Bernard Gallacher on a golfing icon
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WHEN I think of Arnold Palmer, I always go back to the letter I received from his late wife, Winnie, a number of years ago.
The European Seniors Tour was staging an inaugural event at the Edinburgh course at Wentworth, so I wrote to Arnold asking if he would consider playing.
Winnie sent a lovely handwritten note, talking about how much they had loved coming over to Wentworth for the World Matchplay over the years.
Unfortunately, Arnold wasn’t able to play in the tournament. But I have always treasured that letter.
It was fitting that he and his wife would take the trouble to write back because it was that personal touch which endeared Arnie to so many people.
I had first encountered that as an impressionable 13-year-old when my father took me to The Open at Royal Troon in 1962.
We had primarily gone across to watch our local hero, Eric Brown. But I was drawn to this charismatic American, who seemed more of a Hollywood star than an ordinary golfer.
The crowds flocked to him and Arnie loved it. He hit it miles and he had that famous knock-kneed putting style.
Because there were no ropes at events in those days, spectators could get so close to the players. Arnie walked ahead and everyone followed him – quite literally ‘Arnie’s Army!’
Watching Palmer was the inspiration that made me want to be a pro golfer.
So it was a surreal experience when just eight years later I played against him at Turnberry in a match for Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf.
Arnie was an undoubted star, and he remained so until his sad death last weekend. But to his enormous credit, he made a young pro like myself feel comfortable in his presence.
I was playing at home but he had all the support and he treated them by holing a trademark long putt on the 17th to beat me!
Our paths crossed again a year later in the Ryder Cup at Old Warson in St Louis. I was partnering Peter Oosterhuis against him and Gardner Dickinson in the foursomes.
We were on the third and Arnie teed off. “Great shot Arnie! What club did you hit?” was the spontaneous query from my caddie.
I had not heard it, but Dickinson was a stickler for the rules and wanted a loss-ofhole penalty. Arnie tried to stop it because he didn’t think there was an advantage.
My caddie was a local guy who was in awe of being so close to the ‘King’. At that point, he was more like a fan, which Palmer recognised.
In the end, the penalty stood and we lost 5&4. But I never held that against him.
Years later, my son, Jamie, followed in Palmer’s footsteps by attendingWake Forest University in North Carolina.
Arnie used to come out and meet the new members of the golf team every year, and I know what a thrill that was for Jamie.
That was what made Palmer so special. He mixed with US Presidents and Hollywood stars, but he never forgot his roots.
Golf was enriched for over 60 years by his presence. And Arnold Palmer’s legacy will be with us forever.