Just saw this on TGC website. Arnie passes away at age 87. He was my first golf hero and one of the reasons I continue to play golf. He was the epitome of what a golfer should be back in the 50' and 6o's. Although he continued to play into the 80's most of us remember him for what he did for the game back in that era. He took golf to the masses and became the King, loved by all. I have dreaded this day for the last decade and now it is here. Thank you Arnie for all you did for golf and those who loved all that you did in your life. I just went in and told my wife and started to cry it affects me so much.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Palmer. Probably the most respected golfer ever, and deservedly so.

Man, was not expecting this.

RIP to one of the greats.

RIP Arnie, You will be missed....

Still hard to believe, some 10 hours after having heard the news.

Every golf course in the US that has an American Flag should be at half-mast today.

RIP, Arnie. You will continue to live in my remembrances of what you meant to the game.

Tough day for the Palmer family and the golf community. I hope Bay Hill will go on forever, though it wont be the same without Arnold being there to greet the winner of the tournament. RIP Mr. Palmer. You had done some much for golf and humanity.

One of the assistants at my club... he's early-30's. Former marine, served in Iraq. Had spent the past 6-7 years working in an office for Nestle, good paying job. Something struck him a few years back that he wasn't happy, he wanted to find a job that was less stressful, something that would make him happy, salary be damned. He switched careers and decided to get into golf.

He's leaving in a month for Florida, he's been offered a position at Bay Hill. He inquired three years ago, kept bugging the piss out of them until they finally gave him an interview. Arnie liked him. If Arnie thinks you've got something to offer - you're in. So the past couple of winters, from about November until April, he's spent his winter months down there working at Bay Hill, trying to get his foot in the door. He's a helluva golfer too... big guy, Dustin Johnson build except more muscular, tall... and he can pound it. And he's a great guy. So finally, this past summer, they told him they'd bring him on full-time.

During the course of countless conversations I've had with him while we played together these past couple of years, he always talked about how special it was getting to see and speak with Arnie just about every day while he was down there over the winter. He's got some funny stories, some that aren't suitable to repeat. LOL... let's just say that Arnie never lost his appetite for beautiful women, despite getting old and occasionally stubborn. 😉

When he came back to our club in May earlier this year, he gave me a gift. It was a Bay Hill flag, signed by none other than Arnie. It was in a plastic case and you could tell that it wasn't one of those superficial autograph deals. Needless to say it is something I'll treasure for the rest of my life.

Playing with the guy tomorrow... he was very close to Arnie. He'll be leaving for Bay Hill in about a month, relocating for good. It'll probably be my last round with him for a while.

Until I fly down to Orlando next spring, and play Bay Hill with him. 🙂

Arnie and Winnie together again, we are all better for being part of The King's army.

Although I'm not participating in the event, our club is hosting a stag day event tomorrow. I played with the soon-to-be Bay Hill assistant today at another club, and he informed me that our head pro has decided to kick off the event with a moment of silence in remembrance of Arnie, and I was also informed that both the American flag and our Club flag has been lowered to half-mast.

Still hard to believe that the King is no longer with us. 🙁

PS - watched "Arnie" on the Golf Channel last night... I think there were 2 or 3 one-hour segments. I thought it was well done, and the network has done a very good job remembering him this week, and yet at the same time - have done a tasteful job of transitioning from his passing three days ago to getting back on topic with Ryder Cup coming up on Friday.