Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
from: golf.fanhouse.com 

Arnold Palmer, the Ultimate Tinkerer, Shares the Secrets of His Garage
By Mick Elliott
Senior Golf Writer
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Both doors into the two-car garage at the lakefront townhouse located only a few hundred yards from the Bay Hill Club and Lodge clubhouse are open. The man inside, tinkering at a work bench, waves you in.

"I'm Arnold Palmer," he says. "Welcome to my garage."

This is the most famous garage in golf. To know Arnold Palmer -- and who in golf doesn't want to? -- you acknowledge he is the game's all-time leader in DIY (do-it-yourself) club repair. The game's icon turned 80 earlier this year, but he has always been old school. Palmer never just swung a golf club, he became one with it.

By Palmer's thinking, before you hit a golf club you should know how it was put together.

"It's very important," he says. "It's almost like playing the game. Of course, today most of the players take a set of clubs and dump them off at the company they play for and say, 'Here, fix these.' I don't think players, with very few exceptions, work on their clubs very much any more."

Palmer, of course, has always been golf's exception to the rule. That's why the game may never again see a personality quite like the King. It's also why Golf Channel asked Palmer to open his garage door to tape a segment for an upcoming series called "12 Nights at the Academy."

So here is the tinker master in his element, doors open and a club locked in a vice.

It's a crisp November morning in central Florida. Palmer, dressed in a blue oxford dress shirt open at the neck, tan khaki slacks and handsome leather loafers (no socks), is a man in his element, a proud host showing off his comfort zone.

"I spend a lot of time here," he says. "And I enjoy it. It's just nice to get out here. It's very quiet. When I want to be alone and do my thing, this is where I go."

Palmer has lived at this address for some 20 years and the garage, although neat and orderly, reflects the time spent. An opened case of Arizona Iced Tea -- the lemonade/tea combination known as an "Arnold Palmer" -- sits just inside the right door. Next to it is a built-in shoe rack -- six bins to a row -- designed to hold 54 pairs. It is jammed full with a few more sets piled on the top.

A large cream-colored ceramic dog bowl, only one-third full but with clean water, rests on the floor, waiting for Mulligan, Palmer's nine-year old yellow lab. Another nearby cabinet is home to a pile of caps -- most of them carrying either logos from Bay Hill, Callaway Golf or Augusta National. One celebrates the Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl Champs.

On the opposite side, a blue Schwinn bicycle leans against the wall. A small refrigerator is built into a cabinet, on which a yellow Black & Decker electric lawn blower sits. Nearby there are three empty flower pots, a small Shop-Vac and a couple of boxes.

A street sign, "Arnie's Place," hangs on a pegboard wall that stretches behind two separate work benches. Bolted to the work surfaces are various vices, grinders and a belt sander.

Everywhere else there are golf clubs, golf bags, golf gloves, golf balls and more golf clubs.

Many of the clubs are slid into hanging racks attached to the ceiling. Others are in bins built onto the wall. More are propped in corners.



You can take a pretty good guess at the answer, but can't help but ask anyway: When was the last time a car was in this garage?

"Never," Palmer answers without a second of hesitation. "Only golf carts."

Palmer's Cadillac Escalade is parked outside, against the curb.

"It's fine right where it is," Palmer shrugs.

Sitting beside the black SUV, pulled out of the garage to make room for the day's visitors, is Bay Hill Club and Lodge golf cart No. 88. With chrome wheels, headlights and a sparkling-new green canvas enclosure, the ride is distinctive enough in its own right, but the tour bag with "Arnold Palmer" and Bay Hill's umbrella logo stitched to its side leaves no doubt.

It's also hard not to notice that the big bag holds six different drivers, three putters and a total of 25 clubs.

Being the King means never having to apologize for a couple extra weapons.

"Actually, this is nothing," Palmer says, sweeping his hand past the numerous clubs and assorted equipment. "Most of the stuff is all in Latrobe. It's huge."

A warehouse back in Palmer's Pennsylvania hometown holds more than 10,000 clubs, all cataloged on computer. Many of them Palmer admits carry sentimental value. Here at Bay Hill, however, the garage is a garage.

"Here, no one knows where I am unless I tell them," he says.

