A Golfer'S Final Resting Place

[jazzbo]

... from the 19th hole: This is a picture of me at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill course in Orlando, FL where my Father was a daily fixture for many years. Mr. Palmer planted this tree with a plaque in my Father's memory and I sprinkled his ashes under the tree the day that picture was shot ... an Assistant Pro drove me out there and took the picture.

My Father was for 3 years the Chaiman of the Medical Assistance Committee during Mr. Palmer's Bay Hill Invitational PGA tour stop in Orlando. The 6th hole is also where I volunteered -- 12 hours per day for the 7 day tournament -- during those years (2001-03) to drive the electric ambulance cart taking doctors and paramedics to persons in the gallery who needed medical attention -- also on occasion to assit the players' family and guests.

Such is the life of a non-golfer who comes from a golfing family.

Edited August 28, 2010 by jazzbo

[howzat]

Nostalgic and thanks for sharing your memories.

[sangfroid]

Your father sounds like he was a fine man Jazzbo and obviously well liked to have been honoured by the great man Arnold Palmer in that way. What a great place for a golfer to spend his eternity.

RIP Jazzbo's dad

Edited September 5, 2010 by sangfroid

[jazzbo]

Thanks to the 2 gents above ... He was the type of person who not only knew Mr. Palmer and the well-to-do Members at the course, but knew the name and often family situation of every employee and grounds-keeper who worked on or at the course itself... Always good for a game at 7 AM. Generally of a conservative nature and very different from myself.

[jazzbo]

This is my Dad after getting his first Hole-In-One at Bay Hill after 50+ years of playing golf ... also the link to the 6th Hole at Bay Hill where you can see the planted tree (Click on 'From the Green' it is one of the ones with the white bark left of the pin).

http://www.bayhill.c...ole-6-1786.html

[IanForbes]

Palmer was a class act in everything he did. It says something for your father if Arnold considered him a friend.

[jazzbo]

Thanks Ian -- but just to clarify, Mr. Palmer at age 81 is still going strong ... from Wikipedia:

An avid pilot for over 50 years, Palmer piloted a plane for the last time on January 31, 2011. He flew from Palm Springs, California to Orlando, Florida in his Cessna Citation X.

His pilot's medical certificate expired that day and he chose not to renew it.

... and the (now named) 'Arnold Palmer Invitational' will be played again next month at my old stomping grounds : http://www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com/

Edited February 13, 2011 by jazzbo

[Forethat]

jazzbo,

I've played Bay Hill many times. More than 50 years of golfing, huh? Next time I play there I'll make sure to pay some respect to your old man. 6th hole is a great hole, your old man has a fine resting place. Thanks for sharing this.