Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer as a young golfer. (getkempt.com)

As Tiger Woods once said, "Don't force your kids into sports. I never was. To this day, my dad has never asked me to go play golf. I ask him. It's the child's desire to play that matters, not the parent's desire to have the child play. Fun. Keep it fun." Tiger Woods may not be the most admirable person as of now, but he is right that parents should not force their children into doing something they do not want to do. Except this was the exact opposite for young Arnold Palmer.  Arnold Daniel Palmer was born on September 10, 1929, in Youngstown, Pennsylvania, to Milfred and Doris Palmer. Palmer is one of four children, but by far stood out the most. He started playing golf at the age of three, and by nine years old, he had shot a 9-hole score of 45 - a better score than most people who play golf regularly. But since his dad did not allow him to play on the course, Palmer always sneaked out onto it at any chance he could get. All he wanted to do was play. Palmer soon became the star of his high school and college golf teams, and eventually became a professional in 1954. During his golf career, Arnold Palmer accumulated a collection of achievements. Nevertheless, all these achievements only present half of the story. Arnold Palmer shows undeniable determination to overcome the misfortunes in his life which therefore, has had a positive influence on all the people around him, simply by the charisma he emits anywhere he goes.

            Arnold Palmer's determined and influential character frames him as worthy candidate of being a hero. As Palmer once said; "I never quit trying. I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win." Palmer has that fighting power inside of him that not many people have. He was ambitious to persevere through all the obstacles in life. Such ambition influences all that watches him: "In 1980 Palmer entered the Senior PGA tour, and enjoyed a bit of a career revival. He won the first Senior tournament he ever entered, the 1980 PGA Seniors championship... [and] in 1985 Palmer won the Senior Tournament Players Championship by 11 strokes, the largest margin of victory ever produced in that event" ("Arnold Daniel Palmer"). Palmer encourages many people to continue playing golf, even at an old age. He shows that age should not become a roadblock to anyone's dreams. Anyone can excel at anything they put their heart to; all you have to do is try. A true hero is someone that inspires, someone that can impact a whole sport, and most importantly, someone that can make one kid's dream come true, by signing one kid's ball.

Works Consulted

"Arnold Daniel Palmer." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2nd ed. Vol. 12. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 78-80. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 May 2012.

"Arnold Palmer." Great Athletes (Salem Press) (2001): 1938. Biography Reference Center. Web. 3 May 2012.

"Kempt - World of Men's Style / Fashion / Grooming." Kempt. An Urbandaddy Publication, 2007. Web. 17 May 2012. .

"Palmer's 284 Beats Ford and Hawkins by a Stroke in Masters Golf." American Decades Primary Sources. Ed. Cynthia Rose. Vol. 6: 1950-1959. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 626-629. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 May 2012.

SHERWIN, MARTIN. "Arnold Palmer." Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: The 1960s. Ed. William L. O'Neill and Kenneth T. Jackson. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2002. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 3 May 2012.

Sodrick, Sarah. "Arnold Palmer." The Pennsylvania Center for the Book. Web. 03 May 2012..

"Sorry Bro: Sports Through Houser: Stop the Panic, Arnold Palmer Is Still Alive following Watching Tiger Woods Win His Tourney." Sorry Bro: Sports Through Houser: Stop the Panic, Arnold Palmer Is Still Alive following Watching Tiger Woods Win His Tourney. Web. 17 May 2012. .

Staff. "1958: Arnold Palmer Wins as Amen Corner Is Born." The Masters 2012. Masters, 22 Mar. 2012. Web. 17 May 2012. .

Palmer winning the Masters in 1958 (augusta.com)

