-yard sixth hole bends boomerang-style around a massive pond. John Daly hit six consecutive tee shots into the water for an 18 in 1998. It was a "Tin Cup" moment in real life, showcasing how tempting it is to cut off too much of the corner.

The property has just enough humps and ridges to create several semi-blind tee shots, notably the par-5 12th and par-4 15th. Playing the proper angle off the tee on many holes could be the difference of at least two strokes.

The golf course's finish garners more than its share of the TV coverage for the simple reason that people love carnage. A train wreck is possible on any of the final three holes. The 517-yard, par-5 16th now plays as a nasty par 4, forcing players to carry the water hazard in front on their second shot or risk being called a wimp in the locker room. The skinny green on the 219-yard 17th is hard to hit and hold.

And we've all witnessed the destructive charms of the 18th hole. Years ago, Palmer himself transformed a weak par 5 into a stout par 4 of 441 yards with a hook-shaped green tucked behind the rock-lined "Devil's Bathtub," a pond that has rinsed the likes of Vijay Singh and others.

Who can forget Woods' rousing birdie putt, and subsequent fist-pump, on the green to capture the 2008 tournament? Not to be outdone, Robert Gamez holed a 7-iron from 176 yards for an eagle to beat Greg Norman by one in 1990. A plaque in the fairway still marks the accomplishment.

It's a fitting finish to a course fit for a King - Arnold Palmer himself.

Bay Hill Club & Lodge: The verdict

Easler considers Bay Hill a classic golf course that the pros love to play before The Masters.

"It really hasn't changed an enormous amount the last 40 years," he said. "A lot of the newer courses are designed for longer hitters. Bay Hill is suited to shotmakers. That is Mr. Palmer's style. Also, the way we set it up is along the lines of Augusta. We are the tuneup for Augusta. We have long rough and fast greens."

Playing where the pros play is no marketing sham. It's a thrill to tee it up at PGA Tour stops, especially dynamic layouts like Bay Hill. The course features arguably the second-best three-hole finish in Florida (behind the TPC of Sawgrass Stadium course). The chance to run into "Mr. Palmer" and shake his hand just adds to the allure.

Posted by scurry at 04:53 PM

PALMER DESIGNED COURSES DOT GOLF DIGEST'S TOP 75 GOLF RESORTS 2009

September 22, 2009

Golf Digest magazine's biannual feature, "The 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America," published in the October 2009 issue, cites eight Arnold Palmer designed resorts amongst the prestigious list.

In the number one spot sits Pebble Beach, which has been at the top of the last three of four rankings in what is considered by many as one of the most definitive rankings in golf. Ratings are based on Golf Digest's 900 plus course ranking panelists who score the resorts and courses.

Arnold Palmer and his design company recently gave Pebble Beach a small facelift, which lengthened the legendary course to 7,014 yds, for the upcoming fifth hosting of the U.S. Open Championship in June 2010. To read more about the changes visit the Kingdom Magazine Issue 14 article Pebble Beach.

Also making the list is Palmer's home course, the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, FL, home of PGA Tour event the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard. The recent renovations to Palmer's classic course were implemented with his expert vision throughout the entire process. For more information about the changes to Bay Hill please read Palmer and His Design Company Renovate Bay Hill Course.

Arnold Palmer Design Company golf resorts that made the list:

• 1. PEBBLE BEACH RESORT/INN AT SPANISH BAY (3)* Score: 89.17 Contact & Directions: pebblebeach.com, 800-654-9300 Room Rate:** $595 New & Notable: Site of the 2010 U.S. Open, Pebble has been strengthened and lengthened to more than 7,000 yards. At $495, the green fee is stratospheric -- but check its website for money-saving packages.
• 18. THE RITZ-CARLTON, HALF MOON BAY (CALIF.) (28) Score: 78.77 Contact & Directions: ritzcarlton.com, 650-712-7000 Room Rate: $419 New & Notable: Arthur Hills' super-scenic Ocean Course is being groomed to accept links-style run-up shots. This project concludes before the end of the year. The second course is an Arnold Palmer design.
• T-38. FOUR SEASONS RESORT AVIARA (44) Carlsbad, Calif. Score: 72.67 Contact & Directions: fourseasons.com, 760-603-6800 Room Rate: $395 New & Notable: Greenside bunkers are filled with high-quality silica sand, and the redesigned Aviara clubhouse opened in December, completing the resort's modernization project.
• 49. BARTON CREEK (47) Austin Score: 70.91 Contact & Directions: bartoncreek.com, 800-336-6158 Room Rate: $210 New & Notable: Fazio Canyons, one of two Tom Fazio courses at the resort, was the site of U.S. Open local qualifying. Arnold Palmer and Ben Crenshaw/Bill Coore designed the other two courses.
• 55. RESORT SEMIAHMOO (NR) Blaine, Wash. Score: 69.71 Contact & Directions: semiahmoo.com, 800-770-7992 Room Rate: $149 New & Notable: Loomis Trail was the site of the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship in May, and tee boxes on Arnold Palmer's Semiahmoo course have been reconstructed and enlarged.
• 56. LA QUINTA (CALIF.) RESORT& CLUB/PGA WEST (42) Score: 69.69 Contact & Directions:laquintaresort.com, 760-564-4111 Room Rate: $199 New & Notable: Three courses (out of five) have been updated: new GPS systems, bunkers and tee boxes at the Stadium and Nicklaus courses and a few new greens on the Mountain.
• 58. TURTLE BAY RESORT (64) Oahu, Hawaii Score: 69.29 Contact & Directions: turtlebayresort.com, 808-293-6000 Room Rate: $371 New & Notable: The practice area at the George Fazio Course has more than doubled to 16,000 square feet to accommodate more golfers. The Palmer Course's range is even bigger.
• 69. BAY HILL CLUB & LODGE (74) Orlando Score: 67.74 Contact & Directions: bayhill.com, 888-422-9445 Room Rate: $225 New & Notable: Home to Arnold Palmer and his popular PGA Tour stop, the course is getting a $2 million upgrade (tees, greens and bunkers) to be completed Oct. 1.

Posted by scurry at 05:16 PM

PGA Historical Center unveils new PGA Championship, Arnold Palmer and PGA Cup exhibits

September 14, 2009

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - The PGA Historical Center, in Port St. Lucie, Fla., is continuing a year-long series of special displays that pay tribute to the defining moments, people and Championships in the grand history of The PGA of America. This month, the golf museum celebrates the dramatic happenings at the 91st PGA Championship last month in Minnesota ... pays tribute to The King ... and looks ahead to the premier international team event for PGA Club Professionals.

The 91st PGA Championship, "The Season's Final Major, Glory's Last Shot," came down to a memorable head-to-head battle between Tiger Woods and Y.E. Yang, with Yang outplaying Woods to become the first Asian-born male to win a major golf Championship. A new display at the PGA Historical Center includes Yang's final-round scorecard, a signed Official Journal by the new PGA Champion, a Contestant's money clip and compelling images from the thrilling final round at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Golf enthusiasts also can help celebrate the 80th birthday of Arnold Palmer, The King himself, through an enlarged copy of reminisces from his fellow PGA Professionals that appear as a two-page spread in the September issue of PGA Magazine.

Visitors will also enjoy a sneak peek at the 24th PGA Cup. Utilizing the same format as the Ryder Cup, 10-man teams from the United States and Great Britain & Ireland compete from Sept. 18-20, at beautiful Loch Lomond, Scotland, as the U.S. Team of PGA Professionals vies to capture yet another premier international golf event.

This year's rotating displays at the PGA Historical Center have already included Black History Month in February; and previews for the Senior PGA Championship in May, the PGA Professional National Championship in June and the PGA Championship in August. In October, there will be a new exhibit that previews the 27th PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

Other displays recently unveiled at the PGA Historical Center include the actual Ryder Cup trophy that was captured by the United States over Europe last September at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., along with tributes to the 10 PGA Honorary Members and five-time PGA Champion Walter Hagen. Items related to the final round of 2009 Senior PGA Champion Michael Allen's victory earlier this year – his shirt, visor and sand wedge, and the official scorecard – are also on display.

The PGA Historical Center is open to the public, and admission is free. Museum hours have been extended to Thursdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Christmas Eve; and daily from Dec. 26-Easter. Researchers may access the facility during off-hours by appointment. Please visit pgavillage.com/stlucie or call 800-800-GOLF (4653) for more information.

About PGA Village
The Ryder Course, Wanamaker Course and Dye Course form a trio of world-class public courses at the PGA Golf Club, at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Named by Golf Digest as one of the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America," PGA Village also features the award-winning, 35-acre PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance (formerly the PGA Learning Center) and PGA Historical Center golf museum. The PGA Golf Club exists to be one of the premier daily fee facilities in America, and to serve as a home club for our 28,000 PGA Professionals. For more information, please visit pgavillage.com.

About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

Posted by scurry at 03:37 PM

SENATE PASSES BACA BILL TO HONOR ARNOLD PALMER

September 10, 2009

Bill Awards Congressional Gold Medal to Golfing Legend, Awaits President’s Signature into Law

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation introduced by Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) that awards the Congressional Gold Medal to world famous golf professional Arnold Palmer. The Arnold Palmer Gold Medal Act, H.R. 1243, officially recognizes Palmer for his service to the nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship in golf. The legislation first passed the House of Representatives this past April, and was unanimously passed by the Senate earlier today.

“Arnold Palmer is a legend and a giant among golfers,” said Rep. Baca. “Arnold elevated the game of golf both at home and abroad, and is respected across the globe. He won 92 championships in professional competition, but even more significant, he is an exemplary American who always gave back to others.”

“Arnold Palmer served his country with distinction in the U.S. Coast Guard, and has spent countless hours dedicated to improving the lives of others,” continued Rep. Baca. “He and his beloved wife Winnie did amazing work for numerous charities, including the March of Dimes, children’s hospitals, and prostate cancer research. Arnold is a humble man who loved his children and family, and never forgot where he came from. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for honoring a legend who has given so much, and I urge the President to quickly sign this recognition into law.”

Arnold Palmer’s magnetic personality and unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness have endeared him to millions throughout the world. He has been the recipient of countless honors including virtually every national award in golf and both the Hickok Athlete of the Year and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year awards. He was chosen as the Athlete of the Decade for the 1960s in a national Associated Press poll. In addition, Arnold Palmer spoke before a joint session of Congress in March of 1990, in commemoration of the 100th birthday of President Dwight Eisenhower.

Through his charitable foundation, Arnold Palmer and his wife Winnie have supported numerous philanthropic causes, including the March of Dimes, nature conservation, cancer prevention, and women’s and children’s health. He has also founded both the Arnold Palmer Pavilion at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida.

“I have had the opportunity to play a round of golf with Arnold Palmer,” added Rep. Baca. “My son, Rialto City Councilman Joe Baca, Jr., was also in attendance. Walking those eighteen holes with Arnold Palmer was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Not only is he a golf legend, but he also is a genuine person with a great sense of humor.”

“I truly believe that Arnold Palmer is deserving of this honor, and it is fitting the Senate passed this legislation on the eve of his 80th birthday,” continued Rep. Baca. “But it’s not just about his success on the links. Arnold also has contributed significantly to American society and culture and is an outstanding role model, especially for young people.”

Congressman Baca currently serves as a Member of the House Professional Sports Caucus, and Chair of the Caucus’ Golf Committee.

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Posted by scurry at 12:29 AM

HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY ARNOLD PALMER

Born September 10, 1929 to Milfred Jerome (Deacon) and Doris Palmer is Arnold Daniel Palmer.

Some September 10th birthday highlights in Arnold Palmer's life include:

• 1966 -- Palmer, 37, becomes agitated by meddling tasks given to him by Winnie in order to distract him from Secret Service men surreptitiously prowling the Latrobe countryside. Unbeknownst to Palmer, they were there to assure the safety of one of the most powerful and popular men in the world who flew to Latrobe for a surprise birthday visit. And for the first time in his life, Palmer’s plane is flown without him or his knowledge -- pilot Darrell Brown flies it to Gettysburg to pick up President Dwight Eisenhower for a surprise visit. "I was oblivious to it all," Palmer says, “until I answered the door and found General Eisenhower standing there with an overnight bag. ‘Say, you wouldn’t have room to put up an old man for the night, would you?’ One of the nicest weekends of my life followed. It was the thrill of a lifetime."
• 1972 -- Tournament volunteers at Firestone Country Club arrange for a birthday cake and surprise party for Palmer, 43, as he served as a commentator for NBC Sports during the World Series of Golf.
• 1989 -- The 255-bed Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando opens to great fanfare. The first baby is born within hours after the ribbon cutting. Within 15 years, more than 100,000 children will be born in the Palmer hospital. Long-time friend Bob Hope serves as emcee at one of Palmer's 60th birthday events.
• 1993 -- Parade Magazine publishes a Hoest & Reiner cartoon that shows a disgruntled man telling his wife, “The doctor wasn’t in . . . His office is closed for Arnold Palmer’s birthday.”
• 1995 -- Palmer concludes the last round of the GTE Northwest Classic at Inglewood C.C. in Inglewood, California, with a stellar 66. It is on his 66th birthday and is noted for being the first time he’s ever shot his age.
• 2005 -- Palmer celebrates his 76th at the wedding of his granddaughter, Katherine Ann (Katie) Saunders, 23, to James Parker Spears at Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, the Saunders family's summer home.
• 2007 -- On his 78th birthday, Palmer is on hand at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe for the unveiling of the Zenos Frudako's statue of him. An exact replica is unveiled across the Atlantic at the Tralee course in Ireland.
• Birthday luck? -- What might be most remarkable is that 66 percent of Palmer's aces - 8 of 14 - whose dates are verifiable occurred in September, with five of those being struck between September 3 through 7. Three days after his birthday Palmer carded his best score ever, a 60, at Latrobe Country Club on September 13, 1969.

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As the legend turns 80, many articles have been published by the media celebrating the storied career and life of the all-american Arnold Palmer.

ArnoldPalmer.com

• August 14, 2009 -- Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Announces Gift Registry Honoring its Namesakes’ 80th Birthday
• August 26, 2009 -- Palmer Celebrates 80th Birthday with Style
• August 31, 2009 -- Arnold Palmer Hospital Celebrates 20 Years of Caring
• September 10, 2009 -- SENATE PASSES BACA BILL TO HONOR ARNOLD PALMER
• September 10, 2009 -- HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY ARNOLD PALMER

Golf Digest

September 2009 Issue

• Arnold at 80 by Editor Jerry Tarde -- Read full story
• Cover Story: Palmer In His Prime - As Arnold turns 80, it's time to savor the skill and charisma that changed golf
• Birthday Greetings for Arnie -- Read full story

Golf World

• September 10, 2009 -- Paying homage to Arnie
• September 14, 2009 -- Taking the Measure of Arnie's Greatness
• September 14, 2009 -- What He Means To Me

USGA Museum

• The Arnold Palmer Memory Book -- This site is dedicated to the fans of Arnold Palmer. It is a place for all who have a story to tell about this remarkable man and athlete. We encourage you to share your personal memories - as words, images, or videos - with others who admire, honor, and cherish Arnold Palmer as he approaches his 80th birthday.

Kingdom Magazine

• Palmer Foreward - A year, and a lifetime, to remember
• Q&A - The King Reflects - The King sits down with Chris Rodell, reflects on a lifetime of achievements and looks forward to more
• 80 Most Significant Moments by Chris Rodell

USA Today

September 2, 2009

• Arnold Palmer: Remembering 80 Years - By Jerry Potter, USA Today
• 'The camera fell in love with Arnold Palmer' - By Michael Hiestand, USA Today
• Surprise! Eisenhower visit marked Palmer's 37th birthday - By Jerry Potter, USA Today
• With fame, everybody knows Palmer's name - From staff reports, USA Today
• Palmer, 'a character' and 'competitor,' still searching for perfect swing - By Steve DiMeglio, USA Today
• Photo gallery: Images of Palmer at home in PA

Wall Street Journal

• September 5, 2009 -- "Palmer's Go-for-It Greatness: The Legend Looks Back on a Daring, Uncompromising Style Few Attempt Anymore" by John Paul Newport.

Golf Channel

• September 8, 2009 -- Golf Channel paying special tribute to Arnold Palmer's 80th -- Visit the website | Timeline | Photo Gallery | Video | Stories and Birthday Wishes
• September 9, 2009 -- Arnold Palmer ushers in golf on television
• September 9, 2009 -- The King's Crowning Achievement
• September 9, 2009 -- Players recollect memories of meeting the King

PGA Tour

• Video -- Arnold Palmer on his first Masters victory -- Watch the video
• September 8, 2009 -- For his birthday, 80 things we love about Arnie
• September 9, 2009 -- The King turns 80: Images and impact of Arnold Palmer
• September 9, 2009 -- The King's legacy: TOUR players on Arnold Palmer
• September 9, 2009 -- The King turns 80: Our favorite memories of Palmer
• September 9, 2009 -- Palmer's influence felt in the golf world and beyond
• September 9, 2009 -- By the numbers: Palmer's six decades on the PGA TOUR
• September 9, 2009 -- Special note from Palmer cheers father battling cancer

Associated Press

• September 9, 2009 -- Arnold Palmer, The King, to celebrate his 80th

ESPN

• September 9, 2009 -- Palmer hits legendary landmark by Jason Sobel
• August 31, 2009 -- Video -- Arnold Palmer Chips into an Arnold Palmer
• August 26, 2009 -- Spending the day with Arnold Palmer by Jason Sobel
• Video -- Arnold Palmer On Turning 80

Fox Sports

• September 10, 2009 -- Catching up with The King at his castle

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

• September 9, 2009 -- Love of Palmer par for the course 'A treasure to the game of golf and a gift to mankind' by Chuck Finder, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Desert Sun - Palm Springs

• September 10, 2009 -- Happy 80th, Arnold Palmer

The Los Angeles Times

• September 9, 2009 -- Golfer Arnold Palmer, 80, remains a game-changer

Reuters UK

• September 10, 2009 -- Golf-Tributes pour in for 'King' Palmer on his 80th birthday

The State - South Carolina

• September 10, 2009 -- Arnie's army celebrates 80

LIFE Magazine

• August 18, 2009 -- Top 10 Greatest Golfers of All Time

Posted by scurry at 12:01 AM

Golf Channel paying special tribute to Arnold Palmer's 80th

September 08, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Arnold Palmer turns 80 on Sept. 10 and Golf Channel will pay special tribute to the man simply known as "The King," who took golf to television and later co-founded the Golf Channel cable network.

GolfChannel.com's editorial team provides perspective to his career achievements and compliments a host of celebratory pages that feature trivia, photography and tributes that include a collection of the best Palmer stories that have appeared on the network's Web site.

During his birthday week (Sept. 6 - 13), Rex Hoggard (senior writer) will examine Palmer's career from a player's perspective to illustrate his importance to the growth of the game, while Randall Mell (senior writer) chronicles the camera's love affair with Palmer and the role he played in expanding golf to the then new medium of sports television. In addition, Mercer Baggs (managing editor) reveals Palmer's charitable efforts and his influence in the creation of the Arnold Palmer Hospitals.

"As a founding father of Golf Channel, Arnold Palmer's contributions to the growth of the sport and our company are innumerous," Golf Channel President Page Thompson said. "His imprint can be found in every aspect of our Channel, and we are very proud to carry on the traditions of excellence he established."

On the micro site, fans can join the festivities by contributing memories, well wishes and personal accounts of encounters with Palmer.

In concert with GolfChannel.com, Golf Channel will feature more than eight hours of programming to honor the man who won 62 times on the PGA TOUR, including seven major championships. Throughout the week, the network will air programming that includes:

* Golf Central (Mon - Thur., 6 p.m. ET) - Monday - Wednesday, Golf Central continues its "80-days to Arnold Palmer's 80th birthday" countdown with nightly features within the news franchise, including coverage of his ceremonial first pitch for his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, at PNC Park. Thursday (6 p.m. ET), Golf Central will air a special Arnold Palmer 80th Birthday Celebration show, featuring celebrity tributes from the world of sports and entertainment. Inga Hammond also will conduct a sit-down interview with Palmer to reflect on his storied career on and off the course.

* Top 10: Arnold Palmer Moments (Tue., 8:30 p.m. ET) - Top 10 will count down the 10 greatest moments in Palmer's illustrious career, including his major championship victories, his role in the development of the Champions Tour and the emergency of "Arnie's Army." The special features interviews from legendary sports agent Mark McCormack and author Bob Drum, as well as insight and commentary from Lee Trevino, Hubert Green and Palmer. Hosted by Lauren Thompson

Golf's Heart and Soul: Arnold Palmer (Tue., 9 p.m. ET) - From humble beginnings in the Pennsylvania foothills to close friendships with presidents and kings, Golf Channel embarks on a two-hour journey into Palmer's life as seen not only from "The King's" eyes, but also from the experiences from everyone who has touched him.

Golf in America (Wed, 9:30 p.m. ET) - Golf Channel visits with Palmer to discuss his three legacies: golf, philanthropy and course design. He discusses his part in ushering in a new era in sports coverage with co-founding the Golf Channel; his involvement in charities and the Arnold Palmer Hospital; and his golf course design company.

Playing Lessons From the Pros: Palmer and Saunders (Thur., 7 a.m. ET) - Palmer is joined by his grandson Sam Saunders, who in 2004 became Florida State High School Golf Champion, for a round of golf at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla.

1964 Masters Highlights (Thur., 1:30 p.m. ET) - Highlights of the 1964 Masters, where Palmer won his fourth and final green jacket by six strokes over Dave Marr and Jack Nicklaus

1960 Masters Highlights (Friday, 12:30 a.m. ET) - Highlights of the 1960 Masters, where Palmer won his second green jacket by one stroke over Ken Venturi.

For more information, contact Golf Channel Public Relations at 407-355-4653.

Posted by scurry at 09:30 AM

Arnold Palmer to Speak at Opening General Session for NBAA2009

September 01, 2009

National Business Aviation Association Washington, DC, August 31, 2009 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced that golf legend and esteemed businessman Arnold Palmer will be among the participants in the Opening General Session for NBAA’s 62nd Annual Meeting & Convention this October (NBAA2009).

