I know this is a bump from months ago, but I got to meet Arnie at Latrobe Country Club. They actually have a Stay and Play where you can spend the night at one of the homes owned by the club and play the course. I bought the picture I had with me to the course the next morning in case I saw him so that I could request an autograph. After playing the front nine I stopped in for lunch and they sat me at a table next to a window. I look out the window and see Palmer sitting in a cart talking with a few people. The waitress told me I could go and meet him when he came in for lunch, but I told her I wasn't going to bother him while he was eating.
After a little while, he came in and sat at a table with his brother Jerry, Doc (his assistant for a number of years), and another guy. When they got done eating and were about to leave, the waitress told him there is someone who would like to meet you, and I got up and introduced myself, told him where I was from, and I was glad to be there. He asked how I liked the club, and gladly autographed my picture. I then took a pic with him, Jerry and Doc.
When I left to go play the back nine, he was talking with the head pro, and watching a number of juniors tee off on the first hole. I played through the back nine and got to 18. The tee shot for 18 is downhill, and over the main road/entrance for the club. Arnold actually lives directly across the street from the club, so each day when he goes over he drives a golf cart across the street and down the club entrance. After I hit my tee shot I head down the cart path, and he's coming up the club entrance road to head back home. He waves and stops, and asks me how did I like the course. I told him I had fun and it was excellent, to which he said "Great!" smiled, waved goodbye and went on his way.
Despite the fact that age is definitely affecting him and severely limiting his mobility, his passion for the game and meeting people was evident to me. While we were eating lunch they had the golf channel on, and he was transfixed on it, and got excited while watching a few shots of players making/missing putts. He seemed to enjoy watching the junior players tee off and stopped a few times on the road to watch them play as well. The head pro said interacting with him was just like interacting with one of the guys, except of course its Arnold Palmer. Even though we just chatted for a little while, he came across as a nice, genuine individual. He's the only person I've ever asked for an autograph, and he appeared more than happy to do it. Glad I got a chance to experience it.
