PGA Tour Stories: Arnold Palmer, The Masters, and more

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:00 -- Don Trahan

The Golf Channel recently aired a documentary about Mr. Arnold Palmer, one of the greatest golfers of all time. It aired after the 2014 Masters tournament, so I hope that many in the Surge Nation were able to catch it. I shot today's video a few days before, so if you missed out, check your local listings to see when it might get aired again.

It got me thinking about the time I first met Mr. Palmer. He was, and is, such a gentleman and is widely considered as one of the main reasons golf has grown into what it is today. Golf on television became popular because of Hall of Famers like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player.

Check out today's video as I discuss DJ's first Masters appearance and the mad scramble we had to make for a tee time with Mr. Palmer during the Par 3 contest. It truly was an unforgettable week.

Enjoy,

The Surge

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Comments

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

My first experience with Arnold Palmer and his Army was in 1972 at the Sahara
Invitational in Las Vegas. I was 15 years old and he took me to the tourament. At the time I think it was the biggest purse offered all year long on the PGA tour,
$27,000.00!! Lanny Wadkins beat Arnie by one. All the top players of the day were there including Jack Nicklaus who finished tied for 5th. Tom Watson, Jonny Miller, Miller Barber (Mr.X), Lee Elder, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi and many others. The whole experience left quite an impression on me and was a big part of my growing love for golf. I do remember that the largest crowds were following Palmer (including us). His arms and hands looked huge to me and wow did he hit the ball a long ways. He and Wadkins shot 65's on the first day. I will leave you with a link to the scores and money each won. If you take a look at all the names of each player you older guys who have been following pro golf for as long or longer than I will enjoy the walk down memory lane. At least a third of the players that were at that tournament are now in the hall of fame. Many are still playing on the Champions tour.

http://www.databasegolf.com/tourneys/tournament_byyear.htm?yr=1972&tid=73

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Here's hoping the Surge Nation is getting out and playing some golf now that the weather is starting to get warmer back east (USA).
Cindy and I played 18 today at our muni. We often only play the front 9 and then #10,11 and 12. Today starting at 3:30 playing with my brother we played the entire front and back and were done at 7:30 just before sunset. I had 3 pars and 6 bogies on the front. And then on the back after 2 pars and 4 bogies I had a nice finish. On the par 4 16th after a good drive I had 135 yards and hit my 9 iron over the flag leaving a down hill left to right 20 footer. Curled in for my only birdie:) Then on 17, a 185 yard par 3 hit my 5 iron on the green but had a 60 foot uphill putt. Left it 5 feet pin high on the left of the cup and made the putt for a par. Last hole was the most satisfying.
Drive was too far right and needed to hit a 5 wood fade. Came off nicely and was about 10 feet short of the green which had the pin way up on top of the hill and 20 yards total. My gap chip came up short leaving me a 40 foot par putt. Knew it was right to left about a foot and that it would be slow. Picked my line and gave it good pace exactly as hoped for. It was a bee line right in the middle of the cup. Wow was I happy to make that one. I may have yelled a bit loud as it went in as a some 8 golfers on the nearby practice green off 18 all looked over at us. Opps! Oh well I am a little enthusiastic. Can't help it. 42/39- 81
Hope to hear reports from you guys about your golf adventures soon.
Golf on!