“We're very excited to include Arnold Palmer among the speakers at this year’s Convention,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Arnold is recognized around the world not just as a renowned golf professional, but also as a highly successful businessman who has long relied on business aviation as part of building his company. We look forward to hearing his first-hand perspective on how business aviation helps him succeed.”

Palmer’s storied career as a professional golfer includes a host of championships in national and international competitions. The Latrobe, PA native continues to travel extensively from his hometown in support of his many business interests, and much of the time, Palmer personally flies a Cessna Citation X to meet his business demands.

The essential role of business aviation in providing a transportation lifeline to towns like Latrobe has been a central theme in the No Plane No Gain campaign, which is jointly sponsored by NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Palmer and other Convention speakers will highlight the messages put forward by No Plane No Gain, to educate policymakers and opinion leaders about the many ways business aviation serves citizens, companies and communities across the U.S.

NBAA's Convention will be held in Orlando, FL, from October 20 to 22 at the Orange County Convention Center and Orlando Executive Airport.

Joining Palmer for the Convention’s Opening General Session will be Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator J. Randolph “Randy” Babbitt, and Forbes publisher Rich Karlgaard, who owns and pilots a Cirrus SR22 for business.

A primary focus for the Convention will be a new Light Business Airplane (LBA) Conference designed to help concept buyers understand the considerations involved in purchasing a new airplane, as well as sessions to help NBAA Members quantify and communicate the value of their business aircraft. For more information, visit NBAA’s dedicated LBA web site: www.nbaa.org/lba.

Posted by scurry at 12:04 PM

Arnold Palmer Hospital Celebrates 20 Years of Caring

August 31, 2009

The hospital turns 20 on the 80^th birthday of its legendary namesake Arnold Palmer

August 31, 2009 (Orlando, FL) -- Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children will celebrate its 20^th birthday on September 10, coinciding with its legendary namesake, Arnold Palmer's 80^th birthday. For the past 20 years Arnold Palmer Hospital has been providing advanced, highly specialized medical care to children and women from across Central Florida and the world. To commemorate this milestone birthday, several celebration events are planned throughout the month of September including a community leader breakfast hosted by the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and hospital visit by Arnold Palmer (September 4), a VIP 80^th Birthday dinner for Arnold Palmer hosted by Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Studios Orlando® (September 5) and a community block party (September 26). For more information, log on to www.arnoldpalmerhospital.com/birthday.

"We are honored to be celebrating 20 years of caring along side Arnold Palmer as he celebrates his 80^th birthday. We are extremely appreciative of all he and his family have done for the babies, children and women here in Central Florida and beyond," said John Bozard, president, Arnold Palmer Medical Center. "Through his generosity and those of others thousands of lives have been touched over the past 20 years and we look forward to continuing the Palmer legacy of caring for many years to come."

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children opened its doors on September 10, 1989, as Central Florida's first freestanding children and women's hospital. The 281-bed facility offered pediatric, obstetric and women's services all in one facility and was built to accommodate 6,500 births. Over the past 20 years, the hospital's staff has delivered 179,000 babies, cared for 296,000 inpatients and 840,000 outpatients. It also saw the birth of a new facility, Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, named after Mr. Palmer's late wife Winnie. The 285-bed facility opened on May 30, 2006, expanding the hospital's obstetric, neonatal and gynecological services. With the opening of Winnie Palmer Hospital, Arnold Palmer Hospital became a dedicated, 158-bed children's hospital and the two facilities in addition to the Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families formed the Arnold Palmer Medical Center, which is one of the largest children and women's facilities in the nation.

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.

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Posted by scurry at 11:28 AM

PALMER CELEBRATES 80TH BIRTHDAY WITH STYLE

August 26, 2009

This September 10th, 2009 legendary golfer and philanthropist Arnold Palmer celebrates his 80th birthday in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of his namesake hospital. The hospital opened in 1989 as the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, becoming children-only in 2006 when the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies opened.

The milestone birthday will be ushered in with a week long celebration beginning in Orlando and then heading to his native state of Pennsylvania.

The festivities will begin with a hospital birthday breakfast with Palmer on Friday, Sept. 4. On Saturday the 5th, Palmer will be the main guest at the Party at the Portofino Bay Hotel where his unparalleled commitment in support of the Arnold Palmer Medical Center will be honored.

The next week Palmer will fly his Cessna Citation X to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, PA and on Tuesday, September 8th he will attend a dinner at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, home of the Pirates. Before dinner, Palmer will throw out the ceremonial first pitch as the Pirates play against the Chicago Cubs. That night will be Arnold Palmer Bobblehead Night at PNC Park and will mark the first time Palmer has been honored with a bobblehead created in his likeness. The following day Palmer will participate in a golf outing and dinner in his honor at Laurel Valley Golf Club.

And to celebrate his actual birthday on September 10th? Palmer and some of his closest friends will tee it up at his home course, Latrobe Country Club.

Posted by scurry at 03:03 PM

FOLLOW ARNOLD PALMER IN THE ESPN OFFICES

August 24, 2009

BRISTOL, CT – Golf legend Arnold Palmer is scheduled to visit the ESPN offices this Wednesday August 26th to film a "This is SportsCenter" commercial.

ESPN blogger Jason Sobel will be following Mr. Palmer for the day and blogging the entire days' activities live via his BlackBerry.

Visit the blog here: http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/columns/story?columnist=sobel_jason&page=liveblog

Fans can also join the Arnold Palmer group in the ESPN SportsNation section where they can share their memories of Mr. Palmer.

Posted by scurry at 03:36 PM

PALMER RENOVATES HIS BAY HILL COURSE

August 20, 2009

ORLANDO, FL – This summer, Arnold Palmer and the Arnold Palmer Design Company tweaked his classic course, the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, host course for PGA Tour event Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, under the thoughtful experienced eye of Palmer himself.

"Bay Hill is a great golf course. We don’t want to change it; let's tweak it.", said Arnold Palmer to his design company architects Erik Larsen, Thad Layton and Brandon Johnson during initial project meetings at Bay Hill, where the design company and Invitational offices are also located. "Let's get the greens closer to the water and take the sand where you can see it."

"We had the unique ability for our event staff to work on-site with Mr. Palmer, APDC design architects, Roy Saunders and employees of the Bay Hill Club. Matt Beaver, John Anderson and the Bay Hill grounds crew worked closely with the Landscapes Unlimited team to make this renovation a success. Having everyone here has been a distinct advantage for our event." said Tournament Director Scott Wellington. "Players are really going to enjoy the changes."

The specific goals of the renovation were focused in three distinct areas: Agronomic/Maintenance (greens), Playability and Aesthetics.

The previous greens needed to be completely removed because of nematodes in the soil, small plant-parasitic pests, that made it difficult to maintain good turf quality. "To improve the turf conditions on the greens, new Emerald Bermuda grass was installed and proved to be the best performer in test plots grown at Bay Hill prior to construction." said Matt Beaver. "This new grass requires less maintenance than the previous and the new irrigation heads around the greens will provide a more precise application of water."

With Palmer's lifetime of experience designing courses around the world, to actually building push-up greens with his father Deacon at Latrobe Country Club, he was extremely hands-on with the entire renovation process from start to finish. "I love the Bay Hill course, it's my home, which is why it was so important to me to be involved with everything." said Palmer. "The renovations really add some new dimensions of play for Tour players and our members."

"I've introduced firm, fast playing conditions on slopes around greens mowed at fairway height that run away from the green surface and take the ball farther away from the intended target instead of stopping it, like the previous heavy rough did." said Palmer. "With these new conditions we hope to add creativity to recovery shots. Along with putting new pin positions around the outside of the greens and cutting bunkers up closer to the greens we have made my course more interesting to play and view."

"PGA Tour Shotlink data was used extensively to properly site bunkers and now reflects the new distances of the modern game." said architect Brandon Johnson. Over time the edges of the greens had shrunk significantly and a few greens had too much slope to place a pin, especially on the edges of the greens. Johnson goes on to say, "The new greens allow us to increase the pinnable areas on the edges of the greens for the Invitational and make the players think a little bit more about shot and strategy in their pre-tournament preparation and during play."

"We really improved the turf conditions and playability of tees by making them all consistently level." said architect Thad Layton. "Some of the narrow "runway" tees are now more visually appealing and large enough to handle wear from high golf traffic."

Course aesthetics have received a boost in visual impact with the bunker renovation. "The bunkers will give Bay Hill a new look and will help define the tee and approach shots into more visually and strategically intimidating golf." said Roy Saunders of Bay Hill. "The entire APDC team has been a pleasure to work with on these changes. I would recommend this talented and professional team to any club seeking to revamp their course. I appreciate our members' patience during this process and am confident they will be very pleased with the end results."

"I'm very proud of everyone involved to make the Bay Hill course renovation a success. Especially, since the renovations had to be completed in 2 months so the course can properly grow in and open in September." said Arnold Palmer. "I know the 2010 Invitational will be very exciting to watch with these new course changes in place."

For detailed hole-by-hole renovation descriptions please read below. For more information on Bay Hill please visit the website at www.bayhill.com.

ABOUT THE ARNOLD PALMER'S BAY HILL CLUB AND LODGE
About Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge Located 20 minutes from downtown Orlando, Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is the site of the annual Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard PGA Tour golf tournament. The 70-room property features a full-service spa, salon, fitness and aquatic center, 27 holes of golf, the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy, four dining locations, three lounges and 9,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. For reservations or membership information, call (888) 422-9445 or (407) 876- 2429 or visit www.bayhill.com.
For more information: Arlene Wright, Chisano Marketing Group, (407) 788-7070 or awright@chisano.com Leigh Anne Mace, Bay Hill Club & Lodge, at (407) 876-8003 or lmace@bayhill.com

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Bay Hill Course Tour (Before/After)

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Bay Hill Course Renovations Hole-by-Hole

Hole #1

The tees were widened and shifted right to provide a better angle to access the fairway. Bunkers 180 yds off the tee to the right were eliminated and converted to rough. Bunkers outside of dogleg were enlarged to provide visibility from the tee. Greenside bunkers were moved closer, deepened, and flashed higher to frame the green. Interior of the old green surface was replicated and the edges softened to provide better hole locations closer to the bunkers.

Hole #2

One of the few "major" changes, this green was rotated 30 degrees clockwise to enable players to hold long iron and woods into green. A natural slope on the right utilized to feed shots onto the green enabling shorter players to access front right pin locations. The front left bunker was eliminated and converted to fairway run-off area. Tees were realigned and moved closer to cart path. With the green now rotated and back tee expanded, this hole can play as long as 245 yards.

Hole #3

The tees were realigned and moved closer to the cart path opening up an unobstructed view of the fairway. The first fairway bunker on the right was converted to fairway. The second fairway bunker was enlarged and moved closer to the landing area. The fairway leading into the green was expanded, enabling a ground approach into green. The green was expanded towards the water to create an array of pin positions tight to the hazard. The greenside bunkers were moved closer, deepened, and flashed higher to frame green.

Hole #4

This hole was converted into a true par 5 without lengthening the hole. This was achieved by moving out the fairway bunkering into the 270-300 yard range, a new lay-up bunker was added to the left of the fairway 100 yards from the green to guard the lay up area, bunkers adjacent the the green were re-configured, a reduced green size with an elevated green surface with tightly mown surrounds and deep bunkers.

Hole #5

The tees were realigned and moved closer to the cart path which opened up an unobstructed view of the fairway. Bunkers were enlarged and repositioned to force decisions off the tee. A new fairway cut over the left fairway bunker provides the opportunity for a drivable par 4 from the forward tee. A steep slope on the front right of the green will provide a new layer of difficulty on this crowned green surface.

Hole #6

The tees were raised and moved closer to the lake. The first fairway bunker was eliminated. The sand in the next two fairway bunkers were taken higher to increase visibility from the tee. The green was expanded toward the water to the front, left, and rear. A fairway cut was introduced to collect shots hit through the green and to provide shot options that were previously non-existent. This allowed us to create a new tournament viewing area behind the new #6 green.

Hole #7

The tees were expanded and fanned out to the left. The fairway cut short of the green, steepened to repel shots short of the green to the bottom of slope. The greenside bunkers were deepened and pushed tight to the green. A new front right pin location will be quite a test for members and tournament players.

Hole #8

A new tee was added on a spit of land surrounded by mature trees. The tees were shifted to the left for better views of fairway from all tees. The fairway bunker was flashed higher for better visibility from the teeing areas. Expanded the green left toward the water and softened the back right of the green to create a difficult hole location between the bunkers. The first half of the greenside bunker on the right of the fairway was filled to better show off 2 new bunkers adjacent to the green.

Hole #9

The tees were widened. The fairway bunker on the left was shifted 40 yards down the fairway to better challenge tee shots. Two fairway bunkers on the right were converted to rough. The green was rotated to the right to engage the re-configured bunker complex to the right of the green.

Hole #10

We made the left fairway bunkers slightly larger and shifted them to the right to engage the fairway. The right fairway bunker was moved 50 yards forward to bring it more into play. Very subtle green modifications were made by squaring off the edges to introduce pins on the corners. The approach and side slopes of the green surrounds were made sharper to introduce a tightly mowed slope on the surrounds.

Hole #11

The right side fairway bunkers were shifted closer to the fairway line and repositioned to fit today’s distance requirements by eliminating the first bunker and converting it to turf and replacing it with one at the 285-300 yard turning point. Certain areas around the perimeter of the green were smoothed out to introduce pins closer to the greenside bunkers and lake edge. A roll off left and behind the green that blends into the #12 tee was introduced.

Hole #12

The three hidden fairway bunkers that were located at the beginning of the fairway were eliminated and replaced with two bunkers; One protecting the inside right corner at approximately 260 - 270 yards off the tee and one protecting the outside left corner of the fairway at approximately 300 yards from the back tee. The left fairway line has been shifted slightly to the left to widen the fairway and provides an obscured view from the fairway for the second shot. The second landing area fairway bunkers were repositioned for visibility and to engage play better. Old shaping and mounds that blocked views into the bunkers and green complex were removed. The green side bunkers were reshaped, positioned for visibility and moved closer to the green to protect the corner pin locations.
Every effort was made to keep the original character of this green which was slightly modified to introduce corner pin locations behind bunkers and adjacent to the steep shaved slopes on the green surrounds.

Hole #13

The Championship tee was pushed back ten yards and all the tees were repositioned. Before the renovation there were three hidden fairway bunkers on the left side of the golf hole. During the renovation this bunker complex was reshaped to include two highly visible bunkers that were shifted and repositioned closer to the fairway to become more in play off the tee. The right fairway bunker was reshaped and shifted closer to the fairway too.
This green previously had a lot of movement along the edges that did not allow for pin positions close to the lake edge or greenside bunkers. The perimeter rolls were softened and the green enlarged on the front right and back right to introduce pin locations all along the lake edge and close to the greenside bunkers. The greenside bunkers were also reshaped for visibility from tee and fairway and shifted closer to the green.

Hole #14

This hole has a significant visual change. Previously, 90% of the bunkers on this hole were not visible from the tee and neither was the green surface. The old green had sharp rolls along the edge that did not allow for perimeter pin locations or pins behind the bunkers.
The front right bunker complex was eliminated and a tightly mown grass slope along the entire right side of the green was created. The left greenside bunkers were reshaped and moved closer to the green to better protect pin locations on the left side of this green. The greenside bunkers behind the green were reshaped, made visible and shifted closer to the green surface to protect back right and back left pin locations. The green surface has been smoothed out to allow for more pinnable space but still retains a hint of the old green contours.

Hole #15

A back tee was built that could add 50 yards to the hole if desired. If used, this new back tee will bring the reshaped fairway bunker more into play and turn it into a real obstacle off the tee. Originally there were two fairway bunkers protecting the inside right corner of the fairway. The bunker complex was reshaped with one large bunker that was slightly repositioned to bring it more into play. This green complex received three changes. Firstly, it was reduced in size and moved out of the shadows cast by the surrounding trees. Second, the green was shifted away from the cart path. Third, the green size and contours were made more appropriate for the type of shots played from the original back tee location. The front greenside bunkers were reshaped, repositioned and moved closer to the green surface allowing for a more intimidating approach shot. The right green side bunkers were removed and replaced with a tightly mown grass slope. The back greenside bunker was reshaped for visibility and moved closer to the green surface. While this green did change slightly there are several elements from the old green that were incorporated into the changes.

Hole #16

Tees – The tee complex was shifted left to utilize the natural ridge line and to increase visibility down the golf hole. A large swale was reshaped from the back tee down to the fairway that increases overall visibility and opens up a view slot down to the fairway.
The two right side fairway bunkers were reshaped, combined to make one large fairway bunker that is now highly visible from the tee, and shifted closer to the fairway to bring it more into play. Two of the left side fairway bunkers were removed and converted to rough. This allows for one prominent fairway bunker to protect the left side.
The green complex was reshaped and the beach bunker removed to incorporate shaved slopes and collection areas on the middle right, back right and back left of the green. The front greenside bunker was reshaped and moved closer to the green. A small back right greenside bunker was added to help protect the back right pin locations. The green surface was smoothed out to allow for more pin locations around the perimeter, lake edge and beside the bunkers. While the green was modified for increased pin locations the original green contours were incorporated in the renovation.

Hole #17

Visually this hole will look different and slightly more intimidating, but strategically should play better with increased pin locations along the perimeter of the green with reshaped bunkers that are closer to the green surface. The most dramatic change on this hole is the expansion of the beach bunker. The green was shifted seven to ten feet to allow for the beach bunker to be reshaped and contoured for drainage, playability and visibility.

Hole #18

A back tee was added to increase the hole yardage by approximately 10 yards. The renovated green is almost a carbon copy of the old green with slight modifications in the green size to accommodate an additional front pin location and middle back pin location.

Practice Green

The practice green tries to replicate the golf shots you can expect on the "new" Bay Hill course. A large fairway cut was introduced around the chipping green. Repositioned the bunker to hit down the length of the green, allowing golfers to practice both long and short sand shots. The bunker tripled in size and deepened to reflect new bunkers on the course. The "False front" on the chipping green will allow golfers to practice this difficult short shot.

Posted by scurry at 04:34 PM

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Announces Gift Registry Honoring its Namesakes’ 80th Birthday

August 14, 2009

Orlando, FL (August 14, 2009) – Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children turns 20 on September 10, 2009, the same day its legendary namesake, golfer Arnold Palmer celebrates his 80th birthday. In honor of Mr. Palmer’s birthday, a gift registry has been created where family, friends and fans can make a donation in his name to help the children, women and babies cared for at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. Individuals wishing to make a contribution can log on to http://www.arnoldpalmerhospitalbirthday.com/GiftRegistry.

“We are proud to be celebrating 20 years of caring along side Arnold Palmer as he celebrates his 80th birthday. We are extremely appreciative of all he and his family have done for the babies, children, and women here in Central Florida,” said John Bozard, president, Arnold Palmer Medical Center. “Through their generosity and that of our community through programs like the birthday gift registry, we have been able to provide highly-specialized care to those in need and we look forward to continuing the Palmer legacy of caring for many years to come.”

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women opened its doors on September 10, 1989, coinciding with its namesake’s, Arnold Palmer’s, 60th birthday. The 281-bed hospital was the first freestanding children and women’s hospital in Central Florida offering pediatric, obstetric and women’s services in one facility. Due to the area’s rapid population growth and increased demand for obstetrical services, Arnold Palmer Hospital expanded its obstetric, neonatal and gynecological services with the addition of Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, a 285-bed facility, located across the street. With the opening of Winnie Palmer Hospital, Arnold Palmer Hospital became a dedicated, 158-bed children’s hospital and the two facilities in addition to the Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families formed the Arnold Palmer Medical Center.

ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL for CHILDREN

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.

WINNIE PALMER HOSPITAL for WOMEN & BABIES

Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 285-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of women and babies. The hospital includes comprehensive fetal diagnostics and labor and delivery services, a regional center for neonatal intensive care, maternal intensive care and women’s services. Annually, more than 14,000 babies are expected to be born at Winnie Palmer Hospital, making it the busiest labor and delivery unit in the state of Florida. To learn more, visit winniepalmerhospital.com.

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Posted by scurry at 03:11 PM

PALMER PRESENTS 2009 NATIONAL AVIATION HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE RUSSELL MEYER JR.

July 16, 2009

DAYTON, OH – Arnold Palmer is scheduled to present Russell W. Meyer Jr., retired Cessna Aircraft Company chairman and chief executive officer, at the 48th annual Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony of the National Aviation Hall of Fame July 18th at the Dayton Convention Center.

A pilot himself, Palmer will fly to Dayton in his Cessna Citation X. Russ Meyer is one of Palmer’s closest friends, going back to the beginning of original IMG founder Mark McCormack’s association with Palmer. Meyer was a fellow lawyer with McCormack at the Cleveland law firm, Arter, Hadden, Wycoff and Van Dusen, where he handled some of Palmer's early appearances and all of his aviation needs. Arnold and Russ have shared a life-long passion for aviation from that time to date. Russ is one of Arnold’s trusted advisors in many business matters and the two men have played dozens of rounds of golf together.

In addition to Palmer, celebrities Nick Clooney and astronauts Neil Armstrong and Charles Precourt will also be serving as presenters at the event.

The 2009 inductees are: Eileen Collins, USAF test pilot and first female Shuttle commander; Russell Meyer, Jr., former Chairman and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company; the late James M. Stewart, WWII bomber pilot, award winning actor and airpower advocate; the late Edward H. White, II, West Point grad,USAF test pilot, and Gemini and Apollo astronaut. Collins and Meyer will personally accept their honors. The daughter of Stewart and son and daughter of White will attend, accepting enshrinement on behalf of their late fathers.

The National Aviation Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization founded in Dayton in 1962 to honor America's air and space pioneers.

For more information, visit nationalaviation.org.

