Arnold Palmer, who revolutionized golf and left a lasting imprint on The Villages and around the world, died Sunday at 87.
Palmer, recognized as much for his humanitarian efforts as well as his golf honors, died in a Pittsburgh hospital. His hometown is Latrobe, Pa.
The man known as “the King”, turned golf into a big league sport in the late 1950s and ’60s.Palmer, with his handsome features, magnetic style and brilliant play, attracted a legion of fans known as “Arnie’s Army.”
“Arnold popularized the game,” Jack Nicklaus, his rival and fellow golf icon, once told the New York Times. “HE gave golf a shot in the arm when it needed it.”
Palmer, Nicklaus and Gary Player became golf’s Big Three and made the game must-watch TV for a generation of baby boomers in the 60s.
“Today marks the passing of an era. Arnold Palmer’s influence, profile and achievements spread far beyond the game of golf. He was an iconic American who treated people with respect and warmth, and built a unique legacy through his ability to engage with fans,” said Palmer’s longtime agent at IMG, Alastair Johnston.
In The Villages, The Arnold Palmer Legends Country Club and course bears his name. Palmer appeared in The Villages and drew big crowds of admirers. He once played a round of golf here with Nancy Lopez.
Palmer’s name is also on a children’s hospital in Orlando, as Tiger Woods noted Sunday:
“It’s hard to believe that Arnold has passed, and I’m deeply saddened by his loss,” Woods said in a statement. “He meant so much to the game and to me personally. I knew that I could always call him for advice, and I looked forward to seeing him at Bay Hill and the Masters. Arnold touched so many people. My kids were born at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, and his philanthropic work will be remembered along with his accomplishments in golf.
“It was an honor and privilege to have known Arnold, and I’m forever grateful for his friendship.”
Nicklaus summed up Palmer this way:He was the King of golf and always will be.”
Tony Violent writes for Villages-News.com
