| For almost fifty years, the name Arnold
Palmer has been synonymous with golf. Since he
first began competing on the links as a teenager in
Pennsylvania, people have loved to watch him work his
magic with the clubs, and his popularity has grown right
along with his success.
Today, there are many words that can be used to
describe Arnold Palmer — golf legend, business
executive, devoted husband, father and grandfather —
and prostate cancer survivor. |
Not too long ago, the athlete was diagnosed with prostate
cancer and, as he has done with everything else in his life,
Arnie tackled this challenge with concentration and
perseverance. He now stands as a positive role model for
men across the country who are battling this disease.
The Birth of a Legend
Arnie may not have been born with a golf club in his hand
when he entered the world on September 10, 1929 in Latrobe,
Pennsylvania, but he was swinging his first clubs by age
four. His father, Milfred “Deacon” Palmer, who
worked at Latrobe Country Club as both golf professional and
course superintendent, gave his young son lots of
encouragement and pointers so it came as no surprise that
young Arnie was beating some of the older caddies by the time
he reached his teen years.
In high school, Arnie really began to concentrate on his
game and his hard work paid off when he won his first of five
West Penn Amateur Championships at age 17. He went on to
win national junior events and, as a student at Wake Forest
University (then College), Arnie became the top man on the
golf course and one of the leading collegiate players of that
time. With graduation in sight, however, an auto
accident claimed the life of his close friend, Bud Worsham,
the younger brother of 1947 U.S. Open Champion Lew Worsham.
Deeply affected by the loss of his friend, Arnie left college
and signed up for a three-year hitch with the Coast Guard.
After discharge from the service, Arnie ended up in
Cleveland where he worked as a salesman and played amateur
golf. He won the U.S. Amateur Tournament in 1954,
followed by a second victory in the Ohio Amateur
competition. Later that year, he met Winifred Walzer,
who caught his eye at a tournament in Eastern
Pennsylvania. After a whirlwind courtship, they were
married in the fall of 1954 and she traveled with him as he
turned professional early the following year.
Arnie kicked off his professional career by winning the
1955 Canadian Open. Seven of his victories came in what
the golfing world considers the four major professional
championships. He won the Masters Tournament four times,
(1958, 60, 62 and 64); the U.S. Open in 1960; and the British
Open in 1961 and 62. Among these major tournaments, only
the PGA Championship has eluded him; but he has finished
second three times.
| In addition to his remarkable performance on the
country’s premier golf courses, Arnie’s charisma and
magnetic personality drew fans like bees to honey.
Television sports commentators dubbed his growing flock
of fans “Arnie’s Army;” a band of spectators made
up of loyal proponents of the sport and the man.
He entered the hottest stretch of his career in 1960,
when — before the end of 1963 |
— he landed 19 titles and accumulated almost $400,000
when the tournament purses were small compared to today’s
significant prizes. In three of those years, Arnie was
the leading money winner and twice he represented the U.S. in
the prestigious Ryder Cup Match, serving as the victorious
captain in 1963.
He was named “Athlete of the Decade” (1960s) by the
Associated Press in recognition of his enormous impact on the
game of golf, due in no small part to his popularity and
appeal. Since then, he has received virtually every
national award in golf, including both the Hickok Professional
Athlete of the Year” and Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman
of the Year” trophies. Arnie has been inducted into
the World Golf Hall of Fame as a Charter Member; the American
Golf Hall of Fame; and the PGA Hall of Fame. Since
his first pro victory in 1954 to the end of 1997, Arnold
Palmer amassed 92 championships in national or international
tourneys.
The name Arnold Palmer would be one of the most
recognizable in the world even if he had done nothing more
than play golf. But he has also earned well deserved
recognition as a successful entrepreneur. Not
surprisingly — under the umbrella of Arnold Palmer
Enterprises — many of his commercial ventures have to do
with golf: design and management of golf courses;
manufacturing sporting goods and golf equipment; cable TV’s
“The Golf Channel” based in Orlando; and the Arnold Palmer
Golf Academy.
Palmer As Spokesman
Over the past decade or so — off the course — the gentle,
friendly face of Arnold Palmer has appeared in both print and
electronic media for such diverse causes as spokesperson for a
premium motor oil, and as the national honorary chairman of
the March of Dimes Foundation. This is a man for whom
integrity is one of life’s cornerstones, and who pleads
convincingly for support in his fund-raising roles. He
recognizes that people do listen to what he has to say and he
takes this fact very seriously, especially when sharing
information about his experience with prostate cancer.
In this exclusive interview with PROACT, Arnie
shares some of his personal thoughts on the subject.
“Enjoying good health is especially important on
the golf course, so I have been in constant touch with my
doctors over the years,” Palmer explained. “They had
given me the results of my annual PSA tests so I was aware
that my prostate was acting up a little bit. I guess I
was aware of what might happen, but I had no idea that
anything was wrong. I didn’t have any feelings and, as
far as my personal health habits were concerned, nothing had
really changed.”
| “I guess most of us would rather not discuss cancer
because we are all afraid we might be told we have it,”
Palmer continued. “It’s hard for people to
even say the word, and that’s the first obstacle you
have to overcome when you are diagnosed with the
disease. I think once you understand a little more
about it... I don’t mean it gets any easier...but I
think you give it more in-depth thought about how you’re
going to deal with it.” |
Palmer says he has a lot of confidence in his doctors, at
the time of his diagnosis and now
“I believed strongly in what they were telling
me. I decided I was going to the Mayo Clinic —
where the diagnosis was confirmed — and then I proceeded to
get on with what was necessary. They told me the bottom
line on what I had, where it was, and how to treat it...and I
accepted that. While I certainly had all the options to
do whatever I wished, as far as the treatment was concerned, I
chose the aggressive option. I chose surgery,” Palmer
said, “and I’m happy with that decision. I was
fortunate to experience no side effects, other than the
recovery period which was, to me, rather lengthy. I
looked at it like this: if you’re recovering from cancer
then you’re in a pretty good mode, and should accept
it. Yes, indeed,” he said emphatically, “I’d make
the same decision again.”
About eight weeks after surgery, Arnie was back on the golf
course.
“I discovered that I was somewhat weak,” Arnie remembered,
“I didn’t have the strength that I felt I used to have.
This is certainly a consequence of surgery and you have to be
ready for that. I’m still not totally at full
strength, but I’m also getting older, so that may have
something to do with it,” he chuckled.
Arnie is concerned that men need to make the commitment to
maintaining good prostate health, and he offers some sound
advice on the subject:
“Just get your regular check-ups and PSAs and, if you’re
diagnosed, do everything you can to eradicate the
disease. I think we are fortunate to have the best
doctors in the world in this country. If you’re not
satisfied with the diagnosis and prognosis, then get another
couple of opinions. But, in the final analysis, you need
to do what it takes to get rid of the cancer and get on with
your life.”
Palmer says that a lot of men have come to him and said
that they are getting their PSAs because they have heard him
recommend it.
“I know that there are also a lot of men who are NOT
getting a regular PSA. I don’t know how you can
convince them that this simple test might just save
their life. I guess we just have to keep saying it
over and over, stressing that this is something that is
really very necessary. This is also an area where
I think it the federal government has a major role to
play. The government is, after all, the
people. They have a responsibility — in addition
to funding research — to help translate this message
to the general public.” |
|
Palmer is very stoic about being a cancer survivor. “I
think there is always the potential that, once you have been
diagnosed with cancer — depending on your age and attitude
on life — that this can affect your personality. I
would hope,” he said firmly, “that we can overcome
whatever ill effects that might have on us, and get on with
enjoying life.” |