Posted by scurry at 04:17 PM

Greens Refurbishment On Course at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando

July 14, 2009

ORLANDO -- The golf course maintenance project which began this spring at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge continues on schedule, with the course looking to fully re-open this October.

In May, Bay Hill began refurbishment work on its Championship Course, resulting in temporary closure of that course over the summer. While the primary focus of the project is to re-grass the greens, other key elements include the addition of a few more runoff areas and the elimination of some unnecessary bunkers in exchange for new sand traps which will be more visible from the tee areas.

While it sounds like a lofty project, members and players can rest assured they won't be seeing a complete transformation of the world-famous course. As Mr. Palmer indicated during the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard in March, the changes to the greens and undulations will be very subtle. Players can expect the look and routing of the course to be much the same as it was prior to maintenance. The overall goal of the project was not to completely alter the course, but rather elevate its architectural and aesthetic standards to the modern level one would expect from an Arnold Palmer designed course.

Efforts for this venture began well before excavators ever broke dirt on the first green at Bay Hill. "In November 2008, we created a test green near the end of the Charger range in which we planted seven different types of grass to determine which might be best suited for conditions at Bay Hill," explains Ray Easler, general manager at Bay Hill. "Of the seven, Emerald Dwarf was the top performer - in part because its longer root system allows it to be more resistant to ground pests, and its growth rate reduces the transition time between seasons."

The selected Emerald Dwarf was cultivated at Champion Turf Farms in Bay City, Texas, a company owned and operated by father-son team Morris and Mike Brown. This spring, Bay Hill's golf course superintendent John Anderson traveled to Texas to inspect the new turf firsthand and was more than pleased. "We were very impressed with the quality of the turf and the first-class operation of Champion Turf Farms. Morris and Mike have been extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and even committed to personally overseeing the installation of the Emerald sprigs at Bay Hill. We all look forward to seeing the final results of this project on the course."

Work at the course is being done in phases, typically three holes at a time, as to minimize the impact on the environment. While the Championship course isn't scheduled to re-open until October, the Charger course remains open throughout the entirety of the maintenance project. In addition, Bay Hill Golf Shop has arranged for special discounts at many area courses to accommodate its golf members.

About Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Located 20 minutes from downtown Orlando, Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge is the site of the annual Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard PGA golf tournament. The 70-room property features a full-service spa, salon, fitness and aquatic center, 27 holes of golf, the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy, four dining locations, three lounges and 9,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. For reservations or membership information, call (888) 422-9445 or (407) 876- 2429.

For more information:

Arlene Wright, Chisano Marketing Group, (407) 788-7070 or awright@chisano.com
Leigh Anne Mace, Bay Hill Club & Lodge, at (407) 876-8003 or lmace@bayhill.com

Posted by scurry at 09:16 AM

ARNOLD PALMER ATTENDS 2009 'So The World May Hear' AWARDS GALA

July 10, 2009

ST. PAUL, MN – Arnold Palmer is scheduled to attend the Starkey So the World May Hear Awards Gala Sunday July 12.

The gala supports the Starkey Hearing Foundation which started with a simple premise: “Alone we can’t do much. But, together we can change the world.”

With “So the World May Hear” as his goal, Starkey Hearing Foundation founder William F. Austin built an organization upon this vision.

Today the Foundation is sustained by the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors around the world. Through generous support the foundation delivers more than 50,000 hearing aids annually through more than 100 hearing missions a year in countries stretching from the U.S. to Vietnam.

In addition to giving the gift of hearing, the Foundation promotes hearing health awareness while supporting research and education.

Celebrities Tony Bennett, Billy Crystal, Elton John and Gladys Knight will also be in attendance at the black-tie gala.

Posted by scurry at 04:52 PM

CNN Exclusive - Arnold Palmer: Olympics can revive golf

July 07, 2009

Arnold Palmer, one of the greatest players in the history of golf, has exclusively told CNN that the Olympic Games could help to revive the recession-hit sport.

With golf being hit hard by the recent downturn in the global economy, Palmer believes the sport needs all the help it can get if it is to come out the other side of the recession.

Palmer said: "The downturn in the economy has affected many golf clubs and I hope we've reached the bottom on that.

"It is probably being felt most severely in America. I'd like to see that stop and for players to return to the golf course. It's tough right now but I'm sure things will improve.

"Golf has changed so much from when I turned professional. My main goal was always to increase the awareness of golf and that has happened.

"In places like India, China, Japan and South and Central America, people are becoming avid golf fans because the climate is perfect for the game."

"Golf is now an international competition and it is bringing people in from all around the world."

"But if golf gets accepted by the Olympic Committee it would be a wonderful thing for the continuing growth of the game. Bringing people together on the course is one of the most important things we can do."

It has been over a century since golf was an official Olympic sport, with George Lyon of Canada claiming the last gold medal in 1904.

Read the full story at CNN

Posted by scurry at 11:30 AM

PALMER ATTENDS THE FIRST 'FREE TO THE PUBLIC' CHAMPIONS TOUR EVENT

July 06, 2009

Arnold Palmer will be attending the 3M Championship — held July 10-12 at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Twin Cities in Blaine, an Arnold Palmer designed course — which is offering free admission, parking and shuttles to the public.

"Giving back is the right thing to do," said Hollis Cavner, tournament director. "We've received such tremendous support from fans and corporate partners over the past 17 years. We are thrilled that we have an opportunity to say thank you and provide this free gift to golf fans."

"It's very exciting that the 3M Championship is giving golf fans the opportunity to see this great event for free." said Palmer. He adds, "I also hope this offer will introduce some new people to golf as well."

Joining Palmer for the annual 2009 Greats of Golf Challenge Saturday, July 11th and Sunday July 12th will be some of his contemporaries Chi Chi Rodriguez, Lee Trevino, Billy Casper, Gene Littler, Miller Barber, Tony Jacklin, Charles Coody and Don January.

The Greats of Golf Challenge Presented by Post-it Brand Products is a two-day tournament that features nine PGA Champions Tour professionals playing in a three-person scramble format.

The 3M Championship consistently ranks as one of the top Champions Tour events for crowds and charitable giving. Last year, the 3M Championship was voted the No.1 event on the Champions Tour by the players, earning the coveted Champions Tour Players Award.

Posted by scurry at 02:09 PM

PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER INDUCTED INTO WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME

July 01, 2009

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower has been voted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2009. Eisenhower was selected in the Lifetime Achievement Category for his genuine love for the sport of golf and his role in popularizing the game after the second world war. He will become the first President to enter the Hall when he is inducted posthumously on Nov. 2 at the World Golf Village in St Augustine, Florida.

During the 60's Eisenhower and Palmer became friends out of mutual admiration and respect for one another. Both Eisenhower and Palmer hailed from ‘blue collar’ backgrounds—Eisenhower as the progeny of Mid-west farming ‘stock’ from Kansas and Palmer as the son of Latrobe’s professional and course superintendent—which perhaps explains the affinity they clearly felt for each other.

"One would be hard pressed to find any single person who did more to popularize the game of golf, not only in the United States but throughout the world, than President Eisenhower," Arnold Palmer said in a statement on Friday. "His visibility, coupled with his passion for the game, were the inspiration for literally millions of people picking up the game for the first time. Those involved in golf today owe him a great debt of gratitude," added Palmer.

The Arnie and Ike relationship goes on to this day with the Palmer Prostate Center at Eisenhower Luci Curci Cancer Center located in the heart of the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs California. The Coachella Valley is where their desert connections converged with another friend, Bob Hope, making many headlines that ultimately led to popularizing the game.

The number of Americans who played golf doubled while Eisenhower was in office from 1953 to 1961, according to "First Off The Tee," a book on U.S. presidents who played golf.

Eisenhower will be inducted along with two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain, former PGA champion Lanny Wadkins and Christy O'Connor of Ireland.

Eisenhower joins a very short list of Hall of Famers who never played competitively, such as Bob Hope and Dinah Shore.

Posted by scurry at 03:30 PM

USGA MUSEUM LAUNCHES ARNOLD PALMER MEMORY BOOK

May 18, 2009

The United States Golf Association is inviting the public to participate in a very special project to celebrate a true sporting legend and a great American.

Arnold Palmer will be celebrating his 80th birthday on September 10, 2009. To honor the occasion, the USGA Museum has launched an online Arnold Palmer Memory Book. The purpose of the Web site is to collect personal stories and memories of Arnold, and allow the public to view other fans’ appreciation of him. Fans can submit their reflections about Arnold in the form of words, images or video.

Arnold’s influence on the game of golf and sports in America has been felt for many years. Collectively, these testimonials will document the remarkable contributions Arnold has made to golf, not simply as a player, but as the embodiment of all that is honorable and exceptional about the game.

“Even if you’ve never had the opportunity to meet him, it seems that almost everyone in and around the game has their own Arnold Palmer story,” said USGA Director of Communications & Museum Rand Jerris. “Perhaps he was a childhood hero, maybe you once saw him play, or you just have a favorite story about him. The key is that we’re looking for personal stories – honest, from-the-heart sentiments that capture the essence of what Arnold Palmer has meant to the game.”

Later this year, the USGA Museum will edit and assemble the very best submissions into a bound volume, for presentation to Arnold as an 80th birthday present.

To participate in the Arnold Palmer Memory Book, log on to usgamuseum.com/arnoldpalmer .

---

About the USGA Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History

The USGA Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History is home to the world’s premier collection of golf artifacts and memorabilia. The greatest champions and greatest moments in American golf history come alive through entertaining and engaging exhibits. The USGA Museum features a world-class collection of more than 70,000 artifacts.

Visitors also have the opportunity to tour the USGA Research and Test Center and play a round on the Pynes Putting Course, a Himalayas-style green that is open annually from early spring through late fall.

The USGA Museum is located in Somerset County, N.J., near the intersection of Interstates 78 and 287. For more information, please call (908) 234-2300 or visit the Museum Web site at www.usgamuseum.com.

About the USGA

The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the USA and Mexico, a combined territory that includes more than half the world’s golfers and golf courses.

The Association’s most visible role is played out each season in conducting 13 national championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open. Ten USGA national championships are exclusively for amateurs, and include the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, funds research for better turf and a better environment, maintains a Handicap System®, celebrates the history of the game, and administers an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program, which has allocated more than $63 million over 12 years to successful programs that bring the game’s values to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

Posted by scurry at 03:00 PM

Arnold Palmer calls on Tiger Woods to play Celtic Manor ahead of Ryder Cup

May 07, 2009

From WalesOnline.co.uk -- AMERICAN golfing legend Arnold Palmer has joined a growing list in the game demanding Tiger Woods play the Twenty Ten Course at the Celtic Manor before next year’s Ryder Cup.

The 79-year-old seven times Major champion yesterday took a first look at the host venue for the third biggest sporting event on the globe after the Olympic Games and Football World Cup and admitted: “It’s a fantastic stage for the Ryder Cup.”

Read the full article

Posted by scurry at 03:48 PM

PALMER HONORED AT GOLF BUSINESS FORUM, PLAYS ST. ANDREWS

May 01, 2009

Arnold Palmer takes off in his Cessna Citation X from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport at his Latrobe, PA, hometown on Monday, May 4, and flies to Cardiff, Wales, to attend the Golf Business Forum, at which he will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award the next day.

"I am honored to be accepting this award from the Golf Business Forum and am very proud to be associated with an organization that does so much to further the sport of golf." said Palmer.

Palmer is scheduled to conduct a golf clinic and meet with some upcoming young Welsh golfers that afternoon.

Staff members of Arnold Palmer Design Company will attend the Tuesday sessions with Palmer. "The Golf Business Forum has continually provided excellent support to APDC and the golf development industry throughout the world." said Erik Larsen, Executive Vice President of APDC. "We are very appreciative for all that the GBF does to help grow the sport."

On Wednesday, Palmer and his group will fly on to St. Andrews, Scotland, where Palmer will play the Old Course in the Spring Medal of the Royal & Ancient with Sir Michael Bonallack, the former Secretary and Chief Executive of the R&A and British Amateur champion, and Harmish Ritchie, the current R&A captain. Palmer will participate in other activities at St. Andrews later in the day before he, his wife Kit and the rest of his party fly back to Latrobe on Friday.

Posted by scurry at 09:45 AM

HOUSE PASSES BACA LEGISLATION HONORING ARNOLD PALMER

April 29, 2009

Bill Awards Congressional Gold Medal to Golfing Legend

Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation introduced by Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) that awards the Congressional Gold Medal to world famous golf professional Arnold Palmer. The Arnold Palmer Gold Medal Act, H.R. 1243, officially recognizes Palmer for his service to the nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship in golf, and was passed in the House by a 422 to 1 vote.

“Arnold Palmer is a legend and a giant among golfers,” said Rep. Baca. “He won 92 championships in professional competition, but even more significant, he is an exemplary American. He has served his country with distinction in the U.S. Coast Guard, and has spent countless hours dedicated to philanthropy and improving the lives of others. I thank my colleagues for joining me in support of this legislation granting Congressional recognition on the life and achievements of Arnold Palmer.”

“I have had the opportunity to play a round of golf with Arnold Palmer,” added Rep. Baca. “My son, Rialto City Councilman Joe Baca, Jr., was also in attendance. Walking those eighteen holes with Arnold Palmer was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Not only is he a golf legend, but he also is a genuine person with a great sense of humor.”

Arnold Palmer’s magnetic personality and unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness have endeared him to millions throughout the world. He has been the recipient of countless honors including virtually every national award in golf and both the Hickok Athlete of the Year and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year awards. In addition, he was chosen as the Athlete of the Decade for the 1960s in a national Associated Press poll.

Through his charitable foundation, Arnold Palmer and his wife Winnie have supported numerous philanthropic causes, including nature conservation, cancer prevention, and women’s and children’s health. He has also founded both the Arnold Palmer Pavilion at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida.

“I truly believe that Arnold Palmer is deserving of this honor,” continued Rep. Baca. “But it’s not just about his success on the links – although as a competitive golfer myself I certainly respect his athletic talent and winning results. However, Arnold also has contributed significantly to American society and culture and is an outstanding role model, especially for young people.”

“His legions of fans have often been called ‘Arnie’s Army’,” concluded Rep. Baca. “After today, he can now call it ‘Arnie’s Congressional Army’! Long live his legacy.”

Arnold Palmer has had great success in the business world, forming the Arnold Palmer Design company. With his unfailing personality he has almost single-handedly brought golf out of the elite country clubs and into the consciousness of mainstream America. He is also know for one of his favorite drinks, a combination of half iced tea and half lemonade, a drink which is often referred to as an "Arnold Palmer" in his honor.

Palmer served his country for 3 years in the United States Coast Guard and was among those chosen to address the Joint Session of Congress on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Rep. Baca first introduced legislation to award Arnold Palmer the Congressional Gold Medal in 2002.

###

Posted by scurry at 02:14 PM

Arnold Palmer to Present Winnie Palmer Award To Aide Doc Giffin at Met Golf Writers Dinner

April 28, 2009

Golf legend Arnold Palmer will present the Winnie Palmer Award to his long-time assistant Doc Giffin at the 2009 Metropolitan Golf Writers Association’s 58th National Awards Dinner on Tuesday, June 16, at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Old Greenwich, Connecticut.

Louise Suggs, the Hall of Fame LPGA great, will receive the MGWA’s Gold Tee Award; Rolex the Bing Crosby Tournament Sponsor Award and Gene Westmoreland, Met Golf Association executive, the Distinguished Service Award at the annual dinner.

The MGWA established the Winnie Palmer Award in 2000 in honor of Palmer’s late wife, who devoted much of her life to charity work for literacy programs and health care. The accolade acknowledges individuals who have consistently given their time, energy and enthusiasm for the less fortunate. Over the last 20 years, the Palmer family has been heavily involved in the establishment of hospital facilities for mothers, children and babies that are incorporated into the Arnold Palmer Medical Center in Orlando, Florida.

“Winnie’s life-long dedication to philanthropy and caring for people is something that I always admired and learned from,” said Giffin, Palmer’s personal assistant for the last 43 years. “I am particularly honored to receive this award in her name.”

Palmer last attended what has been called “golf’s social event of the year” in 2001, when he received the association’s Golden Anniversary Award with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Palmer also earned the MGWA’s highest honor, the Gold Tee Award, in 1965 for career achievements that exemplify the best spirit and traditions of the sport of golf.

The MGWA’s National Awards Dinner is the largest (and longest running) golf dinner held annually in the U.S. All of golf’s governing bodies actively support the dinner—the USGA, PGA of America, the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, the LPGA—and some 700 industry leaders and local golfers attend. Proceeds from the dinner are distributed to three Metropolitan area caddie scholarship programs and the MGA Foundation. More than $950,000 has been raised over the years for charitable endeavors.

Golf fans are encouraged to attend this popular event and join Arnold and Doc for a night of celebrating the spirit of golf and philanthropy. For advance ticket reservations or additional information, please contact Kate Keller at (914) 347-4653. Tickets also may be obtained online at www.metgolfwriters.org.

Posted by scurry at 04:06 PM

PALMER HEADS TO THE MASTERS

April 01, 2009

Arnold Palmer’s string of consecutive playing appearances in the Masters Tournament ended at 50 when he competed for a final time in the 2004 championship, but Arnold Palmer will be in Augusta, Georgia, again this April, a stop he has made every year since 1955.

As he did last year, Palmer will go to Augusta Tuesday, April 7, to attend the Champions Dinner that evening in the historic Augusta National clubhouse. Trevor Immelman, the defending champion, hosts the dinner, at which virtually all of the living former winners of the classic event, playing or non-playing, will gather.

On Wednesday, April 8, the “Big 3” reunites for the annual Par 3 Contest where Palmer joins Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player for a 3:05 tee time. First played in 1960 and won that year by Sam Snead, the Par 3 Contest has become a Wednesday tradition at the Masters. Tournament participants, non-competing past champions, and Honorary Invitees are invited to participate in the Contest. Palmer won the Par 3 Contest in 1967 in a playoff. The event will be televised on ESPN.

Palmer serves as the Honorary Starter on Thursday, April 9. Palmer will be just the sixth person to serve as Honorary Starter in the long history of the Masters, which began in 1934. Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod inaugurated the role in 1963. Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen took over in 1981 and Ken Venturi filled in for Nelson in 1983. Sam Snead joined Nelson and Sarazen in 1984. The position was vacant since Snead died following the 2002 Masters until the 2007 event when Palmer assumed the role for the first time.

"As you know, Augusta is one of my favorite places and the Masters has meant so much to me personally throughout my career. I have always been treated so warmly there by the patrons. I hope in some way I can show my gratitude to the fans who have followed and supported me these many years” said Palmer.

Posted by scurry at 05:19 PM

THE PRINCE MEETS THE KING

March 25, 2009

The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard was the setting for a potentially historic photograph Wednesday, as 17-year-old rising Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa - known as the Bashful Prince for his unassuming demeanor - came to meet the King of golf, the tournament host, Arnold Palmer.

"To have our young friend from Japan here to play is great," Palmer said later in a press conference. "I hope he has a good week and enjoys the game."

"We're certainly very pleased. I've heard everything from (him being) a young Tiger Woods to just a really great young man, and having met him and talked to him, he has a great personality. I see from what he's done playing golf that his future is very bright, and not just in Japan but around the world."

Ishikawa arrived at Palmer's second-story executive offices at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge at 9:40 a.m., precisely the appointed time. Ushered to the King's corner office, Ishikawa shook hands with Palmer then in perfect English expressed his appreciation for the invitation.

Palmer took a lapel pin with his umbrella logo and attached it to Ishikawa’s shirt and also gave him several logoed ball markers. Then they headed downstairs for the photo opportunity in front of a large gathering of photographers and television cameramen, mostly from Ishikawa’s home country, who have been following his American tour.

In a press conference later, Ishikawa said: “I (was) so honored when I received Mr. Palmer’s invitation to this tournament. It is going to be my lifetime treasure. I just met Mr. Palmer this morning. It was my wonderful memory, and it’s hard to explain how I feel at the moment. But I could feel he’s a warm-hearted person, just shaking hands.”

At Palmer’s request, the PGA Tour designated Ishikawa to receive an exemption reserved for foreign players in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “I’ve had a relationship in Japan that has gone on for many, many years,” Palmer said. “When something happens like this young man, who is a real hero, it is obvious that we’re going to hear about it and hear how good he is.”

Ishikawa made history in 2007 when, as a 15-year-old high school freshman, he became the youngest champion ever on one of the world’s major golf tours, winning the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup on the Japan Tour. He became a professional last year and won again at the mynavi ABC Championship and placed second in the Japan Open. He was fifth on the 2008 Japan Tour money list and earned $1,074,469 converted to U.S. dollars. He is presently ranked No. 69 in the world.

While Palmer’s was the first, Ishikawa also accepted invitations from the Masters Tournament and two other PGA Tour events, the Northern Trust Open and the Transitions Championship. “I’ve been in Florida for two weeks now, and I’ve found that orange juice tastes great, and hamburger. So I’m enjoying America,” he said.

This is Ishikawa’s second visit to Bay Hill. Four years ago, he played in an AJGA junior event here.

--Bev Norwood

Posted by scurry at 09:30 PM

RYDER CUP AND PRESIDENTS CUP STARS ENTER ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD

March 21, 2009

Defending champion Tiger Woods leads field of 120 players

The 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard will feature defending champion Tiger Woods along with most of the players from the recent Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams. The PGA Tour event is scheduled for March 23-29 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.

The world’s No. 1 player and a five-time winner at Bay Hill, Woods will be joined by the other two current major champions, Trevor Immelman and Padraig Harrington, among 29 players entered from the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

In addition to Woods, past Bay Hill winners in the field of 120 players are Vijay Singh, Kenny Perry, Fred Couples, Paul Azinger, Chad Campbell, Rod Pampling, Tim Herron, Andrew Magee, Paul Goydos and Robert Gamez. Nine members of Captain Azinger’s victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team are entered. They are Campbell, Perry, Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis, Jim Furyk, J.B. Holmes, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan and Boo Weekley. From the European Ryder Cup team are Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Oliver Wilson.

