Changing Times
Fall is my favorite time of year. The leaves turning brilliant shades of red, gold and burnt orange, crisp mornings with clear blue skies; it makes for some great golf weather. And with winter now beckoning it is time to transfer the hipflask from the bottom of the socks drawer and into the golf bag. The occasional nip from the flask takes the nip out of the air. (My current fill is Aberfeldy 21 single malt, from the distillery that makes most of what is blended into Dewar’s.)
I think we can all agree that these tranquil morning games of golf are such a healthy escape—peace away from the maddening world.
Earlier this fall we witnessed a remarkable end to a stand-out career when Suzann Pettersen made the winning putt for the Solheim Cup and promptly retired. Talk about finishing with an exclamation mark! With a home at Bay Hill, Pettersen has been a friend and supporter to Arnold and Kingdom for many years. We were delighted to interview her for this issue and send her all best wishes for her next chapter in life.
The cycles of seasons and golf’s generations never stop, and while my dreams of professional golf faded years ago I was recently taken back to my youthful dreams when I watched my daughter Sophie and her friend Stan playing in their first golf competition. They may not hold the ambitions I did but I hope they can enjoy golf as a gift for life in a way no other sports can match, perhaps today more than ever in an age when leisure time is becoming increasingly consumed into an electronic universe.
Next year marks our 17th anniversary as a magazine and we will publish the 50th issue of Kingdom. Not bad for a national magazine that was originally to be published once a year and only distributed to designated Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses. Arnie would have been proud of our achievement but it would never have been possible without his input and support.
Just as the Palmer family work tirelessly to extend and enrich Arnold’s legacy, from one generation through to the next, so we look forward to doing the same thing, in our own small way, with Kingdom magazine.
Best wishes for the holidays,
Matthew Squire