Arnold Palmer fan makes pilgrimage to Latrobe

John Garvey sits in the Latrobe Golf & Country Club. (Photo provided) Oklahoma City attorney John Garvey was just a boy in the early 1960s, when his family had a membership at Quail Creek Golf & Country Club. His mother was a walking scorer for the Oklahoma City Open, the PGA Tour stop, and Garvey attended the tournament, too, which twice was won by Arnold Palmer, 1959 and 1964.

One day, some tournament officials sent him out to get some updated scores – yes, a 7- or 8-year-old chasing down PGA scores; it was a different time – and he hurried back with the scores from Arnold Palmer, Johnny Pott and a golfer whose name he forgot but figured had to be what was on the golf bag. Walter Hagen.

The tournament officials busted a gut laughing (Hagen was an early-day golf star whose equipment became widely used and who by 1964 was 72 years old). Garvey related that story to Palmer in a later letter and received a signed Sports Illustrated cover in return.

"We were all Arnold Palmer fans," Garvey said of the golf community from the 1960s.

And that devotion never wavered, even though Palmer's final major championship came in '64 and his final PGA Tour victory came in '73.

So when Palmer died in September at age 87, Garvey felt the pull to make a pilgrimage. So two weeks ago, Garvey journeyed to Latrobe, Pa., Palmer's hometown, and played 36 holes at the Latrobe Golf and Country Club, Palmer's home course.

"Magical, magical day," Garvey said.

Customers of the Marriott hotel in Latrobe can play the country club, and Garvey was entranced by the reception. Two members asked him to play with them. Five other members asked him to join them for lunch. Guys who had known Palmer for 40 years. And Garvey was regaled all day by stories of his hero.

How some California Republicans, included Ronald Reagan, flew Palmer out West in 1963 and tried to talk him into running against Barry Goldwater for the presidential nomination.

How Palmer shot 60 – 30-30 – at the Latrobe course just before his 40th birthday.

How the clubhouse man was hired 22 years ago, and the first time he met Palmer, he cleaned and repaired six pairs of spikes in about two hours and drove them out to Palmer on the course. Palmer put his arm around the clubhouse man and said, "Frank, you're family now."

Garvey played with the Rev. Clark Kerr, who officiated Palmer's private memorial service. Garvey saw where Palmer would sit in his golf cart, at an intersection of the first and 18th fairways, and zing members as they came through.

"The consensus was, he was just one of the guys," Garvey said. "I had an amazing experience."

Here is Garvey's description of the country club:

"When you walk into the dining room, you immediately notice the decorations are ALL Arnold Palmer memorabilia. In the center of the west wall is a large fireplace, and on the right is a collection of photographs featuring the Americans on the President's Cup Team the year Arnie was the captain. There is a small replica of the Cup awarded to the team captain and a photograph of Arnie accepting the huge team trophy. Each wall is full of Arnold Palmer photos, holding a trophy, standing with a celebrity or a U.S. President, or perhaps hugging (wife) Winnie -- and a trophy. Arnie looks the same in every photograph, smiling, tanned and happy. The photographs put you in a celebratory mood. The room makes you feel happy. And you know THIS is Arnie's place. 

"Arnie was having lunch with his new group of regulars, a group of fifty-somethings that he liked to hang out with in the dining room. He was talking about Tiger Woods after his fall from grace in the golf world. Arnie said that he really tried to mentor Tiger, but now that Tiger had screwed up, Arnie did not think Tiger mattered as much anymore. Arnie said Tiger may never win another tournament, but if he does win, it won't matter. Arnie related a story about a conversation he had with Woods. Tiger was complaining to Arnie, complaining about all the demands for interviews and all the fans constant requests for autographs. Tiger said this is all taking time any from his golf preparation. Then Arnie told his friends at Latrobe Country Club what he told Tiger to do. Arnie said to Tiger, 'You know, Tiger, there aren't many 25-year-old kids running around worth $50 million. If you don't like all the attention, why don't you just give the money back!' That was Arnie. 

"Arnie knew that everything he had, he owed to golf. Arnie always gave back. Mr. Palmer was famous for saying that he fed off the energy of his fans, and that, 'I did it for you.'  Jack Nicklaus said it was important to remember why Arnold Palmer made you feel the way you did - and not forget it.

"Arnold Palmer's Latrobe Country Club is as important to the golf world as St. Andrews. Every golfer should make it a goal to play a round of golf here and walk in the footsteps of an American LEGEND."'

Source: www.bing.com