The show's taping begins. Golf Channel host Kelly Tilghman introduces Palmer and begins by asking about his golf game.

"My golf is so bad these days," Palmer tells her, "I hit it and can hear where it lands."

Nobody cares. This is Arnold Palmer and he is standing in his garage.

After answering a few more questions, offering advice on footwear -- "I'm a firm believer of having a firm shoe that makes you feel close to the ground." -- and marveling about how the game has changed, Palmer finally demonstrates the way he likes to re-grip a club.

Within a minute, he has the old grip cut and discarded, tape and glue applied to the shaft and the new one in place.

"I was so excited when they told me we were shooting here," Tilghman says later. "Seeing him put his hands on a golf club is one thing, but to see him working inside that garage. It's just cool."

Yes, it was.


And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
it's proof the world is fucked up though. No way Arnold Palmer should be 80 years old. He should be my age.

(That way I could be NSD's and zombieslayer's little brother.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
Fan Shout
beast (12h) : Yeah, but also some of the wording suggestions Jax only pranked called the QB, not the others... and if he had an open spreadsheet & 3 calls
beast (12h) : Thank goodness he's not leaving the Turtle in the Red Tide
Mucky Tundra (12h) : Cowboys 1st round pick Tyler Booker will indeed be bringing his pet turtle to Dallas with him
Mucky Tundra (12h) : that contained all prospects info and contact
Mucky Tundra (12h) : beast, according the Falcons statement Jax came across it on an ipad. If I had to guess, probably an open spread sheet or something
Zero2Cool (13h) : Simmons put up an emoji with cheese.
beast (13h) : Not sure anyone is interested in Isaiah Simmons... Collin Oliver might of taken his potential slot
beast (13h) : I'm going with Jax Ulbrich is not telling the whole truth... he accidentally came across it? Why would a defensive coordinator have a QB #?
Zero2Cool (14h) : He's not that great, but final piece of the script.\
Zero2Cool (14h) : If we add Isaiah Simmons, book your Super Bowl tickets
Mucky Tundra (14h) : Colts 1st round TE Tyler Warren also got prank called, was that Jax Ulbrich as well?
Zero2Cool (14h) : Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, released an apology for his role in the Shedeur Sanders prank call.
Martha Careful (14h) : apparently he did not participate in practice or play on the east west shrine game nor the NFL combine. The kid was a mediocre spoiled brat
Mucky Tundra (14h) : Yeah that one that was a super wounded duck that Sanders supporters are highlighting to prove a point
Zero2Cool (15h) : Shough is the guy who missed guys at combine isn't he?
beast (15h) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : ✅ ...
buckeyepackfan (26-Apr) : Check
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matthew Golden cahanged 81 to 22??
TheKanataThrilla (26-Apr) : Sam Howell to Vikings...guess no Aaron
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : 1 round 7 min, with one extra minute if there is a trade. 2nd round 4 minutes, 3rd -3, 2 thereafter IMO
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Agree
dfosterf (26-Apr) : Great idea imo
dfosterf (26-Apr) : 1st round to 7 minutes with one extension
dfosterf (26-Apr) : NFL comissioner wants to shorten the 2st
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
beast (26-Apr) : Great point Martha
beast (26-Apr) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Yes. Look at the losses last year. They can win.
beast (26-Apr) : Can Packers win with their current DL?
bboystyle (26-Apr) : waiting for a pass rusher.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes between picks in the 3rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 3rd. Hate this phone
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 4rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes in the 4
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 7 minutes between picks in the 2nd round
Martha Careful (25-Apr) : Sorry to bitch, but the headline writers in that section absolutely mislead, or don't know how to read. It is maddening
Martha Careful (25-Apr) : No thanks. Not a dependable guy to be in the right place and run the right route. Dumb as a box of rocks.
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : Losing 2nd round pick for a one year rental, not ideal. Especially a headcase.
TheKanataThrilla (25-Apr) : Pickens for Jaire may be interesting. Definitely not sure we want Pickens long term.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : No.Absolutely not
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : NO NO NO NO NO NO!!1 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
dhazer (25-Apr) : scenario: Our main prospects are off the board when our pick comes around, do we just throw a 2nd round pick at Pittsburgh for Pickens
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