Arnold Palmer continues to be recognized, honored as golf's King

Mike Dudurich

Posted 2009-07-06

Arnold Palmer has been honored many, many times in many, many ways over the span of his illustrious golf career.

His office in Latrobe, Pennsylvania is adorned with a great many of the trophies he’s won and the awards he’s been given. It’s much the same, although somewhat on a smaller scale at his office at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida.

And then there’s the “warehouse” that holds all of the other Palmer memorabilia that’s accumulated over the years.

But he’s also been honored in other ways as well, with statues and other tributes around the world.

Last month, golf’s “King” had one of those days that only a man of his stature could enjoy.

In an early evening ceremony atop the Allegheny Mountains, the ownership and membership of Indian Lake Golf Club in Central City honored Palmer in a fairly unusual way.

Indian Lake was the first golf course Palmer ever designed, that taking place in 1967. He built nine holes then and then a variety of factors contributed to the other nine not opening until 1995, resulting in an 18-hole, 6,700-yard layout.

One of the design features incorporated by Palmer there was leaving a tree in the middle of the 11th fairway, although at the time it was the first fairway. “It was a great tree, looked really good there and I just couldn’t bring myself to take it out,” Palmer remembered. Really sorry it’s gone. That sort of marked an historic spot in the golf course. A lot of people thought I was crazy leaving it there, and I’ve heard a lot of conversation about it over the years. I thought if it became too much of an obstacle, we’d do away with it.”

A power even bigger than Palmer made that decision for golf’s greatest ambassador when Mother Nature – in the form of a lightning strike – took the old tree down a few years ago. To show their appreciation to Palmer and what he’s meant to the game and the specialness of Indian Lake being his first, a statue of Palmer was carved out of a portion of the trunk and sat on the stump.

The 445-yard par 4 will also feature a flower bed in the colors of Palmer’s signature umbrella that will surround the stump in the shape of that umbrella. A bronze plaque will be placed on a small retaining wall, noting Indian Lake as Palmer’s first course design.

“It’s nice, it really is,” the 79-year-old legend said. “I suppose again I’m flattered they want to do that. They feel it’s historic and when they look at me, they’ll think I’m historic, too.”

It’s probably not a coincidence that the statue idea was chosen. At Latrobe Country Club, midway up the left side of the 18th fairway, a similar statue stands as a tribute to Palmer’s father, Deacon, which sits on the left side of the 18th fairway at Latrobe Country Club.

The statue dedication and reception were a big hit for the membership and club officials and thrilled Palmer as well. It was a great topper to a nice day for Palmer and his family.

Earlier in the day, Palmer, his wife, Kit, and several other family members drove to Johnstown, Pa. to watch Palmer’s grandson, Sam Saunders, compete in the 56th Sunnehanna Amateur, an elite amateur tournament that kicks off the summer-long national schedule for the best amateurs.

Saunders attends Clemson University and obviously has gotten some of grandfather’s golf genes. Palmer has high hopes for Saunders, but has tried to be a strong guiding influence on his development without adding extra pressure to it.

“Sam’s going to play in the national events this summer and then see where that leads him,” Palmer said. “He knows where his game needs to be and he continues to work toward getting it there. I’m very pleased with Sam and his golf and I very much want him to get with the golf and as time goes on, he’ll be a major factor out on Tour.

“Sam hopes he’ll play well enough this summer to make the Walker Cup team and if he does that would be a good thing for him as he attempts to make it out on the Tour.”

Palmer’s influence on the PGA Tour and golf in general will be felt for generations to come. He’s a big reason there is a Tour and perhaps the biggest reason that fans across the world began watching and enjoying professional golf.

He could be no happier than if a member of his family would continue that legacy long after the King is gone.

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About Mike...
As a sports writer for over 35 years, Mike Dudurich has seen a lot of great things, covered spectacular events, but his passion is, and has been golf. He recently ended a 29-year career at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and will now be a frequent contributor on GolfGearReview.com. Mike hosts a weekly golf radio show on 1250 ESPN in Pittsburgh from the beginning of April through the end of August. The show airs Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. and can be heard online at http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1250/show?showId=insidepghgolf - Listen to Mike Here!.

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