The latest Presidents Cup teams, from 2007, will be well-represented with 10 players from the American team and eight from the International team. These include U.S. players Woody Austin, Lucas Glover, Charles Howell III, Zach Johnson, David Toms and Scott Verplank, and International players Stuart Appleby, Angel Cabrera, Retief Goosen, Nick O’Hern, Adam Scott and Mike Weir.

Among the 19 players who received sponsor exemptions is Rocco Mediate, appearing in a tournament with Woods for the first time since their playoff at the U.S. Open last June. Woods had surgery on his left knee after that and did not play again until last month. This will be his third tournament of 2009.

For tickets or more information on the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876- 7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 05:31 PM

Navigating the 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard

March 13, 2009

All the information you need to attend the 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

Tournament Dates:

Monday, March 23, 2009 – Sunday, March 29, 2009

Location:

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge 9000 Bay Hill Boulevard Orlando, FL 32819

Schedule of Events:

• Monday, March 23, 2009 – Youth Day/Monday
  PRO-AM
  7:30 a.m. – Junior Golf Breakfast in the Arnold Palmer Terrace Room.
  9:00 a.m. – Monday PRO-AM Tournament begins.
  4:30 p.m. – Coca-Cola® Youth Clinic at the Driving Range.
  ALL YOUTH admitted FREE with paying adult on March 23.
• Tuesday, March 24, 2009
  Practice rounds for PGA TOUR players.
  Wednesday, March 25, 2009 – Wednesday PRO-AM
  PRO-AM Tournament tee times throughout the day, #1
  and #10 tees. (Pairings available day-of.)
• Thursday, March 26, 2009*
  Round 1 of Competition.
• Friday, March 27, 2009*
  Round 2 of Competition.
  College Day - $20 entry for ALL current college students.
• Saturday, March 28, 2009*
  Round 3 of Competition.
• Sunday, March 29, 2009*
  Final Round of Competition.

*All pairings and tee-times will be available on the tournament Web site – ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com – the evening prior to play.

Daily Ticket Information:

• Practice/PRO-AM Ticket (Monday – Wednesday) – $35 Grants admission into the event on any one day, Monday – Wednesday. Monday is a ticketed day for adults, with the addition of a second PRO-AM event ticket.
  All youth are admitted free on Monday with a paid adult. On-site parking included.
• Any One Day Ticket (Thursday – Sunday) – $45 Grants admission into the event on any one day, Thursday – Sunday. Parking at Universal Studios, with complimentary shuttle to the tournament provided.
• Youth Ticket, Ages 11 to 17 – $15 (10 and under free) Grants admission into the event on any one day, Tuesday – Sunday. All youth admitted free with a paid adult on Youth Day – Monday, March 23.
• College Students (Friday, March 27) – $20
  On Friday, March 27, current college students can purchase a discounted ticket with their student ID at Universal Studios tournament parking.
• Military – FREE
  All military receive free admission, any day, all day with a
  valid military ID. Military present their ID to pick up a
  ticket when parking on-site at Bay Hill, Monday –
  Wednesday, and when parking at Universal Studios
  tournament parking, Thursday – Sunday.

Ticket Packages:

• The King’s Club – $2,000
  The King’s Club is the ultimate tournament experience.
  This exclusive ticket package grants weeklong entrance to
  the tournament and access to the King’s Club (Thursday –
  Sunday), an elevated, air-conditioned structure offering
  beautiful views of the 16th and 17th greens. A very
  limited number of tickets are available. Tickets include:
  full food and beverage service; on-site parking with shuttle
  to the front of the venue; player meet and greets;
  premium, limited edition giveaways; access to the Palmer
  Pavilion, Clubhouse and MasterCard Club; and one round
  of golf at the Bay Hill Club.
• Bay Hill Badge – $300
  Includes weeklong access to the Clubhouse and Palmer
  Pavilion. This limited edition badge offers a prime view of
  the putting green, as well as access to the grounds and
  Palmer Pavilion on the 18th tee. Badge holders enjoy the
  privilege of guaranteed on-site parking.
• Clubhouse Badge – $190
  Includes access to the tournament grounds and Bay Hill
  Clubhouse. The Clubhouse offers a prime view of the
  putting green. On-site parking on a space available basis
  is also included.
• Palmer Pavilion Badge – $185
  The Palmer Pavilion features a comfortable, covered
  hospitality area and patio with unique views of the 18th
  green. This badge grants access to the grounds and into
  the Palmer Pavilion Monday – Sunday. It includes on-site
  parking on a space available basis.
• Grounds Badge – $95
  Includes grounds-only admission to the entire
  tournament, Monday – Sunday. Parking with shuttle bus
  is provided at Universal Studios.
• Gold Patron Package – $3,500
  Includes 20 Clubhouse Badges and 10 parking passes for
  guaranteed on-site parking in Lot 10.
• Bay Hill Patron Package – $2,800
  Includes 10 Clubhouse Badges as well as 10 Palmer
  Pavilion Badges. Includes on-site parking on a space
  available basis.

To Purchase Tickets:

Purchase tickets online at ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com, call the Arnold Palmer Invitational Ticket Office at 407-876-7774 or toll-free at 866-764-4843, or purchase at your local participating Edwin Watts stores.

Parking Information:

• On-Site –
  Any One Day (Thursday – Sunday) $20
  Full Week (Thursday – Sunday) $65
  Guaranteed parking on the tournament grounds. Limited availability.
• Free General –
  Thursday – Sunday parking and shuttle service is provided from Universal Studios for all Arnold Palmer Invitational ticket holders.
• Disabled –
  Thursday – Sunday, ALL disabled spectators will be required to park in a handicap-specific, hard surface, covered area at Universal Studios. This handicap area will be serviced by special handicap–equipped shuttles. The drop-off at Bay Hill will be at the end of the Clubhouse area.

Will Call Information:

The Will Call trailer is located on the East side of Turkey Lake Road, between Sand Lake Road and Hollywood Way.

Directions to Will Call:

Traveling either direction on I-4, take exit 74A and head west on Sand Lake Road (once on Sand Lake Road, stay in the far Right lane) to Turkey Lake Road. Turn Right on Turkey Lake Road. Travel approx. one mile. You will come to a traffic light at Wallace Road. The Will Call trailer will be just north of Wallace Road and on the East side of Turkey Lake Road (there will be signs).

Will Call Hours:

Monday, March 23 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 26 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday, March 27 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 29 6:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Directions:

To Universal Studios – General Parking

• From Daytona/Sanford: Take I-4 West to Exit 74B;
  Follow signs to tournament.
• From Tampa: Take I-4 East to Exit 74A; Follow signs to
  tournament.

To Bay Hill Club & Lodge

• From Daytona/Sanford: Take I-4 West to Exit 74A; Exit
  right onto Sand Lake Road. Take Sand Lake Road. until
  you end at Apopka-Vineland Road and turn right. Follow
  signs to Gate C for public parking.
• From Tampa: Take I-4 East to Exit 74A; Exit left onto
  Sand Lake Road. Take Sand Lake Road until you end at
  Apopka-Vineland Road and turn right. Follow signs to
  Gate C for public parking.

 

Posted by scurry at 09:00 PM

FURYK IS BACK VYING FOR LONG-SOUGHT BREAKTHROUGH AT ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD

March 11, 2009

Former World No. 2 eager to take on toughened Bay Hill

Jim Furyk admits he didn’t always pencil in a stop at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge on his busy playing schedule. The calendar seemed to work against him, and the Champions Course didn’t seem to suit his game, as much as he enjoyed it.

Now, Furyk is again making a point of heading to central Florida, to the PGA Tour event hosted by one of the game’s legends.

When the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard begins March 26, Furyk will be among the many former major championship winners in the elite, invitation-only field, and the Florida resident hopes he can add to his 13 PGA Tour victories at a tournament that has come to have special meaning for veteran.

Furyk, 39, is a native of Pennsylvania, as is the tournament host, the source of a special bond. That bond was strengthened a few years ago when Palmer wrote to Furyk personally to return to Bay Hill after the 2003 U.S. Open winner had missed the Orlando spot for six years starting in 2000.

“He wrote to me, and that meant a lot,” said Furyk, who last won on the PGA Tour at the 2007 Canadian Open. “I'll be dead honest, if Arnold or someone will talk to you personally or writes you a letter personally and signs it, it would be tough to say no.”

Ranked as high as No. 2 in the world and currently No. 17 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Furyk also sees the tournament dates as being advantageous as he prepares for the first major of the year, the Masters. The Arnold Palmer Invitational has been moved back two weeks to anchor the Florida swing on the PGA Tour.

“This year, it would kind of be a no-brainer for me because of the way the schedule worked for me,” Furyk says. “I’ve played the last few years, and I planned on going this year as well all along. It’s really a tournament I don’t want to miss now. Obviously, a big part of that is simply what Arnold means to the game. Being from Pennsylvania, I’ve always been aware of what he’s done, and of course, the game we are playing today, we all owe a lot to Arnold. The game would be much different without him.”

Furyk would point out that his game is different these days, too, and the changes mean he is better equipped to compete at Bay Hill, not that he has struggled too much before. True, he missed the cut in his first two appearances in 1994 and 1995, but he has scored at par or better in every start since then. His best showing was a tie for eighth in 1998. Last year, he was just three off the lead through two rounds before No. 1 Tiger Woods pulled away for his fifth victory.

“It's actually endearing itself to me,” Furyk says of the 7,157-yard, par- 70 layout. “The more I play it, the more I tend to enjoy it. But I think my game has changed a lot, too, in the last few years, and that probably helps. I think I hit the ball higher, hit the ball a lot farther, and I'm not having some of the issues I had at the course. Plus, I think they're setting it up a little bit differently, which should be interesting. It will be challenging, for sure. I am looking forward to it.”

Palmer said his fellow Keystone State native has to be considered among the favorites because of his ability to drive the ball, a staple of Palmer’s game in his prime.

“Jim drives it well enough, and we aren’t so long that he couldn’t take advantage of some scoring opportunities from the fairways,” Palmer said. “He’s certainly capable of winning here. His game is such that he’s capable of winning anywhere.”

For tickets or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876- 7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 12:45 PM

SINGH EAGER FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD

March 05, 2009

FedExCup champion gears up for return to Bay Hill

When Vijay Singh decided to undergo arthroscopic surgery in January on his right knee, one impetus for choosing to not wait was because he didn’t want to risk missing certain events in the first few months of the PGA Tour schedule. No one ever wants to miss a major, so the former Masters champion certainly wanted to be ready for Augusta. But other events were on his mind as well.

“Events like Bay Hill and Pebble Beach, where I’ve had some good success, are very important to me. Those you don’t want to miss,” said Singh, the reigning champion of the PGA Tour’s yearlong FedExCup competition, who underwent surgery January 14 near his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Few tournaments have been a better fit for the fitness-minded, hardworking Singh than the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. The three-time major champion has never missed the cut at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, and, in fact, he showed great promise in the tournament from the beginning.

Singh’s first start as a member of the PGA Tour came at the 1993 edition at Bay Hill, when the tournament was known as the Nestle Invitational, and courtesy of a personal invitation from the legendary host whose name now adorns the tournament, Singh not only showed up, but made his presence felt, finishing second.

But until the 2007 tournament, Singh had piled up 30 PGA Tour victories while meeting with frustration in one of his favorite events. Singh racked up two more runner-up finished and 11 top-25s in his first 14 appearances until finally breaking through with a two-stroke victory over Rocco Mediate. Last year in his title defense he tied for third, three strokes behind Tiger Woods.

Little wonder then that Singh is eager for a return to Bay Hill’s Champion Course. Likewise, it’s no mystery that the talented Fijian will again be among the favorites when the 31st edition of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard is held March 23-29.

“I have a long and proud history with the Arnold Palmer Invitational and I consider it one of the most important events on my schedule each year," said Singh, 45, who has won 22 times since he reached age 40, a record. "It was a huge thrill for me when Mr. Palmer offered me an exemption to play 17 years ago, and I have looked forward to Bay Hill every year since. Obviously, finally winning the tournament two years ago, after coming close a number of times, will go down as one of the highlights of my career, and I would love to recapture that moment later this month.”

A former No. 1 player in the world, Singh has broken par at Bay Hill in 12 of his last 16 rounds, and he was one of just three players to shoot par or better in all four rounds a year ago on the 7,157-yard, par-70 layout that Palmer designed.

“I know the golf course; I know how to play it,” said Singh, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006. “I think I owe it to Arnie inviting me there the first time I played in America, so I've played there every single year.”

Palmer expects Singh, one of a number of former champions expected to participate, to again vie for the top spot at the elite, limited-field invitational tournament that offers a purse of $6 million, an increase of $200,000 from a year ago.

“Vijay is such a strong player and he works tremendously hard, so it’s no surprise to me the success he’s had,” Palmer said. “His full swing is very good, one of the best, and he’s very consistent. Bay Hill seems to suit him well.”

For tickets or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876- 7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 10:00 AM

A Week with the King

March 03, 2009

PGA Tour players enjoy perk of spending time with host at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard

It was autumn when Davis Love III last ran into Arnold Palmer. “ When I saw him, Arnold asked me, ‘You’re going to be at Bay Hill, right?’” Love recalled. “Well, I said I wouldn’t miss it for anything, and you know, I wouldn’t.”

Love is a three-time runner-up of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, so he’s naturally eager to add that title to his 20 career PGA Tour victories. But beating an elite invitational field on a tough golf course isn’t his only motivation for wanting to return to the Bay Hill Club & Lodge for the 31st edition of Palmer’s prestigious event in Orlando, Florida. Neither is playing for a handsome $6 million purse.

“I love the tournament, and I’ve enjoyed the golf course, though I haven’t quite gotten over the hump, but one of the best things about playing at Bay Hill is the time you get to spend with Arnold,” Love said. “You don’t get to do that very much. It’s in honor of him that you want to be there. That’s what was great about playing for him on the Presidents Cup when he was the captain (in 1996) – it’s that the time you get with him that really means something. You don’t forget it.”

Love’s outlook on the long-running PGA Tour event hosted by one of the game’s most beloved figures is shared by many of his peers. When the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard is held March 23-29, many of the 120 players in the elite invitational field will use the trip to renew acquaintances with golf’s recognized “King.”

“We all know about his success on the golf course but it’s what he’s done for the game, and his tournament is a visible example of that,” said Tim Herron, who won the 1999 edition at Bay Hill. “There’s an aura about him that makes him the man, someone who is a great example for golfers and nongolfers. You conduct yourself like Arnold Palmer, and you aren’t going to go wrong. Being around him for that reason is worth the trip.”

“It’s always great to play there, and the course has gotten harder, so it’s even more of an accomplishment to win there, I think,” Paul Goydos, the 1996 champion, added. “But when you go there, it’s still about being there with Arnold. He treats the pros great; the pros are what matter at Bay Hill. It goes back to who he is. It’s all about the professionals there, and you have to come ready to play because you know that’s what he would do.”

There certainly appears to be no shortage of players who have shaped their decisions by thinking about what Arnold Palmer would do. Two-time winner Loren Roberts is among them, and he believes that all golfers would benefit from some informal lessons from the King.

“I’ve always thought that it’s kind of like our young guys who come out of Q-School or the Nationwide Tour or wherever … rookies ought to have to play a couple of rounds of golf with Arnold Palmer, just to see how he treats everyone on the golf course, how he treats the fans, how he conducts himself,” Roberts said. “It should be a prerequisite to play with Arnold and learn a few things.”

Some PGA Tour members who live in Orlando find that one of the perks of a central Florida residency is a greater opportunity to visit with Palmer away from the stress and bustle of tournament week.

“I saw him at a charity event at home in Orlando for the Winnie Palmer and Arnold Palmer Hospitals in December, and he looks great, and he doesn’t look like he’s slowing down at all,” two-time Tour winner Charles Howell III said. “He’s just unbelievable how he interacts with people. I always get a kick out of seeing him, especially in settings like that where you really see what he’s about, which is, basically, that he’s the same no matter the situation. He’s just a phenomenal person.”

“Personally, I love hanging out at Bay Hill, just to be around Arnie. What a lovely man,” Daniel Chopra, another two-time winner, said. “The first time I met him, it was like he was so much larger than life. It was like meeting John Wayne. It has nothing to do with records and such. It’s who he is. He is approachable, and he makes everyone around him feel good. Just a regular guy, and that is his charm.”

According to Goydos, there’s one additional legitimate reason to journey to Bay Hill in late March. “What do we play for that week? (The purse is $6 million.) That’s not even close to what Arnold Palmer has done for us and for the game,” Goydos said. “More than anything, you just want to go there and play well and then be able to say thanks. Really, you can’t thank him enough.”

For tickets to the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard or for more information, log on to the tournament website, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill Club ticket office at 407- 876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 09:16 AM

Trump, Rahr Give $350,000 to Palmer Hospital

February 26, 2009

Arnold Palmer took philanthropists Stewart Rahr and Donald Trump on a tour of the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies in Orlando and the two prominent business executives presented him with a $350,000 check for the Children’s Hospital in return.

“Arnold, you should be really proud,” said Mr. Trump after flying in from New York for the visit. “This is a great hospital. The world needs to know about this place.”

Added Mr. Rahr, CEO of Kinray Inc., a major pharmaceutical distribution firm: “Donald and I both made this possible. I hope it helps.”

Rahr previously donated $400,000 to the Arnold Palmer Hospital through a charity event in which he purchased a round of golf with Mr. Palmer.

“We appreciate the generosity of both Mr. Trump and Mr. Rahr and their support of our mission to provide state-of-the-art, specialized care for our patients,” remarked John Bozard, the president of the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, which supports both hospitals. “Their donation will touch the lives of many children and families.”

Mr. Palmer concurred, stating that “I am most appreciate that these two very busy business executives accepted my invitation to come to Orlando for this visit and am particularly grateful for their extremely-generous contribution.”

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is a 158-bed facility in Orlando dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. The hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit arnoldpalmerhospital.com for further information.

Posted by scurry at 04:18 PM

ORLANDO'S SIGNATURE SPORTS EVENT GIVES BACK WITH SPECIAL COMMUNITY OFFERS

-- The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard Offers Free Entry to Military and Discounted Entry to College Students --

ORLANDO, Fla. (February 26, 2009) — The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is one of Central Florida’s signature events and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting some of the greatest talent in golf.  This year, they are offering an opportunity for military personnel to experience the tournament for free, while giving college students a day at the tournament for only $20, less than half the price of a one-day ticket.

Thanking them for their service to the country, military personnel will receive free entry any day, all day.  And, giving them a special discount, current college students can attend the tournament for only $20 on College Day, Friday, March 27.  To take advantage of this offer, military simply need to present their ID to pick-up a ticket when parking onsite at Bay Hill March 23 - March 25, and when parking at Universal Studios tournament parking March 26 - March 29.  Students will need to show a current student ID at Universal Studios tournament parking on March 27 to purchase their ticket.

“It is a core tradition for the tournament to give back to the community,” said Tournament Director Scott Wellington.  “This opportunity for students and military to attend is yet another example of Mr. Palmer’s unending commitment to Central Florida, especially in difficult economic times.”

Along with these offers, all youth (under 17) are admitted free with a paid adult on Monday, March 23, to watch the Pro-Am action live.  Additionally, at 4:30 p.m., they will have the opportunity to observe the Coca-Cola Junior Golf Clinic held at the driving range featuring a PGA TOUR Pro.

There are also several different ticket package options ranging from $45 for a one-day adult ticket, to $95 for a weeklong grounds badge, or $300 for weeklong prime greens viewing and access to the tournament, Bay Hill Clubhouse and Palmer Pavilion.  Additional badges and group packages are also available.  Individuals who purchase their tickets using a MasterCard receive a 5 percent discount on their total purchase.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will celebrate its 31st year of exceptional golf on March 23-29, 2009 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge.  Tickets can now be purchased online at ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com, by phone at 866-764-4843 or 407-876-7774, or in person at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Ticket Office at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. 

About the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will hold its 31st annual tournament March 23-29, 2009.  As one one of Central Florida’s signature events, the tournament is a premier sporting event and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting some of the greatest talent in golf.  The entire event is overseen and directed by one of the game’s all-time greats — Arnold Palmer.  Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

Posted by scurry at 11:28 AM

COUNT BIRDIES TO HELP BABIES IN NEED OF CRITICAL CARE

-- Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation Launches Birdies for Babies Fundraising Program in Partnership with the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard --

ORLANDO, Fla. (February 26, 2009) — The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is one of Central Florida’s signature events and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting some of the greatest talent in golf.  This year, they are offering an opportunity for military personnel to experience the tournament for free, while giving college students a day at the tournament for only $20, less than half the price of a one-day ticket.

Thanking them for their service to the country, military personnel will receive free entry any day, all day.  And, giving them a special discount, current college students can attend the tournament for only $20 on College Day, Friday, March 27.  To take advantage of this offer, military simply need to present their ID to pick-up a ticket when parking onsite at Bay Hill March 23 - March 25, and when parking at Universal Studios tournament parking March 26 - March 29.  Students will need to show a current student ID at Universal Studios tournament parking on March 27 to purchase their ticket.

“It is a core tradition for the tournament to give back to the community,” said Tournament Director Scott Wellington.  “This opportunity for students and military to attend is yet another example of Mr. Palmer’s unending commitment to Central Florida, especially in difficult economic times.”

Along with these offers, all youth (under 17) are admitted free with a paid adult on Monday, March 23, to watch the Pro-Am action live.  Additionally, at 4:30 p.m., they will have the opportunity to observe the Coca-Cola Junior Golf Clinic held at the driving range featuring a PGA TOUR Pro.

There are also several different ticket package options ranging from $45 for a one-day adult ticket, to $95 for a weeklong grounds badge, or $300 for weeklong prime greens viewing and access to the tournament, Bay Hill Clubhouse and Palmer Pavilion.  Additional badges and group packages are also available.  Individuals who purchase their tickets using a MasterCard receive a 5 percent discount on their total purchase.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will celebrate its 31st year of exceptional golf on March 23-29, 2009 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge.  Tickets can now be purchased online at ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com, by phone at 866-764-4843 or 407-876-7774, or in person at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Ticket Office at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. 