Arnold Palmer utilizes his determination and ambition to play golf, while still being able to overlook all of the obstacles he deals with in life outside of golf. While working for the Coast Guard and making barely minimum wage, Palmer needed some extra cash to support his expensive hobby of playing golf; "In 1954 Palmer began selling painting supplies for a Cleveland company to support his participation in amateur golf" ("Arnold Daniel Palmer"). Palmer knew that he needed to earn extra money if he wanted to support his long-lived hobby, so he decided to sell painting supplies. Even though it might have been one of the smaller obstacles he encountered, it still was a deciding point between chasing his dream of playing professional golf or living the normal life of an everyday person. His ambition to play golf is what makes him such an inspiring person. He makes people believe that no matter what obstacles one may face, one can always endure and make it through the tough times in life. Palmer also alters how golf is viewed; "Arnold's golf game differed greatly from the typical professional's. Although he had received professional instruction since his earliest youth, his swing violated many of golf's fundamentals. He lunged at the ball and finished his swing with an awkward follow-through. Because of his strength, he generated massive power. If, however, his swing was slightly off, he was liable to hit a very poor shot" ("Arnold Palmer"). Palmer knew his swing was not, per se, the most beautiful or even fundamentally correct. What he does know is that this funny-looking swing released immense power, which he used to his advantage in many rounds of golf. Instead of taking the easy shot out into the fairway, Palmer often aimed straight for the pin. Rather than giving up after a couple of bad shots, Palmer realized the flaws and admirable parts of his golf swing and learned to cope with what he had. He could have decided his swing was too much of a strain on his muscles and did not want to hurt himself. However, Palmer's determination to overcome his swing shocked people. Not only did Arnold Palmer deal with financial and fundamental problems, he also encountered being diagnosed with cancer as well as the death of his dearly beloved wife. "Throughout the 1990s, both Palmer and his wife battled cancer. Palmer underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 1997 and has since recovered. Palmer's wife died of cancer in 1999.On June 23, 2004, Palmer received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, from George W. Bush who said that Palmer had 'given his all, playing with style and a daring that changed the game of golf' "(Sodrick). His determination to keep fighting inspires all of his fans, by overcoming his financial problems, awkward swing, and cancer, along with the loss of his wife. As Palmer said; "Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you." Palmer stuck to his saying, and surmounted all the obstacles in his life. He motivates his fans and has even won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Arnold Palmer is worthy of the title of hero, because of his monumental determination to overcome all the obstacles to achieve greatness in golf.

Palmer signing autographs. (sorrybrosports.com)

With his charming and charismatic character, Palmer influences the lives of many young golfers today. While on the golf course, Palmer knew that "playing it safe" was never an option; "Palmer ranks among the twentieth century's most successful golfers. Long off the tee and a great putter, his charisma and dramatic playing style made him one of America's most popular sports heroes. Some insist that he saved the game while others say that he merely changed it for the better. But all agree that by playing golf as he did, he altered its character, its reputation, and its economics. Millions became fans because they liked to watch this handsome, likeable five-foot, eleven-inch, 175-pound man attack a golf ball. Palmer was the 'King' " (Sherwin). Palmer is an impact to the game of golf in many ways. His ability to come back from behind when seemingly out of contention inspires everyone around him to believe that they should never give up. He attracted many types of viewers to come and watch him play, but the reason people have come to watch him has not only been for his athleticism. It's also been for the humble charisma Arnold Palmer carries. Palmer did not inspire only one or two kids, he is able to inspire millions of young athletes to continue playing the sport they love. Palmer's charismatic personality made him one of the most beloved players out on the golf course, "Golf legend Arnold Palmer displayed unquestionable skill on the course, but even more importantly, he had much charisma. He almost single handedly brought golf out of the elite country clubs and into the consciousness of mainstream America. Throughout his career, Palmer attracted legions of fans-known collectively as 'Arnie's Army'-who hung on his every shot, celebrating his successes along with him, and suffering his failures. Even in the twilight of his career, with failures on the links far outnumbering successes, Arnie's Army remained as loyal as ever" ("Arnold Daniel Palmer"). Arnold Palmer is not only a great golfer, but he also transforms the golf world by introducing golf to the people who may be oblivious to what golf is. Especially during Palmer's time, golf was more of a luxury sport to play rather than a day to day hobby. His fans also remained loyal to him throughout his entire career, even through his twilight moments. The fact that his fans still believed in him, even when he may not have believed in himself, shows how much of an impact he had on the people around him. The way Palmer connects with his fans is what made all the difference. Palmer's mesmerizing complexion to stay and sign every last card, ball, hat, anything, is the reason his "army" loves him so much. Arnold Palmer may not have broken as many records as Jack Nickolas, the number one ranked golf player at that time, but he accomplished something far greater: Palmer single-handedly saved the sport, and hobby of playing golf.