As he approached his 80th birthday (which is tomorrow, September 10), Arnold Palmer and the Arnold Palmer Design Company decided to tweak his classic course at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando. The private course is open only to members and to guests at the small, charming lodge.
"We don’t want to change it, let's tweak it." Arnie said to his architects, "Let's get the greens closer to the water and take the sand where you can see it."
Greens were removed and reinstalled with Emerald Bermuda grass. Palmer said, "I've introduced firm, fast playing conditions on slopes around greens . . . along with putting new pin positions around the outside of the greens and cutting bunkers up closer to the greens, we have made my course more interesting to play and view."
Course aesthetics received a boost in visual impact with the bunker renovation. Arnie again: "The renovations had to be completed in 2 months so the course can properly grow in and open in September. I know the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational will be very exciting to watch with these new course changes in place."
A Junior Olympic sized swimming pool, a full-service spa, 6 tennis courts, 4 restaurants, and 70 lovely rooms and suites make up the intimate lodge complex.
Golf Digest and the Golf Channel are celebrating Arnie's birthday with stories, anecdotes and interviews.
Today Arnie will throw out the ceremonial first pitch as the Pittsburg Pirates play the Chicago Cubs. Tonight will be Arnold Palmer Bobblehead Night at PNC Park and will mark the first time Palmer has been honored with a bobblehead created in his likeness.
And to celebrate his birthday, tomorrow on September 10th, Arnie and some of his closest friends will tee it up at his home course, Latrobe Country Club.Arnie's father helped build the course in the 1920s and he went on to become the grounds superintendent and then the golf professional in the 1930s.
According to the club, "Arnold was born September 10, 1929 in Latrobe. His saga began when he was four-years old swinging a set of golf clubs that had been cut down by his father, Milfred (Deacon) Palmer. Before long, Arnold was playing well enough to beat the older caddies at the club. He began caddying himself when he was 11 and worked almost every job at the club over the years."
Founder/editor of BestGolfResortsoftheWorld.com, Karen Misuraca writes about golf travel and resorts around the world in her examiner.com column.
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