About the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will hold its 31st annual tournament March 23-29, 2009.  As one one of Central Florida’s signature events, the tournament is a premier sporting event and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting some of the greatest talent in golf.  The entire event is overseen and directed by one of the game’s all-time greats — Arnold Palmer.  Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

Posted by scurry at 11:25 AM

IMMELMAN SIGNS ON FOR HIS SEVENTH

February 25, 2009

Masters champion Trevor Immelman has never missed the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard since coming to America to play full-time, and Immelman confirmed his seventh consecutive appearance Tuesday with his official commitment to the PGA Tour.

The 3lst annual Arnold Palmer Invitational will be held March 23-29 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. Tiger Woods is the defending and five-time champion at Bay Hill. Woods also was the runner-up by three strokes to Immelman in the 2008 Masters.

“Besides the majors, there are some tournaments everyone would like to win in their careers. The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of those, because of the tournament’s namesake and the tremendous golf course,” said Immelman, now ranked No. 25 in the world. “I have been at Bay Hill every year since I started playing regularly in America, and one of these years I want to be there at the end for Mr. Palmer to shake my hand. That would be a moment to remember.”

Palmer and Immelman share a Masters distinction. Immelman’s 75 in buffeting winds, gusting to 35 miles an hour on the last day, matched Palmer’s score from 1962 for the highest final round by a Masters champion. Immelman tied for 48th in the 2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational despite his 64 in the second round. His best finish at Bay Hill was his tie for ninth in 2007, when he shot 66 in the first round. He tied for 46th in 2004 and missed the 36-hole cut in his other three appearances.

The 29-year-old South African posted his first American victory in 2006 in the Cialas Western Open and entered 2009 with PGA Tour career earnings over $9 million. He also has six international victories plus the 2003 World Cup with South African teammate Rory Sabbatini.

For tickets or more information on the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876- 7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 09:05 AM

HARRINGTON LEADS THE WORLD TO BAY HILL

February 19, 2009

Padraig Harrington, the 2008 PGA Tour Player of the Year, made his commitment Wednesday to play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

When the dates were moved forward two weeks to March 23-29, Tournament Director Scott Wellington predicted a stronger field of international players for the 31st annual event at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.

"I was delighted when I saw that the Arnold Palmer Invitational was two weeks before the Masters, because it fits my schedule perfectly. I have played the tournament only twice, early in my career, but I look forward to returning," said Harrington, the 37-year-old Irishman who won last year's British Open and PGA Championship.

"The admiration which the players have for Arnold Palmer and the character of the golf course make the tournament one of the most respected on the PGA Tour. I look forward to playing Bay Hill, which offers a tough challenge with an exciting finish – the 16th, 17th and 18th holes make up one of the toughest finishes in golf."

Harrington, currently No. 3 on the World Ranking, is the highest-ranked player who has not competed in the tournament in recent years. He tied for 50th at Bay Hill in 1998 and missed the cut in 2000. His commitment opens the possibility that the Arnold Palmer Invitational could feature all the top-10 players in the world. The other nine have competed at Bay Hill regularly or at least as recently as 2007 or 2008.

"Padraig obviously has been on our wish list," Wellington said. "We have always had one of the best fields of players in the world, including most of the highest-ranked players. But this year we should have more players who have not previously included us on their schedules, and we hope to get several more highly-ranked players."

Harrington has 17 career victories worldwide, including five on the PGA Tour. He won the Honda Classic and Barclays Classic in America in 2005, and claimed the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie for his first major championship and the first by an Irishman in 60 years.

Last year Harrington repeated in the British Open at Royal Birkdale then won the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills. He was the first European to win back-to-back major titles, the first European since James Braid in 1906 to win consecutive British Opens, and the first European since Tommy Armour in 1930 to win the PGA Championship.

His first victory was in the 1996 Spanish Open. He has been among the top three European money leaders for seven of the last eight years and won the Order of Merit in 2006.

For tickets or more information on the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 09:00 AM

SOME VICTORIES MEAN MORE THAN OTHERS

February 18, 2009

A champion golfer will tell you that winning any tournament is memorable and rewarding, for many reasons, one of the most prominent being that victories are so difficult to attain. They also are likely to say that some mean more than others.

Players who have won the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard are inclined to agree that claiming victory at Palmer's robust Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, ranks among the most special of their careers. It is not just the prestige the invitational event carries that makes this a coveted crown, but also the experience of receiving a trophy from the tournament's namesake, the Hall of Fame player known as "the King."

"I played the PGA Tour for 12 1/2 years before I broke through, and to have my first win at Arnold's event, and to have Arnold Palmer hand me the trophy, was about as meaningful as it can get for a first-time winner, or, I think, for anyone," said Loren Roberts, who won the 1994 and 1995 titles. "I was emotional about it, truly emotional. We all know what he's meant to the game. We all know what he stands for, and his tournament, by extension stands for the very best of the game of golf, plain and simple."

If anyone holds his victory at Bay Hill more dear than Roberts, it might be Paul Azinger, the 1993 PGA champion and the captain of the victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team. Azinger was a member of the Brevard Junior College golf team when he went to work as a summer counselor and instructor in 1979 at the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. The eight weeks at Bay Hill literally altered his prospects as a golfer.

"I was on the C Team at Brevard at the time, and I had never broken 70 in my life up to that point. I just wasn't a very good player," Azinger recalled. "But living at Bay Hill, working with kids, playing the course every day, it really changed me. I went out and broke 70 later that summer, moved up to the A Team, then I got a scholarship to Florida State University, where I played for one year. Six years later I was the PGA Tour Player of the Year (in 1987). How about that?"

Yes, how about that?

But there's even more to the story. Azinger was heading out to the West Coast in early 1988, and a magazine story drew his ire; the gist of the piece was to question whether or not the Florida native was a fluke. He arrived at Bay Hill with the question still dogging him, even though he had posted five top-25 finishes in his first seven starts. He quieted the doubters with a five-stroke victory over Tom Kite.

"That was a huge deal for me, just a gigantic win," Azinger said. "I kind of got that monkey off my back. The fact that I used to work there, and then to win, was really a neat thing. And then to have Arnold standing there with me ... that was the topper to it all. So, yeah, it was a very big deal."

Others who conquered Bay Hill would agree. Andrew Magee, the 1991 champion, has said that only the major championships carry more cachet than the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Paul Goydos considers his 1996 triumph "as good as a major." Two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, who captured the 1993 title, said Palmer's tournament ranks among the finest in golf simply because of its host. Chad Campbell lists among his career highlights the 2005 edition, when he not only captured his second PGA Tour trophy, but also had the honor of playing with Palmer in the first two rounds of what was the King's final appearance as a competitor.

"When you win a tournament that has the name of Arnold Palmer on it, obviously, it's going to be special. It means a lot," says Ernie Els, the 1998 champion. "I've been very fortunate. I've won tournaments hosted by Arnold, Byron Nelson and Jack Nicklaus and you feel those have a little bit more to them.

"You also have to look at the golf course; that is one tough place," Els added with a grin. "You're never going to scrape it around there and expect to do well. It asks a lot of your game there. It keeps you on your toes, and at the end of the week, if you're the winner, you know you've earned it."

One of Kenny Perry's 10 victories since turning 40 came at the 2005 Arnold Palmer Invitational, and he admits it took some of his best golf to register his two-stroke victory over Vijay Singh and Graeme McDowell.

"Bay Hill is a tactician kind of golf course," said Perry, who won the FBR Open in February. "You really have to navigate around all the problems, and you have to hit it good and be smart at the same time. Normally the rough is very tough and the greens are firm. The year I won, I hit more fairways than anybody else. I drove it great, and that's what you have to do because that sets up everything else.

"That was a special week," Perry added. "I played so well, and when you get in that position in an event that means something to you ... you try not to think about it. You start to think about what it means to win Arnold Palmer's tournament and you could mess up real quickly. And then to have him standing out there with that big sword ... getting the trophy from him, that was magical stuff."

The 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard is scheduled for March 23-29, the final stop on the PGA Tour's Florida Swing. Tiger Woods is the defending champion of the premier invitational event that features 120 of the game's best players from around the world.

For tickets or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 09:35 AM

GEARING UP FOR MORE GREAT GOLF

February 11, 2009

Host Arnold Palmer relishes new date, expects great field for 31st annual PGA Tour tournament that bears his name

He is nearing his 80th birthday and doesn't play golf quite as much as he used to, but Arnold Palmer still has a passion for the game, still wants to give back to it and still enjoys talking about it, especially when the tournament that bears his name is one of the topics.

"My mind never strays too far from the game. It's what I love, and it's something that has given me great joy and satisfaction through the years," Palmer said. "If you want to talk about golf, I'm always a willing participant. And that's true in regards to anything else related to golf, be it playing, watching or hosting a golf tournament."

On that last score, Palmer is pulling double duty in 2009. Having just recently served as host for the 50th Bob Hope Classic in Palm Desert, California, the legendary leader of Arnie's Army now is gearing up to host the 31st annual Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. The invitational tournament contested at Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, has a new slot on the PGA Tour calendar, being played March 23-29 as the anchor tournament in the Tour's Florida swing. Palmer, now age 79, is expecting another strong field as the tournament moves to a position just two weeks before the Masters Tournament, the year's first major championship.

"I like the new dates, and it could make our field stronger, although we've always enjoyed having great fields," said Palmer, winner of 62 PGA Tour titles, including seven professional major championships. "I think being two weeks before the Masters, that's something new to talk about, and I like it, obviously. I'm optimistic that we'll have a great event."

Could the new dates warrant a change in golf course setup?

"I think we'll want to speed the greens up just slightly to give the guys a feel for faster greens," Palmer said. "Since we're closer to the Masters, we want to justify guys coming here to not only compete, but also to get ready to attack Augusta. By and large the course will be about the same as it has been, a very good test."

The Champion Course at Bay Hill Club, converted in 2007 to a par-70 layout, plays to 7,157 yards with fast fairways lined by three inches of rough, and firm greens. Tiger Woods is the defending champion after sinking a 25-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to score a one-stroke victory over Bart Bryant and win Palmer's tournament for the fifth time.

"It will be tough to top that finish," Palmer said enthusiastically, "but every year brings something pretty exciting. We have had great tournaments, and we are expecting another great one this year. The golf course is the best it's been in a long time. I'm pleased with how it's shaping up. I think the players will enjoy it."

One of the premier stops on the PGA Tour, the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard traditionally draws one of the strongest fields among golf tournaments from around the world. In addition to Woods, still rehabbing his knee after reconstructive surgery last summer, other past champions who could return include Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Fred Couples, Kenny Perry, Chad Campbell, Tim Herron, Rod Pampling and Paul Goydos.

For tickets to the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the ticket office at Bay Hill at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 04:16 PM

Palmer Chosen for Southern Conference Inaugural Class of 10

January 29, 2009

The Southern Conference, once the home of most Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference schools, chose Arnold Palmer among its inaugural Hall of Fame class of 10.

"We're extremely proud of this announcement, one that's been 88 years in the making," league commissioner John Iamarino said. "The achievements of this first group of inductees are truly remarkable."

Palmer, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, played at Wake Forest from 1948-50 and 1953-54. He was the NCAA's stroke-play medalist in 1949 and 1950, helping the Demon Deacons win the 1950 SoCon title. Palmer won the Southern Conference championship in 1948 and 1949. As a pro, Palmer won seven major championships, including four Masters.

Others named to the hall were Jerry West of West Virginia; Sam Huff of West Virginia; Dick Groat of Duke; Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice of North Carolina; Frank Selvy of Furman; Adrian Peterson of Georgia Southern; Melissa Morrison Howard of Appalachian State; Valorie Whiteside of Appalachian State; and Megan Dunigan of Furman.

Others named to the hall were Jerry West of West Virginia; Sam Huff of West Virginia; Dick Groat of Duke; Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice of North Carolina; Frank Selvy of Furman; Adrian Peterson of Georgia Southern; Melissa Morrison Howard of Appalachian State; Valorie Whiteside of Appalachian State; and Megan Dunigan of Furman.

Posted by scurry at 04:21 PM

Interview with Arnold Palmer from the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic

January 20, 2009

MARK STEVENS: We'd like to welcome Mr. Arnold Palmer to the media center for the 50th Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Mr. Palmer is the host this year. He actually won the very first Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 1960. Of his 62 TOUR wins, he has won five times at the Hope after playing in 42 of the 50 events here. And he actually won the last of his 62 events right here at the Hope in 1973. We're going to start out and have Mr. Palmer give a few general comments about coming back this year as the host and then we'll open the floor up to questions. Thank you very much.

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, good morning and nice to see you all on this Inauguration Day and to be here. As you know, I keep reasonably busy with my various jobs that I have around and to be here for the hope this year is a great pleasure. And it's a particular pleasure since a good friend of mine, Ernie Dunlevie has also been 50 years at this tournament.

I think one of the things that always attracts me is the fact that the golf courses here in the desert are pristine. They are all always in such great condition and the conditions for playing are so good.

Other than that, and seeing a lot of my old friends that I haven't seen a lot lately, it's fun. It's fun for me to be here and to be a part of this this year.

MARK STEVENS: Okay. Thank you. We have a microphone over here. So please make use of those.

Q. Good morning, Mr. Palmer.

ARNOLD PALMER: Good morning.

Q. Can you talk about the good feelings you have when you come back here? Is that more than just the fact that you won the golf tournaments here?

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, yeah, the feelings are wonderful. As I say, seeing a lot of my old friends and being able to talk to them and have a drink with them and just watch what is going on and kind of comparing from the first Classic to this one, and seeing all the things that have happened is fun. It's fun for me and I've been reminiscing quite a lot, just at the various clubs and seeing the various people that I am seeing.

Q. What's the biggest change that you've seen in this tournament? Is it the gallery or what?

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, one of the things is the press. The press is far more represented here now than it was in the first one. And the galleries certainly I think in 1960 you could have probably shot a gun off and not hit anybody. But it has steadily increased from that first one and certainly I think that's something that is very important. I think the fact that the tournament and the prominence of the tournament has increased rather dramatically over the last 50 years.

Q. How would you describe the state of your golf game right now and do you play much and do you wish you could play more?

ARNOLD PALMER: I do not play much. I play occasionally in the Bay Hill Shoot out. I played yesterday about 12 holes and my back got sore and I quit. So that is one of my serious considerations when I play, the fact that I have a bit of a back problem and can't seem to shake it off. It doesn't prevent me from doing most of the things I want to do, but it does have a radical affect on my golf game. And my golf game is not good. Occasionally I hit a good shot and I'm like the every day golfer that goes out and walks up the 18th hole and all of a sudden he hits a shot or makes a putt and can't wait to get back the next day. But it is not competitive any more for me.

Q. I know this is, you've been going near to this day of not being able to play very much, but does that make you sad?

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, it makes me sad that I can't hit the golf ball the way I once did. That is a very sad situation mentally for me. When I play with some of my friends, amateurs or pros, and compare, it's hard to take. But I enjoy it. And I do it because of the friends that I have and the people that I enjoy being out there with.

Q. I'm wondering if you were able to watch the Inauguration or the oath this morning and even if you weren't, what your thoughts on that were.

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, I watched it. I watched Obama take the oath and I watched most of his remarks. And I thought they were fine. I think he's starting out pretty good. He's got a pretty rough task in front of him. And I hope he can stick with it. I hope that he can go down the middle as he has indicated he might and get some things done.

Those of us in the golf business are feeling a pretty radical affect on our business in the game. It doesn't matter whether it's selling equipment or whether it's building golf courses, or whether it's sponsoring golf tournaments.

Q. Back in the day this tournament used to drawing most of the best players on TOUR, in recent years there have been a lot of players who have passed it up, what's changed about that do you think?

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, that's a tough question because I understand where you're coming from with the question and how to answer it without getting into a crossfire is difficult. It's been so very good for all of the players, the people who are out here playing and I would just hope that they would understand that they need to support the tournaments as much as they possibly can. I was a player and I knew and I know that you can't play every week. But when I hear some of the reasons for not playing it disturbs me a little. And they do need to get out and support the events. I suppose like everything else, if there's a dramatic reduction in tournaments, they will then understand and maybe they will support them a little more than they do.

Having been a player and having the experience of understanding what it means to play and be supportive is very, very important.

Q. In your prime, obviously every tournament on TOUR would love to have had you in their field. And yet you know you couldn't play every week. How do you balance the demands of some of the top players who are in such demand with their need to make sure they have some time off?

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, you can't, there's not a way that you can predict or know what the top players are going to do. Certainly some players start out with a routine and they stick with that routine throughout their career.

On the other hand, a lot of the players will play every week or as much as they can. I used to try to spread my tournament appearances so that I never missed a tournament more than two years in a row. If I missed it, I tried to go back the next year. Tournaments like the Hope, of course I played every year because I just simply enjoyed being here and the conditions under which we were playing.

But in my early years and when I was playing pretty well I was playing somewhere close to 30 tournaments a year. I mean that was hitting it pretty strong.

Q. Slightly frivolous question, what advice do you have for somebody who is 80 years old and just beginning to play golf?

ARNOLD PALMER: I don't know anybody 80 years old who is just beginning to play golf. (Laughter.)

I knew what you were saying. (Laughter.)

Q. I'm looking for a free lesson.

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, I would probably give them the same advice I take personally, since I'm almost 80 years old and I still go out and practice and hit the ball and I enjoy that. Sometimes I actually enjoy more hitting and practicing than I do playing. So I do that a lot. And that would be my advice to someone that's 80 years old.

Q. I'll bet you can break 120 though.

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, it's getting difficult to do that. I know. I understand. But hitting balls and working at your game, even though you're not maybe taking it to the course is something that is enjoyable, it's enjoyable for me.

Q. I'm wondering if you had ever talked to George Lopez about the last, previous two years about his experiences hosting this and then maybe if you feel like this tournament needs for the foresee able future another of course you can't have another Bob Hope, but somebody to really be established as the host of this for 10 years, 20 years, whatever. Do you think this tournament needs that?

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, I have not talked to George, so I can't talk about that. I suppose that because of Bob Hope and the fact that he was such a great host and provided a lot of interest in the tournament that that's probably the type of thing that they're looking for here. And hopefully they will find someone that will be able to do that.

Q. You talk just a little bit about the experience of playing in the pro am and that, I assume you met some friends, made some lasting friendships and the fun of it all.

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, that of course was part of what I enjoyed. And I have to say that even though that becomes a detriment to some of the players playing with the amateurs, I found that it was pretty enjoyable. And today I still have many friends who I met here playing in the pro am. And they're good friends. And in addition to that, some of them were people who had the wares for my association business wise. And that has worked out extremely well over the years, even though I haven't played in a number of years, the friendships and the business associates that I have made through this tournament have been extremely valuable.

Q. From what you know about Tiger Woods, do you expect him to come back as good as ever and how much of a bonus would it be if he came back and played at your tournament?

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, first of all, I don't think there's any question about the fact that he is capable and will be capable of taking up where he left off. I think that's, in my mind, that's a foregone conclusion, that he will be just as good or better than he was.

What would it mean if he came and played at Bay Hill to defend it? It would mean a great deal if that was his first event back, which is certainly, let's say, possible. We would love to have him do that. And it would call attention to my tournament and the fact that he is the defending champion.

I think that the most recent situation is that he will come and he will be back and what tournament he chooses, who knows. I don't know. Unless and there's one other circumstance that could kind of foil the whole thing, and that is that he might become ambassador to some country in the world, now that he is, he was at the Inauguration and he played a reasonable role in that. So he may get appointment from the President, who knows.

Q. Kind of off subject, but I assume that you were pleased with the results of the football game on Sunday.

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, you don't know what you just said. Or you do know what you just said, but you don't know how that affects me. Because both football games I had a very keen interest in. One, the Steelers have been a team that I have rooted for since I knew what a football was; and the other thing is that Arizona, who happens to have a coach that is a very good friend of mine, and also a scratch player, golfer, you didn't know that, he is a very good player, and he is the offensive, was the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. And we played some golf when he was there.

So I had a definite interest in those games and since I was forced to make a choice for the coming Super Bowl, I will, I don't mind telling you, unless you know already.

Q. No.

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, every year they have a poll and I won it a couple years ago right when I was here. And this year I've made my selection and reluctantly, however, but I'm picking the Steelers 28 14 over Arizona.

Q. When you remember winning here the first one of these, what specific memory comes to mind?

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, I think that as I mentioned earlier, one of the things that I enjoyed so much here was the conditions. The golf courses from day one have been excellent. Excellent playing conditions. And of course the people, the gallery. In the early days, I knew everyone in the gallery.

(Laughter.) Well almost.

(Laughter.)

And that hasn't changed too much over the years. But those are the things that stand out. As I said, playing Indian Wells and Eldorado and Bermuda Dunes, that was fun. And the golf courses were ideal.

Q. In the spirit of Inauguration Day I'm wondering if you can talk about which Presidents you've played golf with and maybe who you had the most fun playing golf with.

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, I've had the good fortune to play golf with quite a few Presidents. Jerry Ford was a good, he was a personal friend. Oh, you could almost name it from there. I think the man that I spent the most time with on the golf course and personally was President Eisenhower. I played a lot of golf with him, I played exhibitions with him for the Heart Fund, and after a number of years when he was told he shouldn't play golf any more, we used to just visit. And I, when he lived at Eldorado I would go there to his house and we would spend a couple hours in the afternoon just talking and maybe sipping on a beer or something like that. So he and I were, I would say, very close. He was one of my close friends.

MARK STEVENS: Okay. Well, thank you, Mr. Palmer, for being here for the 50th anniversary of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

ARNOLD PALMER: Thank you.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports ...

