There are sports legends, there are sports business legends, and there is Arnold Palmer. Palmer’s energy, affability and fearless play helped change professional golf. Then, through his relationship with IMG’s Mark McCormack, he revolutionized the way a superstar athlete could be marketed. We visited his offices across from the Latrobe Country Club in Latrobe, Pa., part comfortable home base and part museum-quality testament to his long and remarkable career.
PHOTOS BY BARRY REEGER
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A model of Palmer’s Cessna Citation X. Palmer, a longtime pilot, took delivery of the first Citation X in 1996.
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Photos and certificates from Wake Forest University, Palmer’s alma mater.
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Crystal trophy from the 2012 Insperity Greats of Golf event. St Andrews photo is from 1995, Palmer’s final year of competing in the Open Championship.
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The Hickok Belt, awarded to Palmer as the top athlete of 1960.
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Case with player credential money clips, patches and pins.
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A replica of the U.S. Amateur trophy. Palmer won the event in 1954.
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Clubs belonging to former President Dwight Eisenhower, a friend and frequent golf partner of Palmer’s.
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Palmer with his bag from the UBS Cup, a competition pitting golfers from the U.S. and the rest of the world that ran from 2001 to 2004. Palmer was the U.S. captain each year.
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President George W. Bush awarded Palmer the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civil award, in 2004.
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For fun, Palmer’s wife, Kit, has a small display of her swimming medals from high school among Palmer’s awards and memorabilia. BELOW: Family photos
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Masters trophy
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A mantel full of trophies: Claret Jug, Ryder Cup, Senior Open, U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers hold their training camp nearby at Saint Vincent College, and Palmer, a huge Steelers fan, hosts players and coaches at the country club.
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A case holds just some of the many keys to cities that Palmer has received over the years.
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