I played a round with Arnold Palmer's old caddy this week!

BEND OF THE RIVER GC · July 29, 2006

AWESOME....TRUE STORY!

I was in Grand Haven, MI for a week on a family vacation. I always bring the sticks and try and sneak out for a round or two. Earlier in the week I got away long enough to play Hawkshead Links in Southaven, but I was short on time this day....so I headed over to this really nice (CHEAP!) little golf course called Terre Verde GC. I am in the parking lot getting my bag squared away and a guy pulls up and asks what the deal with the golf course is. I tell him that I had played it 2 years ago, it was CHEAP, in pretty nice shape with fairly quick greens, nice layout. I asked if he would like to join me since I was alone. After the 3rd hole, Jimmy tells me that he wants to tell me a golf story even though he thinks that I will NOT believe him. I said go for it. Jimmy Gill is 67, me 39 and he askes me about Arnold Palmer and if I am into golf history (I AM). Jimmy tells me how as a teenager he worked as a caddy at the Country Club of Detroit and in 1954 he caddied all week at the 1954 US Amateur. No big deal right? WRONG. He caddied all week for the winner, none other than Arnold Palmer! He said this win was characterized as the "turning point" of Arnie's career. He told me all about the last match and how Arnold never really spoke to him (had a real game face going on the whole week) and how Arnie kinda shafted him on the caddy fee for the week, compared to what the British guy who was the runner up paid his caddy anyway. $100 from Palmer, Sweeney paid $400. He wasn't salty about it though. He was interviewed by the golf Channel and they asked how generous Arnie was back then? He replied with, Well Arnie is paint salesman and business must not be all that good, I think that he needs to sell more paint! HA! Anyway the CC of Detroit threw a big celebration for the 50th anniversary of the win in 2004. He was invited to the gala as well. I really don't mind showing up alone at a golf course, as you'll never iknow who you'll meet there while playing! He also got to keep Arnie's golf glove and some other golf items Arnie gave him as well. At least I played well that afternoon and shot a 39 (Should have been a 38 of course!). You can read about the 50th Anniversary Gala here:

Palmer Story at USGA.ORG