Posted by scurry at 03:24 PM

Arnold Palmer to Attend the KPMG Golf Business Forum

January 15, 2009

Arnold Palmer, one of the world's most recognized sportsmen, iconic golfer, business executive and talented golf course designer, will attend the sixth annual KPMG Golf Business Forum to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Arnie, as he is affectionately known to sports fans across the globe, was voted 'Athlete of the Decade' for the 1960s, a time when his popularity and success reached heights never seen before in world sport. Before, during and after that great decade, he amassed 92 championships in professional competition, including seven Majors. He also participated in seven Ryder Cup Matches, six times as a player, successfully captaining the side in 1963, and again as a non-playing captain in 1975.

On May 5, Arnold Palmer will be recognized for his lifetime commitment to the business and the game of golf and will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in front of an expected audience of more than 300 international industry professionals at The Celtic Manor Resort, Wales, venue of the 2010 Ryder Cup.

"Arnold Palmer is not only one of the world's greatest golfing legends, he is also an icon of today's international golf business," said Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG's Golf Advisory Practice in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMA). "Arnold's presence at the 2009 Golf Business Forum will make this year's event exceptionally special and we are privileged not only to be able to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to him in person, but also to have the opportunity to hear insights from one of the golf industry's pioneers and most revered businessmen."

The Golf Business Forum, which has established itself as the leading golf business event for the EMA region (Europe, The Middle East and Africa), will this year focus on topics relating to financing, development, golf tourism, and design, and will include interactive panel discussions, country focus sessions, key-note presentations from industry experts, and an array of networking opportunities.
For more information about the Golf Business Forum, visit: www.golfbusinessforum.com

Posted by scurry at 04:19 PM

Picture Gets Clearer With GOLF CHANNEL -- Now in High Definition

January 07, 2009

Reprising his role when GOLF CHANNEL originally launched in 1995, co-founder Arnold Palmer officially launches the network’s new HD channel to help kick off its coverage of the 2009 PGA TOUR season. (Photo credit GOLF CHANNEL/Mark Ashman)

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 7, 2009) –  GOLF CHANNEL’s exclusive coverage of the first three PGA TOUR events of 2009 in high definition is merely a tip of the cap to the network’s newly launched HD channel, which will bolster the network’s schedule with more than 2,100 total HD hours of tournaments, original programming and news this year.

The tournament season kicks off Thursday with the exclusive telecast of the Mercedes-Benz Championship from the picturesque Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii, which will air for the first time in high definition.  GOLF CHANNEL will then stay in the islands for the PGA TOUR’s Sony Open in Hawaii, the Champions Tour’s Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai and the LPGA Tour’s SBS Open at Turtle Bay, all shown in HD for the first time.

GOLF CHANNEL HD and its standard definition channel will simulcast more than 100 tournaments in 2009 featuring many of the world’s best players like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Lorena Ochoa.  These players, among other stars, will appear in GOLF CHANNEL’s HD coverage of full-round PGA TOUR events plus all early round and weekend lead-in action from spectacular venues, such as the TPC at Sawgrass and Pebble Beach Golf Links.  HD coverage also will include some of the biggest events in golf like the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, as well as The Presidents Cup and Solheim Cup – two continental clashes that have become major events on the golf landscape.  And viewers will travel around the world with a generous slate of European PGA Tour events in HD.

"Golf benefits from HD more than almost any sport.  For the first time, GOLF CHANNEL HD viewers will be able to fully appreciate the stunning beauty of Hawaiian courses like at Kapalua and Turtle Bay or at Scotland's Loch Lomond,” said GOLF CHANNEL President Page Thompson. “With the incredible picture quality and wider screens, HD viewers will be able to immerse themselves more fully in the strategy of the game, now seeing the full scope of the rolling terrain and the subtle contours of the greens that are so difficult to perceive in standard definition."

Bolstering GOLF CHANNEL tournament coverage this year will be technical features designed to enhance the HD viewing experience, including the Emmy Award-winning Mutual of Omaha Putting Line powered by AimPoint graphics technology, which shows viewers where a golfer must start his putt in order to hole it at the optimum speed and the path the ball must follow.

Complementing live golf action, GOLF CHANNEL also will feature more than 125 original hours of news in HD.  Live From will generate news coverage from golf’s major championships, including the Masters, U.S. Open and PGA Championship, as well as marquee events like THE PLAYERS Championship, The Presidents Cup and Solheim Cup.  

Original Programming Produced in HD

Rounding out GOLF CHANNEL’s HD portfolio will be a host of original programming.  New series like the unpredictable Hank Haney’s Project Barkley (working title) or the thought-provoking Golf in America will be produced in HD.  In addition, Big Break Prince Edward Island will be the first Big Break to air in HD, along with specials such as Uneven Fairways and Nicklaus Around the World.

GOLF CHANNEL’s dedicated HD channel reaches nearly 16 million homes across the United States.  Research has shown that viewers that have HD are twice as likely to watch GOLF CHANNEL and other live sports on TV, especially the PGA TOUR.

The dedicated HD channel is yet another milestone for GOLF CHANNEL. Since launching in 1995, the network has set the gold standard for other niche cable start-ups and is now available in more than 120 million homes worldwide through cable, satellite and wireless companies.

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For more information contact, GOLF CHANNEL Public Relations, 407/355-4653

Posted by scurry at 09:06 AM

PALMER COURSE SELECTED BEST IN CHINA

October 31, 2008

A golf course designed by Arnold Palmer Design Company – Beijing Cascades – has been selected as the "Best New Course in China 2007-2008" by Golf Magazine China.

"It’s very nice to be recognized as doing the best work in China right now. We intend to maintain that reputation with our work there in the future," said Arnold Palmer about the No. 1 designation.

The design of the 18 holes at Beijing Cascades Country Golf Club began in May 2005 and the 7,272-yard, par-72 golf course opened in 2007. The location is in Beijing’s Chaoyang District, on Dongwei Road.

Arnold Palmer Design reached the Chinese capital three decades after Palmer reintroduced golf to that country. Palmer's Chung Shan Hot Spring design in southern China in the 1980s was the first new golf course in the country in more than half a century and touched off China’s still-on-going golf boom.

A private golf club for members only, Beijing Cascades features deluxe villas designed by DFS Architects of Canada and a top-notch clubhouse which includes a swimming pool, restaurant, cafeteria, pro shop, business center, meeting rooms and guest rooms.

Beijing Cascades takes its name from the breathtaking scenes of cascading water to be found on the property. Clear lakes, winding bridges and manicured gardens may also be seen.

An additional nine holes at Beijing Cascades have been designed and are currently under construction. The new holes should be open next year, and Palmer promises they will be "just as stunning as the first 18."

Work is also underway on a new Arnold Palmer Design course in Kunming, China, and should be completed next year.

Posted by scurry at 05:45 PM

Palmer Honored at United States Navy Memorial's 2008 "Lone Sailor" Awards Dinner

October 01, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. [October 1, 2008] – Sports legend and Coast Guard veteran Arnold Palmer was honored last night for his service to country and community at the United States Navy Memorial’s 2008 “Lone Sailor” Awards Dinner. Joining Mr. Palmer were honorees A. G. Lafley, Chairman and CEO of Procter and Gamble and former Navy Supply Corps Officer; and Congressman Norm Dicks (D-WA), currently serving his 16th term of office and member of the Appropriations and Homeland Security Committee. John McConnell, recently deceased founder of Worthington Industries, was also recognized posthumously. The black tie gala was held at The National Building Museum, 401 F. Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

Palmer was honored with the Lone Sailor Award, given to Sea Service veterans who have distinguished themselves in their respective careers while exemplifying the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. He joins an impressive list of men and women who have distinguished themselves by drawing upon their military experience to become successful.

For further information on the U.S. Navy Memorial and the Lone Sailor Awards Dinner, visit www.navymemorial.org, or call (202) 737-2300.

(l-r) Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, presenter at the 2008 Lone Sailor Awards Dinner, with sports legend and Coast Guard veteran Arnold Palmer and Rear Adm. Richard A. Buchanan, USN (Ret.), President and CEO of the United States Navy Memorial, at the September 30 gala benefit in Washington, DC.

Posted by scurry at 02:30 AM

EXCITEMENT IS THEME AS TICKET SALES START FOR 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard

September 03, 2008

With its latest dates ever – two weeks before the Masters – expectations are high as ticket sales begin today for the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

The API will be played on the week of March 23-29, the same slot on the PGA Tour schedule occupied until two years ago by The Players Championship and last year by a World Golf Championship event. Those tournaments attracted large numbers of highly ranked players from the World Ranking, playing their way to Augusta.

The 2009 Masters will be on the week of April 6-12.

Tournament Director Scott Wellington said: “We have always had one of the best fields of players in the world, according to the World Ranking, including most of the highest-ranked players. But we believe next year we will have more depth of players who previously have not included us on their schedules.

“We also hope we will get several more higher-ranked players.”

This will be the 31st year of the PGA Tour event which started in 1979 at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. The latest tournament dates previously were March 22-25, 1990, and the earliest dates were February 26-March 1, 1981.

The 2009 API ticket brochure features defending champion Tiger Woods and the theme line for the year: “The Signature of Excitement.” – a reminder of Woods and his fist-pumping finale in 2008, when he holed a rousing 24-foot putt on the final green to win by one stroke. Woods posted a pair of 66s on the weekend for a 270 total, 10 under par, and his fifth professional victory at Bay Hill.

“No one knows when Tiger will return, but with Tiger here the excitement would be over the top. Regardless, we believe we will have one of our best fields ever,” Wellington said. For tickets to the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the ticket office at Bay Hill at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 12:06 PM

BACK NINE AT CHERRY HILLS: THE LEGENDS OF THE 1960 U.S. OPEN

March 19, 2008

NEW YORK, March 17, 2008 – HBO Sports has begun production on BACK NINE AT CHERRY HILLS: THE LEGENDS OF THE 1960 U.S. OPEN, a documentary that recounts the unforgettable finish of the 1960 U.S. Open Golf Championship, it was announced today by Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports. Examining the historic changing of the guard that took place as ambassadors of golf’s past, present and future – Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus – battled down to the wire at Cherry Hills Country Club, the hour-long presentation debuts WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO, the evening before the world’s top players tee off at the 108th U.S. Open Golf Championship.

“This is an incredible story in a sport that we’ve never previously explored at HBO,” said Greenburg. “The 1960 U.S. Open was much more than just a historic golf tournament. The golf that was played and the athletes that performed at Cherry Hills nearly 50 years ago represented the very essence of the emerging sport. You had three generations of stars in Hogan, Palmer and Nicklaus. Each had a unique relationship with his father and each grew up in a different era, yet there they were, fighting it out on the back nine at the U.S. Open.”

While the story reaches its climax on the final holes at Cherry Hills Country Club in suburban Denver, the path each of these sports icons took to this historic juncture is equally important. BACK NINE AT CHERRY HILLS: THE LEGENDS OF THE 1960 U.S. OPEN spans the early years of the three, all of whose lives were shaped by their relationships with their fathers. Ben Hogan’s Texas boyhood was tragic: His father committed suicide when Ben was nine years old, leaving him to struggle with his “demons” through the Depression and war years, determined to make something of himself as a pro golfer. Arnold Palmer, the Pennsylvania blue-collar groundskeeper's kid who constantly sought his father’s approval, was not allowed to mingle with the country club kids, but his strength and charisma brought him early success playing golf in post-war America. Jack Nicklaus, the exceptionally talented country club kid from Ohio, had a loving, friendly relationship with his pharmacist father during the prosperous years of the Eisenhower 1950s.

The special story of these three great men battling to the wire at Cherry Hills transcended the world of sports. Besides capturing the sheer excitement of the tournament, the documentary will illuminate the sporting landscape that Hogan, Palmer and Nicklaus helped shape, and reveal the mood of the country that watched as these men changed their profession forever.

Famed sportswriter Dan Jenkins called this remarkable event “too big, too wildly exciting, too crazily suspenseful, too suffocatingly dramatic. What exactly happened? Oh, not much. Just a routine collision of three decades at one historical intersection. On that afternoon, in the span of just 18 holes, we witnessed the arrival of Nicklaus, the coronation of Palmer and the end of Hogan.”

High-profile interviews include: golfers Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ken Venturi and Dow Finsterwald, and author and former Sports Illustrated writer Dan Jenkins.

The Dallas Morning News has written, “HBO is the undisputed champion of sports documentaries.”

The executive producers of BACK NINE AT CHERRY HILLS: THE LEGENDS OF THE 1960 U.S. OPEN are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; producer, Margaret Grossi.

For more information, please visit http://www.hbo.com/events/usopen/

Posted by scurry at 06:56 PM

Palmer to Receive GCAA Lifetime Achievement Award

November 12, 2007

Golf legend to be honored at Hall of Fame Banquet Jan. 14

NORMAN, Okla. — Arnold Palmer will be honored with the GCAA Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual Hall of Fame Banquet Jan. 14 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Fla. In addition, Palmer will become only the third non-coach inducted into the GCAA Hall of Fame.

“I am certainly looking forward to receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Golf Coaches Association of America,” said Palmer. “I consider it a particular honor inasmuch as my golf at Wake Forest played a major role in leading me into my career in professional golf. I have kept in close touch with collegiate golf through the years and was very pleased to lend my name to the Palmer Cup when it was founded a decade ago.”

Besides the magnificent performance record, Palmer’s magnetic personality and unfailing sense of kindness
and thoughtfulness to everybody with whom he comes in contact have endeared him to millions throughout
the world and led to the informal formation of the largest non-uniformed “military” organization in existence -- Arnie’s Army. Seven of his victories came in what the golfing world considers the four major professional championships. He won the Masters Tournament four times, in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964; the U.S. Open in spectacular fashion in 1960 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver and the British Open in 1961 and 1962. He came from seven strokes off the pace in the final round in that U.S. Open win and finished second in four other Opens after that. Among the majors, only the PGA Championship eluded him. He finished second in the PGA three times. Palmer was also a two-time NCAA medalist, in 1948 and 1949, while at Wake Forest.

The golfing great has been the recipient of countless honors, the symbolic plaques, trophies and citations scattered throughout his personal, club and business worlds, the epitome coming in 2004 when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush at a White House ceremony. He has received virtually every national award in golf and after his great 1960 season both the Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year trophies. He is a charter member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and a member of the American Golf Hall of Fame at Foxburg, PA, and the PGA Hall of Fame in Florida. He is chairman of the USGA Members Program and served as honorary national chairman of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation for 20 years. He played a major role in the fund-raising drive that led to the creation of the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women in Orlando in the 1980s. A long-time member of the board of directors of Latrobe Area Hospital he staged a major annual fund-raising golf event for that institution for six years that led to the formation of the Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation.

The GCAA’s marquee event, The Palmer Cup presented by Monster, is named in Palmer’s honor. The annual
event between the top college players in the United States and Europe was first played in 1997 and has become one the the most widely respected amateur events in the world. Additionally, the national championship medalist in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, as well as the NAIA, or honored with the Arnold Palmer Award presented by Callaway Golf.

Palmer joins Karsten Solheim and Byron Nelson as previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

- GCAA -

For Immediate Release
Contact: Dustin Roberts
Golf Coaches Association of America
(405) 329-4222
http://gcaa.collegiategolf.com

Posted by scurry at 02:51 PM

ArnoldPalmer.com Named Best

September 22, 2007

Wins prestigious web award from the Web Marketing Association

In the eyes of many golf-loving Americans, Arnold Palmer is the greatest. Now, at least in the eyes of one prestigious panel of award-bestowing experts, so is his website.

ArnoldPalmer.com was recently named one of the Web Marketing Association’s Best Web Sites of 2007. The Palmer site, which is anchored by a daily timeline item harkening back to a corresponding news item from Palmer’s vivid and colorful past, was one of just 96 winners selected from 2,400 entries from more than 40 countries.

For Palmer, who celebrated his 78th birthday on September 10, a lifetime of earth- and airborne achievements has notched a first in yet another realm, the internet.

“Yes, this is the first time I’ve ever won a web award!” he says. “I couldn't be happier that ArnoldPalmer.com was chosen as one of the best. It's the one place where all the fans can go to instantly learn everything that might interest them about our charities, my history, our businesses, Kingdom Magazine, the outstanding golf courses we’ve built and what's new in our world.”

Organizers said entries were judged on design, copy writing, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation, and use of technology. Teams of independent Internet professionals representing a variety of relevant disciplines of web site development weighed each entry. Judges included members of the media, advertising executives, site designers, creative directors, corporate marketing executives, content providers and webmasters.

The WebAward competition format allows Web sites to compete head to head with other sites within their industry to win the Best of Industry and Standard of Excellence awards. Here’s the award and here’s the announcement.

The Web Marketing Association (http://www.webmarketingassociation.org) works to create a high standard of excellence for web site development and marketing on the Internet. Founded by the Web Marketing Association in 1997, when the letters “www” still looked like a sloppy typo, the WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks for the best web sites.

If you’ve never had the opportunity to immerse yourself in www.ArnoldPalmer.com, now's the time.

Because it’s only here at ArnoldPalmer.com that will you learn the surprising connection between Arnold Palmer and Tony Soprano, and why you’d be a wise guy to listen to Palmer’s astute Super Bowl picks. It’s here where you can read about the day in 1970 that Johnny Carson tabbed the golfer to be his “Tonight Show” stand-in, and it’s here where you’ll learn just what insights U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts sought from Palmer the Spring 2007 day after the golfer dined with The Queen.

ArnoldPalmer.com is what happens when old school goes high tech. This is what happens when one of the most storied lives -- not just in golf, but in all America -- is given the most lavish and loving consideration that only a medium like the world wide web can bestow.

And it’s all right here, fresh and new everyday, all the insight, warmth and glory. It’s a virtual cornucopia of Palmer knowledge and trivia that, until now, couldn’t be contained between the covers of even the most voluminous biographies.

“I'm proud of the team that's taken advantage of this fantastic medium to give the fans such an excellent high-tech umbrella for everything that's going on in our world,” Palmer says. “I hope fans will check it out. I don’t think they’ll be disappointed.”

Posted by crodell at 09:57 AM

ARNOLD PALMER JOINS GOLF DIGEST AS PLAYING EDITOR

June 13, 2007

Magazine’s Exclusive All-Star Roster Already Includes Nicklaus, Woods, Sorenstam, Mickelson, and Watson

NEW YORK—Golf legend Arnold Palmer has signed a long-term agreement with Golf Digest to serve as an exclusive Playing Editor. The announcement was made today by Jerry Tarde, Chairman and Editorial Director of Golf Digest Publications, a division of Condé Nast Publications.

Through the agreement, Palmer will contribute bylined instruction and feature articles exclusively to Golf Digest. Palmer officially joined the Golf Digest staff with the magazine’s June issue and was the subject of the popular “My Shot” interview—which appears as part of the magazine’s U.S. Open Preview section.
“Golf Digest and I share the same values in our desire to give back to the game and belief that golf fans come first,” said Palmer. “Golf Digest is the No. 1 golf publication in the world. I’m excited to be part of the team and help people play golf better.”

“Adding Arnold Palmer to our staff marks a milestone in the history of Golf Digest,” Tarde said. “Arnold joins Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, Phil Mickelson and Tom Watson as exclusive contributors to the magazine—pretty much wrapping up the greatest champions, current and past, alive today.”

In addition to the players mentioned above, Golf Digest’s elite roster of Playing Editors includes Ernie Els, Johnny Miller, Nick Price, Justin Leonard and David Toms. Golf Digest also has a number of renowned teachers on staff, including Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter and Hank Haney.

Arnold Palmer was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. He is fourth on the PGA Tour all-time win list with 62 victories, including four Masters, two British Opens, one U.S. Open and one U.S. Amateur.
Golf Digest is part of Condé Nast Publications and is the largest and most widely read golf publication in the world. Condé Nast Publications, a unit of Advance Publications, includes twenty-eight consumer magazines and their websites, eight uniquely branded websites, the Fairchild Fashion Group, Parade, the Condé Nast Media Group, and the Shared Services Centers.

# # #

Media Contact
Andrew Katcher (212) 630-2488

Posted by scurry at 12:19 PM

Wyndham Worldwide Launches Sweepstakes, Ad Campaign Featuring Arnold Palmer

May 28, 2007

PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Global hospitality company Wyndham Worldwide is launching a blockbuster marketing program including sponsorship of a PGA TOUR golf tournament, a national TV campaign featuring golf legend Arnold Palmer, and the Wyndham Foursome Sweepstakes, all designed to introduce consumers to its unparalleled range of accommodations.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/wyndham/28495/

Building upon its title sponsorship of the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, NC (Aug 13-19), Wyndham Worldwide also is introducing its first- ever national advertising campaign, an on-site presence at TOUR events, Internet promotion and, at most of its 6,000-plus U.S. properties, a Wyndham Championship in-room video promoting tune-in to the Tournament broadcast.

"We are very excited about this fully integrated approach to educate consumers about our hotel, rental and vacation ownership brands," said Steve Holmes, Chairman and CEO of Wyndham Worldwide. "We have been a public company for under a year and have already established a strong presence as a major force in the travel industry, giving consumers a wide range of choices in lodging, vacation rental and vacation ownership. The launch of a national advertising campaign is an important step in the evolution of Wyndham Worldwide as a powerhouse in leisure travel."

Wyndham Worldwide and Palmer signed an exclusive marketing partnership to develop Arnold Palmer Golf Holidays by Wyndham. Wyndham Vacation Ownership is developing a signature line of Palmer-branded travel products featuring select golf destinations throughout the United States. The vacation packages will be made available to current and prospective Wyndham timeshare owners and will include a wide selection of activities appealing to all levels of golf enthusiasts.

"Playing good golf is the goal of every person who's ever picked up a golf club, and the fact that they can use it as an excuse for a vacation is something that I think is wonderful," commented Palmer.

"Partnering with Arnold Palmer, a legend known around the world as one of the game's most beloved champions, is a tremendously incredible opportunity for us," said Wyndham Vacation Ownership President and Chief Executive Officer Franz Hanning. "Golf has always been among the most popular activities to enjoy while on vacation and this initiative enables us to showcase a wide selection of activities to our more than 800,000 owners and also appeal to golf enthusiasts seeking a world-class vacation experience."

