Arnold Palmer Tribute
Who would have imagined a game so rich in value could come with such a difficult price? Through hard work and die-hard aspiration, Arnold Palmer (“The King of Golf”) helped develop his character with great passion and determination. Palmer became one of the most well-known and enthusiastic golfers of all time. Having passed away just this past September 25th, he lived the sport of golf with a vengeance. Fans would cheer and follow Palmer from hole to hole, elevating the game of golf from strictly an elitist point-of-view to everyday individuals. He was a model of class and integrity that will stand alone in time.
Nicknamed “The King,” he was not only a great player but the first superstar of the age of sports television, which began around the 1950s. He had a social impact on golf, not just on the field but off of it, as well. Coming from a humble background, his popularity allowed him to change the way people saw golf. Before Palmer’s reign as a sports television host, he made what was once known as an “elitist” upper-class sport available to just about anybody who wanted a chance to play.
Palmer was also part of “The Big Three” in golf during the 1960s, alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, only emphasizing the growing popularity of the sport. His career lasted over six decades, winning him 62 PGA Tour titles between 1955 and 1973, and collected seven major titles in a six-plus-year burst. This was everything from the 1958 Masters to the 1964 Masters. He is also credited for the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award back in 1998, and in 1974, he was one of the original 13 inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He will surely be missed in the sports realm.
A few highlights of his career were the creation of Pennzoil to the popular beverage known as the “Arnold Palmer Tea.” Leaving many in his dust, he also spoke via radio about the sport, only enhancing his presence off the field. It seems as if his legacy was not playing golf itself, but influencing the way people saw it. Before Palmer, the upper-class run it run strictly. Where a simple driver ran for thousands of dollars and only elite golf clubs were hosting games. Thanks to him, you can drive through any part of your town. Moreover, you can see everyday people playing golf on public golf courses. In addition, it is speculated that he was the originator of “Mini Golf,” which is really where the sport began to coalesce. Palmer was born in a town called Latrobe, Pennsylvania. A typical working-class steel mill kind of town. He was the son of Doris Morrison and Milfred Jerome “Deacon” Palmer. He learned about golf from his father, who was head professional and greenskeeper at Latrobe Country Club. This allowed Palmer to attend events with his father as he maintained the course. Attending Wake Forest College on a scholarship for golf, he left immediately after his close friend, Bud Worsham, died while working with the United States Coast Guard. Palmer returned to college and competitive golf after three years of time honing his skills. 
By the time 1954 hit, he was playing professional golf after winning at the U.S. Amateur in Detroit. According to Palmer, “That victory was the turning point in my life. It gave me the confidence I could compete at the highest level of the game.” It sure was his first, but not his last. Soon after, he began a career as a sports television host, promoting the values and sanctities of golf. Arnold Palmer, you will surely be missed. Find below some famous Palmer quotes, in remembrance of a great man and an excellent golfer! These are just a few quotes from him. He may not have had an influence on all at a personal level. However, he indeed made an indelible mark on the lives of many of us. You can find more by going to the link below.
“Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.”
“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is the greatest game mankind has ever invented.”
“Success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character.”
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/arnold_palmer.html
RIP to the King of Golf
… Arnold Palmer, September 10, 1929 – September 25th, 2016.