Palmer will also be featured in a national television advertising campaign promoting the Wyndham Foursome sweepstakes that will award four travel packages. The campaign debuts during this week's telecast of the Memorial Tournament on the GOLF CHANNEL and CBS and will feature Palmer encouraging viewers to enter for a chance to win one of four prizes: an Orlando Golf package including five days of instruction at the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy, a week in the Caribbean at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort in St. Thomas, a week in a country home in Ireland, or a week-long California road trip.

In addition to the promotion with Palmer, Wyndham is using its significant distribution channels to raise awareness about the tournament and promote tune-in to the broadcast:

- At hundreds of locations across Wyndham's 10 hotel brands, an in-room video with commentary from Palmer will promote tune-in to the Wyndham Championship, the concluding tournament to the PGA TOUR Regular Season that determines final player seedings heading into the first-ever PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. The video will air between June 1 and August 19th. - Callers to any of Wyndham's multiple toll-free reservation lines who are put on hold will hear a message from Arnold Palmer inviting them to tune in to watch the Wyndham Championship. - The home pages of all individual brand Web sites as well as WyndhamWorldwide.com will have a click-through banner promoting the sweepstakes as well as a link to the Wyndham Championship site. - Several hotel brand print ads will include a snipe promoting tune-in to the broadcast. - Wyndham Vacation Ownership will have an onsite presence at 10 PGA TOUR Events to drive sweepstakes entries and promote the many benefits of vacation ownership.

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world's largest hospitality companies. Wyndham Worldwide offers individual consumers and business-to-business customers a broad suite of hospitality products and services across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges through its premier portfolio of world-renowned brands. Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses almost 6,500 franchised hotels and over 539,000 hotel rooms worldwide. RCI Global Vacation Network offers its more than 3.4 million members access to over 60,000 vacation properties located in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of approximately 150 vacation ownership resorts serving over 800,000 owners throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. Wyndham Worldwide, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., employs more than 30,000 employees globally.

ATTENTION MEDIA: Consumers can access the digitized downloadable file at: http://www.wyndhamworldwide.com/media_center
Wyndham Worldwide

CONTACT: Lisa Burby, Vice President Communications of Wyndham Vacation
Ownership, +1-407-921-7775 (cell), +1-407-370-5146 (office),
lisa.burby@wyndhamvo.com; Chris Smith, Director of Public Relations for PGA
TOUR Business, +1-904-273-3379, csmith@pgatourhq.com; Betsy O'Rourke, SVP
Marketing & Communications of Wyndham Worldwide, +1-301-332-6530 (cell),
+1-973-753-7422 (office), betsy.o'rourke@wyndhamworldwide.com

Web site: http://www.wyndhamworldwide.com/media_center
http://www.wyndhamworldwide.com/

Published May. 28, 2007
Copyright © 2007 SYS-CON Media. All Rights Reserved.

Posted by scurry at 11:55 AM

Continued Refinements at Bay Hill Club

January 30, 2007

Founder and host approves change to par-70 layout
For Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard

Ceaseless in his love for and devotion to the game of golf and tireless in his efforts to make one of the best PGA TOUR events better, Arnold Palmer continues to make refinements to his Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida, in preparation for the 2007 edition of his tournament, which has been renamed the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

While only minor adjustments have been made to Palmer’s prized layout since Rod Pampling’s victory last year, players may find the scoring dynamics a bit different. That’s because the Championship Course will be adjusted down to a par-70 configuration for this year’s 29th edition March 12-18, though it remains par 72 for the membership. Two par-5 holes, the fourth and 16th, are being converted to par-4s, though their yardage won’t change much; the fourth will measure about 480 yards while the 16th will be close to 500 yards. The course’s overall yardage of 7,267 won’t be diminished appreciably.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a few years now, and I figured it was time, simply for the way the game is progressing along,” Palmer says. “You look at how they approach certain holes … most of the guys are hitting irons into 16. It’s playing as par-4 anyway. So I thought we should take a look at this. I think this will make it more interesting for the overall tournament in relation to par.”

Other adjustments to the golf course are of a cosmetic variety. Most prominent is a renovation of the bunkers. The edges have been cut, which makes them slightly larger and gives them a cleaner look. New white sand has been installed for consistency of appearance as well as playability. The remainder of the layout, from the denseness of the rough to the speed of the greens, is being cultivated for optimum playing conditions.

Palmer’s Bay Hill course has always been one of the top challenges on the PGA TOUR. With its humps, mounds and bunkers protecting large, firm greens, and its broad fairways lined by thick rough, the Championship Course presents a series of difficult but fair holes. Last year, amid placid playing conditions, Bay Hill ranked in the middle of the pack on the PGA TOUR in terms of difficulty, with the field averaging 72.225 strokes.

“The golf course is probably as good or better than ever,” Palmer says. “I say that every year, and every year I think we manage to make it a little bit better, a little more challenging. I think the players will find it in great shape and provide the kind of test that a golf course should. If you take care of the golf course first then everything else sort of falls into place.”

For tickets to the 2007 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill Club ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

Posted by scurry at 04:49 PM

Golf Digest Celebrity Invitational

November 17, 2006

Golf Digest magazine hosted its second annual Golf Digest Celebrity Invitational at the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles on November 6, 2006 to benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Hosted by Arnold Palmer and in support of Arnie’s Army Battles Prostate Cancer, the event featured musicians and celebrities from TV and film paired with amateur golfers. Twenty-five celebrities participated, including Richard Schiff, Peter Gallagher, Richard Karn, Dougray Scott, Joe Mantegna, Engelbert Humperdinck and Kenny G, who was recently named No. 1 in Golf Digest's ranking of the "Top 100 in Music." Marty Rubino, a cancer survivor with a 25 handicap, had a hole in one and won a 2007 Porsche Cayenne. Ketel One, endorsed by Mr. Palmer, was one of the event sponsors.

The event helped raise nearly $200,000 for prostate cancer research.

Posted by scurry at 02:51 PM

Make a Purchase You Will Feel Really Good About

November 16, 2006

Arnold Palmer, Samsung and CompUSA have teamed up to benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children has been helping to heal children from Central Florida and around the world for more than 17 years. And now you can help too.

During November and December, when you purchase any Samsung mobile phone or select Samsung IT products at any CompUSA store, a portion will be given back to the Arnold Palmer Hospital. Or you can help by purchasing special donation coupons online at www.compusa.com/fourseasonsofhope or at any CompUSA location.

Since great causes run in the Palmer family, you can also participate in an auction to benefit the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Children & Babies. Click here to start bidding and helping.

To find out more about the hospital, visit www.arnoldpalmerhospital.org. To learn more about Arnold Palmer, visit www.arnoldpalmer.com. And for more information about Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope, visit www.fourseasonsofhope.com. Because a little help can make a big difference.

Posted by scurry at 03:39 PM

Palmer, Grandson Set for Father/Son Challenge

November 15, 2006

Arnold Palmer and his grandson, Sam Saunders, will team up for the fourth time in this year's Father/Son Challenge tournament the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 3, at ChampionsGate Golf Resort near Orlando, Florida. Saunders, a freshmen at Clemson University, is a scratch amateur, who was a medalist in last year's U.S. Junior Amateur at Longmeadow Country Club in Massachusetts.

The annual Del Webb Father/Son Challenge, which features a 36-player field comprised of 18 PGA TOUR or Champions Tour professionals and their son or daughter, is entering its 12th year and NBC Sports will televise the event nationally.

The unique 36-hole scramble format makes this event one of the most renowned and affable Challenge Season events in golf, as evidenced by the legendary players that are a part of the showcase. In order to be eligible, all of the fathers must have won a major championship on the PGA TOUR.

The teams will play for the prestigious Willie Park Trophy replica belts named in honor of the winner of the first British Open in 1860, in addition to a $1,085,000 purse.

This year’s tournament activities begin with a two-day pro-am on Thursday, Nov. 30 and Friday, Dec. 1. The 36-hole event, played under a scramble format, will be Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3. NBC will televise the event on both days.

Posted by scurry at 04:53 PM

STONEHOUSE PUBLISHING INKS LICENSING DEAL WITH THE “KING”

October 09, 2006

World Class Panoramic Golf Course Photographer Patrick Drickey to Immortalize ‘Arnie’s Greatest Moments and Greatest Course Designs”

Omaha, NE —Stonehouse Publishing Company announced today that it has become an official licensee of Arnold Palmer Enterprises and, as such, will create a signature line of prints commemorating the King’s greatest moments in golf. In addition, Stonehouse will have the right to use Palmer’s authentic and lithograph signature and brand logos on prints featuring courses such as Bay Hill, Pebble Beach and Latrobe County Club.

Stonehouse will create a series of prints utilizing its trademark panoramic golf course photography to capture Palmer’s major championship victories at the Open Championship, U.S. Open and PGA Championship venues. Great courses such as Cherry Hills, Royal Birkdale and Royal Troon will be spotlighted in the collection. The prints will be available on www.stonehousegolf.com, www.arnoldpalmer.com and through select On and Off Course golf retailers.

“It is an honor to develop a line of Stonehouse prints that celebrates a legend the likes of Arnold Palmer, and we are thrilled to be working with him and his team” said David Vogrin, President of Stonehouse Publishing. “We are confident the Palmer series will rekindle memories of Arnold’s triumphs with members of his Army, and create an interest with younger fans that did not have the chance to witness one of golf’s most exciting players firsthand.”

The newly executed deal is for the period of three years, and Stonehouse expects to release the first of the Palmer series on November 1st in time for the 2006 holiday season.

To check out the entire Stonehouse portfolio, visit www.stonehousegolf.com. Stonehouse panoramic golf course prints range in size and price from the 9” x 15” framed Miniature Edition, available for a suggested retail price of $45.00, to the 30” x 50” framed Ltd. Edition bearing Mr. Palmer’s authentic signature for a suggested retail price of $1,999.99. For more information on Arnold Palmer’s businesses visit www.arnoldpalmer.com.

About Stonehouse Publishing, Co.
Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Stonehouse Publishing, Co. was founded in 1995 by Photographer Patrick Drickey to deliver “the fine art of golf” to consumers. Stonehouse Publishing goes to great lengths to ensure that each of its panoramic images of the finest golf holes in the world are shot in the perfect light and from the golfer’s perspective. All of the Stonehouse Publishing prints are printed and assembled by hand in the United States. To view the Stonehouse collection first-hand and for more information on the company, visit www.stonehousegolf.com.

About Patrick Drickey
Patrick Drickey is a Pioneer of Panoramic Golf Course Photography and his portfolio includes images from the world's great destination and championship courses, including Whistling Straits, Pebble Beach, Pinehurst and many others. His panoramic format is ideally suited for vividly capturing the scope and breadth of a golf course and his 25 years of experience as an architectural and landscape photographer apply well as a golf course artist. While capturing light and landscape is important, Patrick’s attention to the reproduction of each image is unsurpassed. He personally oversees the preparation of every fine art lithograph and collector watercolor rendition. These reproduction processes are very rare and far more costly than usual photographic reproductions that are mass-produced, but the results are self-evident. Patrick is the founder of Stonehouse Publishing, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.

Posted by scurry at 02:07 PM

Funds Sought for Palmer Airport statue

September 01, 2006

The Latrobe Foundation is conducting a fundraising drive to raise $35,000 to erect a statue of Arnold Palmer to grace the terminal entrance of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Palmer's hometown.

Contributions of $1,000 or more will be displayed with the contributor’s name adorning a plaque at the base of the statue. Contributions of $100 or more will have their names embossed on golf balls that will be used to construct a towering “Wall of Balls” near the statue.

Tax deductible contributions can be sent to the Latrobe Foundation, Palmer Statue Project, P.O. Box 143, Latrobe, Pa. 15650-0143. Be sure to write “Palmer Statue Fund” in the memo portion of the check.

Posted by crodell at 01:27 PM

Arnold Palmer to Attend Ryder Cup in Ireland

August 08, 2006

Arnold Palmer will fly to Ireland in late September to attend to course design business and spend time at the prestigious Ryder Cup as it is played in Ireland at the K Club course outside of Dublin that he and his associates designed in 1991. Palmer, who is the second most productive point-maker in U.S. Ryder Cup history, has not been on hand for Ryder Cup competition since his second captaincy in 1975 at Laurel Valley in his native Western Pennsylvania.

The legendary golfer is anxious to see how the cream of the American and European crop of pros handle the highly-regarded, parkland-style course, which his company fine-tuned for owner Michael Smurfit after the most prestigious international team competition was awarded to Smurfit and Ireland for the first time several years ago. The Ryder Cup will be played on the Palmer course, part of the 36-hole complex at the magnificent K Club resort, on September 22-24. Although the United States leads in the biennial event, 24 wins against nine defeats and two ties, the Americans have lost four of the last five meetings and have not won in Europe since a victory in England in 1993.

On the business side, Palmer will attend activities connected to two Arnold Palmer Design Company projects - St. Lucia in the eastern Caribbean and White Oak in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and make a site visit and attend a reception for Milverton, a new course being developed in Ireland. These bring to nearly 300 the number of courses designed by the Palmer company world-wide over the last 35 years.

Palmer will pilot his Cessna Citation X on its non-stop flight to Ireland, landing in Shannon for the business commitments before moving on to Dublin for the Ryder Cup.

Posted by dgiffin at 03:23 PM

NEW TOURNAMENT LOGO FEATURES SIGNATURE, UMBRELLA

June 07, 2006

Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard Highlights Classic Symbols Associated With Tournament’s Legendary Host

The new logo of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard, unveiled today by tournament director Scott Wellington, combines two classic symbols of Arnold Palmer – his looping, easy-to-read signature and his trademark multi-colored umbrella logo.

“His signature is arguably the most recognizable in all of sport, and we obviously wanted something that said Arnold Palmer. There was no need to reinvent the wheel,” said Wellington.

The PGA Tour event, which has been played since 1979 at Palmer’s Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida, most recently was known as the Bay Hill Invitational. MasterCard became the presenting sponsor in 2004. Invacare, Hertz and UBS are associate sponsors of the tournament.

“The new imagery captures the style and sophistication of someone who has done so much for the game of golf,” said Alan Heuer, COO, MasterCard International Incorporated. “As an organization, MasterCard is even more proud to help bring to golf fans the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard – and to be such an integral part of its new look and moniker.”

The Arnold Palmer signature and the umbrella logo are both recognized worldwide as signs of excellence, not only of a famous professional golfer, but also for quality merchandise.

Palmer takes pride and great care in his signature, saying, “I have always felt very strongly that if someone thinks enough of me that they want my autograph, I should provide one that they can read. Very little irritates me more these days than to see the illegible autographs that some people give out.”

The umbrella idea came from Palmer in a 1960s brain-storming session with his business manager, the late Mark McCormack, other lawyers and marketing experts. The focus of the meeting was on the need for some unique golf article as a logo. “How about an umbrella?” Palmer interjected. “A golf umbrella.”

Everyone agreed that the umbrella was one piece of golf equipment not claimed by someone else, and after clearance through a trademark search, the Arnold Palmer logo became the four-paneled, multi-colored umbrella, always tilted to the right, that has been promoted ever since on products and clothing around the world.
.
Palmer has told the story of registering at a hotel not too many years ago in Hong Kong, and signing his name. “The clerk looked at it and beamed widely at me and said, ‘Ah, you bring more Arnold Palmer shirts!’” Palmer related. “For a moment I was confused, and then it came to me. He had no clue that Arnold Palmer was in fact a golfer.”

The new name for the tournament was announced on March 8 by PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, who said at the time, “We have been discussing the possibility of a name change with Arnold and his family … Arnold has been the face of the tournament for a number of years, and it makes sense that it bears his name to honor his countless contributions to the tournament and to the PGA Tour.”

Palmer said then, “It has been a matter of great pride for me when my name was placed on an entity of one sort or another over the years, but I can’t think of anything that brings me more pleasure and satisfaction than having it on the tournament that has meant so much to me for so long.”

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is scheduled in 2007 for March 15-18. The defending champion will be Rod Pampling, and other past winners include Tiger Woods (four times), Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Kenny Perry, Fred Couples, Payne Stewart, Paul Azinger, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, and Fuzzy Zoeller.

NOTE: FOR LOGO ART, PLEASE CONTACT DONNA ADAMS, 407-876-2888
OR EMAIL dadams@arnoldpalmerinvitational.com

Posted by scurry at 11:22 AM

Jack and Arnie: Talkin' Golf with Jim Nantz

June 02, 2006

Shortly after this year's Masters, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer sat down with Jim Nantz for a chat. With cameras rolling, they reminisced about their head-to-head battles and their relationship for 1 hour 40 minutes.

The plan was to turn the conversation into a half-hour show to air on CBS. Instead, "Jack and Arnie: Talkin' Golf" will be two half-hour shows, the first airing Sunday at 10:30 a.m. before the final round of the Memorial tournament and the second airing July 2.

The Royal Bank of Scotland, which employs Nicklaus as a spokesman, bought the airtime.

CBS is promoting the interview as a first.

"Arnold and I have been together lots of times, and obviously we've talked lots of times," Nicklaus said Thursday. "But we've never put together any kind of show for posterity.

"I think it's kind of neat that we did it. I don't know why it hadn't been done before. But, by gosh, it hadn't been, so it was time to do it."

The show displays a warm connection between these two golf legends, even though there have been reports over the years that they didn't get along.

"I think that, frankly, comes from the press," Nicklaus said. "I don't think the press ever really worries about the facts. Never let the facts interfere with a good story."

"Arnold and I have been friends. Sure, we've had our differences. Absolutely. I mean two guys don't walk around in euphoria all day long. I mean, we were obviously competing, and when you compete you have issues."

"But if I ever needed anything, I know Arnold would be there for me, and I think Arnold knows that if anything ever happened to him, I'm there for him."

"There were a lot of nice things that Arnold did for me when I first started on the [PGA] Tour that he certainly didn't have any reason to do."

Nicklaus equated the rumors about Palmer and him with those about a rift between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

"I heard when I was Presidents Cup captain [last year] that there was bad blood between Phil and Tiger. The first day I get there, Tiger and Phil say, 'Hey, come on, let's play some ping pong.' Two guys playing ping pong and having a good time, laughing, kidding each other. Is that bad blood?"

Sunday's show begins with Nicklaus talking about the first time he saw Palmer, on a Tuesday before an Ohio Amateur. Nicklaus was 14 at the time, and after his round, despite a heavy rain, Nicklaus stood and watched Palmer on the driving range for half an hour.

Says Nantz: "You didn't know he was stalking you back then, did you, Arnold?"

Nicklaus, 66, and Palmer, 76, continue in a similar vein, often poking fun at each other, as they talk about their many battles, beginning with the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills in Colorado.

Near the end of Sunday's show, Nicklaus talks about the final round of the 1964 Masters.

"I'll never forget that round," Nicklaus says. "I played with Dave Marr. Dave and I ended up tying for second, and Arnold, you won by six shots, I think."

Says Palmer: "You didn't play with Dave Marr."

Nicklaus: "I didn't?"

Palmer: "Nope. I played with Dave Marr because I remember this very well."

What Palmer remembers is a conversation he had with Marr on the 18th tee.

"I said, 'David, is there anything I can do to help you?' I knew you and he were going at it for second place."

Palmer says he was surprised by Marr's response.

"He said, 'Yeah' -- and he used a word that I won't repeat -- 'you can make 12 on this hole.' "

It appears as though Palmer and Nicklaus had fun getting together to do this show, and viewers should enjoy watching it.

Posted by scurry at 01:29 PM

It's Arnie's Place in Name and Spirit

March 16, 2006

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem confirmed that the Bay Hill Invitational will be renamed after this week to become the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

"We are particularly excited about this development for the future of the tournament here at Bay Hill," Finchem said. "Arnold, of course, is inextricably related to this championship. He created it. He and Jack Nicklaus created the PGA Tour; I often say, if it wasn't for Arnold, I wouldn't have a job."

Palmer founded the Bay Hill Invitational 27 years ago, when it was named the Bay Hill Citrus Classic. Under Palmer's guidance, the tournamenthas evolved into one of the Tour's premier events.

The name change occured after a suggestion by Palmer's daughter, Amy Saunders. Finchem concurred and made the change official. Importantly, I think what's happened here with the development of the tournament under Arnold's tutelage is very special," Finchem said. "It is one of those things that's a part of the texture and the fabric of the PGA Tour."

The name change is, in a word, a formality as Palmer has been the overseer of the tournament since he moved the event across Orlando from Rio Pinar to the Bay Hill Club in 1979.

"If it can be what I had hoped this tournament would be over the years, I'll be very happy for it," Palmer said.

When asked if we can expecct his comeback in the first-ever Arnold Palmer Invitational, Palmer responded, "I won't have any problem with that at all. I can promise you that. So it's pretty easy for me to say I will not miss trying to play."

Regarding his opinion of the condition of the course for this year's event, Palmer put it bluntly, "I suppose that the bottom line for our purposes is that the golf course is the best this year that it has ever been."

Players will notice that the rough is precariously deep, but the fairways are not narrower from regular member play. Palmer has allowed the rough to grow to 3 1/2 inches, topping it off last Sunday. It will not be mowed throughout the tournament. According to Palmer, the greens and fairways have responded to off-season treatments very well and the length of the golf course is unchanged. The greens will be running "a modest 11 or 12 on the speeds."

"We have kept it muc the same as it has been over the past few years," he said. "We haven't really tried to change the character of the golf course." Palmer takes great care not to trick up his prized golf course, leaving the classic layout alone for the membership, while providing the professionals a demanding challenge.

"Well, I really have to analyze the situation and look at it from all aspects of the game of golf," Palmer said. "One of the things we continually try and do is grow the game, and grow it not for the professionals necessarily, certainly in their interest, but grow the game for the people who go out and play the game and enjoy playing it."

So far, Palmer's plan for Bay Hill has worked even though the average driving distance on the Tour has risen over the past few years with the advancement of equipment technology.

"Last year, I was very happy with the consistency of how the golf course was treated by these long hitter, 12-under-par," he said. "If we can keep in that area, that doesn't change much in 50 years; it's still running around the same number."

Bob Byman won the first Bay Hill tournament with a 278 total in 1979.

It's a delicate balance, but one Palmer pays close attention.

"So I have to look at it from the point of view that I love the game and I don't want to ruin it for the guys who go out and shoot 80 or 85," He said. "I want them to be able to enjoy it and I want them to feel like they can go out and improve their games just like the professionals can improve theirs."

The game is in good hands with Palmer and renaming the tournament will remind us all of that.

Posted by scurry at 08:32 AM

Bay Hill Event Being Renamed to Honor Arnold Palmer

March 11, 2006

Will Become Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard in 2007

ORLANDO, FL – PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem announced today that the TOUR’s Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard is changing names after this year to honor its longtime host, World Golf Hall of Famer Arnold Palmer.

Beginning in 2007, the tournament will be known as the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. It is held annually at Palmer’s Bay Hill Club.

“We have been discussing the possibility of a name change with Arnold and his family and how it would be an appropriate tribute to one of the game’s all-time great champions and ambassadors,” Finchem explained. “There was a strong sentiment to do this, and in the end we determined that it might as well occur sooner than later, particularly now that Arnold has consciously reduced his competitive playing schedule.

“Arnold has been the face of the tournament for a number of years, and it makes sense that it bears his name to honor his countless contributions to the tournament and to the PGA TOUR.”

“It has been a matter of great pride for me when my name was placed on an entity of one sort or another over the years, but I can’t think of anything that brings me more pleasure and satisfaction than having it on the tournament that has meant so much to me for so long,” Palmer said.

The tournament first was introduced as the Florida Citrus Open Invitational in 1966 at Rio Pinar Country Club in Orlando, before relocating to Bay Hill Club in 1979. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, which has been serving patients since 1989.

“The tournament name change is certainly most appropriate for the man who has changed the face of the sport over the last 50 years and continues to impact it on a daily basis,” said Tournament Director Scott Wellington. “This will do nothing but provide even greater awareness for our event, our loyal and dedicated sponsors, and Mr. Palmer's hospital and the Orlando community as a whole. We are tremendously excited about the future of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.”

“MasterCard is proud to be associated with Arnold Palmer, a man who has done so much not just for the game of golf but for the Orlando community. We look forward to many more priceless moments both on the course and at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children,” said Alan Heuer, Chief Operating Officer, MasterCard International.

About the PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to provide competitive earnings opportunities for past, current and future members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world.

In 2006, the three Tours will compete in nearly 120 events for approximately $325 million in prize money. Tournaments will be held in eight countries outside the U.S. and in 38 states.

In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant funds for local charities. In fact, the three Tours reached the $1 billion mark in overall charitable contributions in late 2005. The PGA TOUR's web site address is www.pgatour.com and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

About MasterCard International
MasterCard Incorporated is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a broad variety of innovative services in support of our global members' credit, deposit access, electronic cash, business-to-business and related payment programs. MasterCard, through its principal operating subsidiary, MasterCard International Incorporated, manages a family of well-known, widely accepted payment card brands including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus® and serves financial institutions, consumers and businesses in over 210 countries and territories. The MasterCard award-winning Priceless® advertising campaign is now seen in 105 countries and in 48 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope. For more information, go to www.mastercardinternational.com.

Posted by scurry at 01:38 PM

SAM SAUNDERS, ARNOLD PALMER'S GRANDSON, TO PLAY IN BAY HILL INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD

March 01, 2006

High School Senior Given Spot in Tournament Field

Eighteen-year-old Sam Saunders has caddied in the Bay Hill tournament for his grandfather.

Twice he has played in final rounds as a marker -- with Peter Jacobsen and Dicky Pride.

This year, Arnold Palmer's grandson, a high school senior and plus-four amateur, will tee it up on Thursday, March 16, as a bonafide member of the championship field of the 2006 Bay Hill Invitational Presented by MasterCard.

Tournament officials extended one of the 20 available special invitations to the BHI to Saunders just days after the son of Roy and Amy Saunders, Palmer’s daughter and son-in-law, won the men’s club championship on the tournament course by 17 strokes. It was the second Bay Hill title for the Trinity Prep student, who plans to pursue his education and golf career at Clemson University.

“Sam has displayed his talent through the past couple of years and this is an opportunity for a young man to get out and get some experience in the game that might not otherwise come his way,” Palmer said. “So, we’ll see how he does with the big boys. I think that will be great.”

Among Saunders’ golfing achievements to date, he won the Florida State High School championship as a junior, was medalist at last year’s USGA Junior Amateur, was local medalist and played in the 2004 U.S. Men’s Amateur at the Winged Foot Club, site of this year’s U.S. Open, and won several national junior events, including the prestigious Sawgrass Invitational. He first won the Bay Hill men’s championship when he was a 15-year-old high school freshman.

Posted by scurry at 07:06 PM

There's Nothing Easy for the Field at Bay Hill Invitational Presented by MasterCard

February 28, 2006

Palmer’s Bay Hill Club is a well-respected, enduring test

One measure of a great golf course is its enduring value as a meaningful test, regardless of the improvement of the players who take it on and the equipment with which they arm themselves. The Bay Hill Club, which has hosted the prestigious Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard since 1979, has proven through the years to be one of the more exacting examinations on the PGA Tour.

“Bay Hill is definitely one of the best courses we play, one I’ve always enjoyed. It tests every part of your game,” says defending champion Kenny Perry, who submitted a solid performance in posting a 12-under-par 276 total and a two-stroke victory over Vijay Singh and Graeme McDowell. “You have to work pretty hard for what you get there.”

Last year Bay Hill was the 10th most difficult course on the PGA Tour, with the field averaging 73.243, more than a stroke over par. Andy Bean set the course record of 62 in 1981 and Greg Norman equaled the mark in 1984. Bay Hill is one of just eight Tour layouts that has not seen a course record set or equaled since 2000, and at only two regular stops has the course record endured longer than at Bay Hill.

Accomplished architect Dick Wilson designed the Bay Hill Club in 1961, but the championship layout didn’t find its identity or earn its high reputation until tournament host Arnold Palmer began in 1989 to slowly, surely and smartly bring it up to modern standards and its current par-72 configuration of 7,267 yards. The broad-shouldered golf course features narrow fairways accentuated by humps, bumps and bunkers, and large greens with strong contours. While generally regarded as one of the best driving tests on Tour, the Bay Hill Club, consistently regarded as one of the best resorts in America, demands much more than good tee shots because of its intriguing green complexes with firm and fast surfaces, its dramatic doglegs, and the intelligent integration of water hazards that initiate numerous risk-reward decisions.

Having said that, those who have found success at Bay Hill have usually enjoyed a good week with the driver. “It's a wonderful golf course for a long hitter, if they are driving it well, because of the way it's shaped,” says Tiger Woods, who won four straight Bay Hill Invitational titles beginning in 2000. “The par fives are borderline for most guys. Guys who are long can probably take a go at most of the par fives. Some of the par fours, since they are doglegs, longer hitters can cut the corners and shorten them up quite a bit.”

“It’s hard to play out of the rough here,” says Chad Campbell, who ended Woods’ reign with his impressive six-stroke victory in 2004. “Everything is sort of set up by how well you drive it, and you definitely have a tough time scoring if you’re not in the fairways. That’s probably the biggest key.”

Long tee shots aren’t necessarily an advantage, at least not all the time, according to 1999 winner Tim Herron. “I think you have to shape it both ways. I think the holes really set up nice. You can kind of see them and visualize your shot, and move it around.”

As far as key holes to consider, two par fours, the first and the signature 18th are annually among the toughest holes on the PGA Tour. No. 1 is a dogleg left of 441 yards. The home hole, also 441 from the championship tees, is renowned for its kidney-shaped green that wraps around water. “Nos. 1 and 2, right from the start the golf course is really tough,” says Ernie Els, the 1998 champion. “Then you have Nos. 17, and 18, that tough green, and the rocks there, it’s a good finish.”

Another hole that causes sweaty palms is the 558-yard par-five sixth, a dogleg left that wraps around a lake. John Daly made 18 there in 1998. “You can ruin your round right there,” Els says. “You want to make birdie, but you also don’t want to hit it left. Anything left is like out of bounds. You got to tee it up from the tee again with that water. So that’s a key hole, a very big hole.”

Loren Roberts, who won back-to-back Bay Hill titles in 1994 and 1995, says the holes around the turn, Nos. 7 through 11, can determine the outcome if a contender plays them too loosely. “I think that’s the meat of the golf course,” Roberts says. “You can’t fall asleep because you can start making bogeys one after the other. But that’s pretty much true of the whole golf course. It’s just not a golf course you can attack. You keep it in play and make some putts, and just go about your business. Physically and mentally, it’s a real challenge.”

For tickets to the 2006 Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard, or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.bayhillinvitational.com, or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women.

Posted by scurry at 07:04 PM

Ernie Els, Fit Again, Readies for Another Bay Hill Invitational Presented by MasterCard

February 22, 2006

Arnold Palmer’s tournament a highlight in Big Easy’s schedule

Fully recovered from a knee injury that cut short his 2005 season, Ernie Els returns to the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard eager to resume his winning ways on the PGA Tour and revisit a layout that he enjoys and where he’s had some success. Traditionally drawing one of the strongest fields in the game, the Bay Hill Invitational, which is celebrating its 28th year, is scheduled for March 13-19.

Els, 36, who has a home in Orlando, was involved in a freak boating accident last July while on vacation and suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament to his left knee that required surgery. He did not play on the PGA Tour the remainder of 2005, but did play twice in his native South Africa in December, winning his second start at the
Dunhill Championship on the European Tour.

Returning again to Bay Hill, where he won in 1998, Els hopes to add to his 15 PGA Tour titles at one of his favorite venues. Nicknamed the Big Easy, Els won the storm-interrupted 1998 edition of the Bay Hill Invitational in a 36-hole showdown against Tiger Woods and Davis Love III. He separated himself from the field with a sterling third-round five-under-par 67, and despite a final-round 73, Els’ 274 total was good for a four-stroke victory over Jeff Maggert and Bob Estes.

“It was a great winning it at Bay Hill, because I was just a new resident there in Orlando,” Els recalls. “I had a lot of fans there from Lake Nona. Playing with Davis and Tiger. I think Davis, Tiger, myself, we were top three in the world then and we played 36 holes together there, so that was a really special one.”

It was also special because of Els’ relationship and personal history with the tournament’s host, Arnold Palmer.
“Arnold was so wonderful to me. I played with him in the 1992 PGA, and he told my agent at that time that he was going to invite me to his tournament,” Els recalls. “He wrote me a letter. He invited me out of the blue to come and play at his golf course. He has always been great towards me. He’s always been a friend of mine. I still have that letter, so that’s pretty cool.”

So were the spoils of victory. “I think getting the sword from Arnold, getting the jacket from Arnold, all that was great,” Els says.

Els, the No. 4 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, has won 10 of his 15 PGA Tour titles and 20 of his 42 international trophies after breaking through at Bay Hill. Since 2003 only Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have won more than the five titles Els has won on the PGA Tour. He missed last year’s PGA Championship because of his knee injury, but he hasn’t missed a cut in a major since the 1999 PGA while compiling 11 finishes of fifth or better, including the 2002 Open Championship at Muirfield, Scotland. He also has won two U.S. Open titles, in 1994 and 1997.

Els tied for 23rd last year on the 7,267-yard, par-72 Palmer-enhanced layout that is among the most challenging the game’s top players encounter all season. “It’s a good course, it’s a long hitter’s course, and I feel real comfortable there,” Els says. “The start is really tough, and the finish, 17 and 18 are very strong holes. But if you’re on your game there, you can make some birdies on the par-5s and take advantage of a few other holes. The rest is just play hard and try to make your pars.”

Els says his forced sabbatical was good for him on several levels, and that he’s ready to resume his chase for more victories, especially major championships.

“Obviously, when you have time off like that you can reflect and set goals, and I've had real time for myself and to be away from the circus, you know,” Els says. “I think all this time that I had off was very constructive for myself, my family, for my business, everything around. I have got things in place a lot better than I had them in the past. I've got clear goals again, I’ve got some energy again, and I'm looking forward to playing.”

For tickets to the 2006 Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard, or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.bayhillinvitational.com, or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Posted by scurry at 03:09 PM

Arnold Palmer Looks Forward to Another Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard

February 14, 2006

Legendary host pleased with course setup, potential field

No longer a competitor in the PGA Tour event he founded 27 years ago, Arnold Palmer nevertheless is eager to host another edition of the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard. The 76-year-old legend says that although he misses the competition, he has found his tournament an enjoyable enterprise simply by serving as its host.

"I always liked the challenge of playing. When you recognize that it's not fun to play when you aren't doing well, then you move on," Palmer said. "I had to come to that decision. But in other ways I enjoy the tournament as much as ever, and in some ways more so. I enjoy watching the golf, which I couldn't do when I was on the golf course. There are a lot of great players out there and it's fun to see how the course challenges everyone. I enjoy seeing the galleries and a lot of friends."

The 28th Bay Hill Invitational is scheduled for March 13-19 at Palmer's Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida. One of the premier stops on the PGA Tour, the Bay Hill Invitational traditionally draws one of the strongest fields among golf tournaments from around the world.

The defending champion is Kenny Perry, who became just the second man over age 40 to win the Bay Hill Invitational, joining Ben Crenshaw. Perry established a three-stroke lead after 54 holes and held on for a two-shot victory over Vijay Singh and Graeme McDowell.

Winner of 62 PGA Tour events, including seven major championships (four Masters, two British Open titles and one U.S. Open), Palmer continues to cut back his active playing schedule to focus on golf course design and other pursuits.

"I don't have many plans for golf this year," Palmer said. "There are people I work for, but I don't know that I will play in the events they sponsor (on the Champions Tour). I am considering it, but that's all. I'll be around. I'll always be around to promote the game; that won't ever change. But at this point I have no plans to play very much at all."

Over the years Palmer has turned the Bay Hill championship course into one of the most demanding on the PGA Tour with its thick rough and humps, mounds and bunkers protecting large, firm greens. In years past he has instituted changes here and there, some subtle and others quite dramatic. The par-72 course again stretches to 7,267-yards.

"We expect the golf course to be absolutely tip top," Palmer says. "There are really no changes from last year. Last year proved to be a good test of golf. The rough will be much the same as last year – not long but very intense, very full. It will put more of a premium on tee shots, which I like to see. The scores reflected the difficulty of the course last year, and the player who won it, Kenny Perry, he played very well to be able to win. It was an exciting finish, right down to the end. That's what you want."
"Everything we can control we like to control and we like to do our very best to put on a great tournament."

For tickets to the 2006 Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard, or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.bayhillinvitational.com, or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women.

Posted by scurry at 11:41 AM

Mr. Palmer Will Again Host the Best Players in the World

February 07, 2006

Official World Golf Ranking confirms elite status of the field

The 2006 Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard is well on its way towards one of the strongest fields in world golf, with 20 players from among the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking already committed to PGA Tour event scheduled for the week of March 13-19 at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida.

With 52 commitments received as of today - there will be a minimum of 120 players in the field - the list already includes defending champion Kenny Perry, ranked No. 11 in the world, and other notables such as Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, and Adam Scott, ranked No. 3, No. 5, and No. 10 in the world, respectively. Current U. S. Open champion Michael Campbell, ranked No. 13 in the world, has also committed.

Others already in the field are David Howell (No. 14), Darren Clarke (No. 20), Stuart Appleby (No. 24), Jose Maria Olazabal (No. 25), Nick O'Hern (No. 27), Bart Bryant (No. 28), Stewart Cink (No. 31), K. J. Choi (No. 36), Sean O'Hair (No. 39), Mark Hensby (No. 40), Mike Weir (No. 42), Fred Funk (No. 43), Rod Pampling (No. 45), Lee Westwood (No. 46) and Peter Lonard (No. 50).

The Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard traditionally has one of the strongest fields of the year. In 2005, Bay Hill's field was the world's ninth strongest behind only the four major championships, The Players Championship, and the three World Golf Championship events. Thirty-four of the world's top 50 were at Bay Hill last year, a group which included four of the top five, nine of the top 15, and 20 of the top 30 players.

For tickets to the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard, or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.bayhillinvitational.com, or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Posted by scurry at 12:43 PM

Bay Hill Invitational Presented by MasterCard Supports Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

January 11, 2006

With Arnold Palmer Hospital's national reputation for medical excellence, it is difficult to remember that just a few years ago, children and women in Central Florida who needed highly specialized medical care had no alternative than to travel to other cities for treatment. This began to change in the mid-1980s when a small group of physicians, community leaders, and Orlando Regional Healthcare came together with a vision for a world-class children's hospital.

They began their project by inviting Arnold and Winnie Palmer, known for their love of children, to tour to children's wing at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Arnold Palmer agreed to share his name with the new children's hospital - with the challenge that everyone involved strive to make it the best. The Palmers also began their significant financial support, however this was only the beginning of their involvement.

On September 10, 1989, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women opened, and in 16 years it has earned a reputation as one of the leading hospitals of its kind in the Southeast and the nation. It is a special place, offering an uncommonly personal environment that nurtures the mind, body and spirit as an integral part of the healing process.

Throughout the years, the Palmers created a legacy - not only in their personal giving but also in continued advocacy, championing the hospital and its mission as well as giving their time and energies. Arnold and Winnie Palmer spoke at community events and named Arnold Palmer Hospital as the principal charitable beneficiary of the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard. The Bay Hill Club also supports the hospital by hosting the yearly fundraiser known as Champions for Children, held in October.

Winnie Palmer also volunteered as honorary chairman of Kids Are the Responsibility of Everyone (K.A.R.E.), led tours, established an annual Halloween parade for the young patients, and served on the Foundation's board of directors until her death in 1999. In recent years Arnold Palmer has created the National Advisory Council, comprised of friends, family, and business acquaintances, to promote and support Arnold Palmer Hospital.

The Palmer legacy invites others in to love the children, volunteer alongside staff, give generously, and remain as dedicated to the mission as those that first held its vision. The dream of bringing world-class healthcare to our community for babies, children and women, born just twenty years ago, is thriving as others, just as passionate and committed, continue the legacy of excellence, caring and selfless giving that Arnold and Winnie Palmer have so generously shared with the community.

The 2006 Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard is scheduled for the week of March 13-19, featuring defending champion Kenny Perry and many others from among the world's highest-ranking golfers. For further information, log on to the tournament web site, www.bayhillinvitational.com, or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774, toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital

Posted by scurry at 11:06 AM

Palmer, Grandson in Action Again

December 01, 2005

Arnold Palmer is making his final competitive appearance of 2005 this week, teaming up again with his 18-year-old grandson, Sam Saunders, in the WorldPoints Father/Son Challenge. The 11th renewal of the event, sponsored this year by MBNA at the ChampionsGate Golf Resort near Orlando, Florida, features four days of play with pro-amateurs on Thursday, December 1, and Friday, December 2. The tournament proper, with its scramble follows on Saturday and Sunday, December 3-4, and is being televised on NBC -- from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. EDT Saturday and from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. EDT Sunday. Larry and Drew Nelson are the defending champions. Raymond Floyd won the tournament five times, three with Raymond Jr. and two with Robert. Jack Nicklaus, Bob Charles, Craig Stadler and Hale Irwin and sons are the other former champions.

Posted by dgiffin at 02:59 PM

New Arnie's Army Screensaver Available for Download

November 22, 2005

This classic motion screensaver includes the new Arnie's Army logo, current date and is of course signed by Arnold Palmer. This screensaver is available at no cost to registered Arnie's Army members. Not a member? Register now and download it for free. The screensaver works on both Mac OS X and Windows 98/NT/2000/XP.

Posted by scurry at 02:37 PM

Arnold Co-Hosts Top Shelf Wednesdays with Vince Cellini from Latrobe Country Club

September 21, 2005

Arnold Palmer Co-Hosts Top Shelf Wednesdays with Vince Cellini from Latrobe Country Club. Arnold takes us through some of his favorite and historic spots at the Country Club he and his father helped build. From the carved statue (out of a pine tree) of his father Deacon off the 18th fairway, to the land he promised his late wife Winnie he would never develop, to the exact spot of the house in which he grew up. The emotion Arnold displays as he describes these places and the memories that cover 76 years are not to be missed! Arnold even brings out the famous Pennzoil tractor that is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Watch The King and his Jester (Vince) all night long starting at 7:30 pm Eastern!

Program Lineup:

• 7:30 PM/ET - 2003 Presidents Cup H/L
  
• 8:40 PM/ET - The Big Break IV: All Access-Ye Olde Golfe Channel
  
• 9:50 PM/ET - Grey Goose 19th Hole
  
• 10:30 PM/ET - The Big Break IV: USA vs. Europe
  

Starts Wednesday at 7:30 PM/ET!

Posted by scurry at 05:00 PM

Bay Hill Invitational Presented by MasterCard Makes $25K Donation to Hurricane Relief Fund

September 14, 2005

Tournament host Arnold Palmer announced today that the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard will make a $25,000 donation to assist the victims of the recent Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast.

The contribution from Palmer’s PGA Tour event at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida, will be directed to the U. S. Golf Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, which is a combined effort by the PGA Tour, PGA of America, United States Golf Association, Augusta National Golf Club, Golf Course Superintendents Association, and LPGA.

“Our thoughts and prayers recently have been with the people of Louisiana and Mississippi who have suffered so much because of Hurricane Katrina,” Palmer said. “We are extending our charitable contributions this year and joining with the other golf organizations to lend our support.”

The principal charitable beneficiary of the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard is the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women. The 28th annual tournament at the Bay Hill Club is scheduled for the week of March 13-19, 2006, featuring defending champion Kenny Perry and many others among the world’s highest-ranking golfers.

Media contact:
Bev Norwood
bnorwood@arnoldpalmer.com
216-436-3409

Posted by scurry at 10:20 AM

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