1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: I mean he flipped the script on the New York 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: Yankees on the reigning American League m v P. Didn't 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,720 Speaker 1: he hadn't hit sixty one yet, but he had won 4 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: an m v P, and he told the New York Yankees, 5 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: what the fuck are you doing here? Put another log? Five? 6 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:40,319 Speaker 1: Nobody here is getting time. Welcome to the fire pit 7 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: with Matt Chinella, and we're back. Thankfully. It's still not 8 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: normal out there, but we're making progress. Certainly appreciate your 9 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: interest and support. If you really like what we're doing, 10 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: please take a second, write a review, subscribe, and share 11 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: some of our stories with your friends. Taking a minute 12 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: to thank Link Soul for their friendship, partnership and support. 13 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: What's links Soul. Here's Jeff Cunningham, co founder of the 14 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: lifestyle brand, with more I think Links sold. You know, 15 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 1: we've always called it just an idea that we we 16 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: just tend to. When we finally got chewed up and 17 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: spit out of enough corporate gigs, we decided to do 18 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,680 Speaker 1: this thing ourselves, um, the right way, because we just 19 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: don't fit into that culture anymore. And Links Soul, now 20 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: that you know about it, it's just it's not meant 21 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: to be in that it's not a it's not a 22 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: plant that grows in a corporate setting, so you know, 23 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: and a handshake in my backyard. On March third, oh nine, 24 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: o nine, we shook hands and decided to do it 25 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: this way, our way. Use promo code fire Pit discount 26 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: on all things at link soul dot com. Alright, as 27 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: we kick off season two of the fire Pit Piecast, 28 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: just a short reflection on where we've been since March, 29 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 1: which is when, while in quarantine, we hatched the idea 30 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,920 Speaker 1: of this podcast. Our first, which aired on what would 31 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: have been Masters Sunday of last year, was the story 32 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: of how and why John Ashworth caddied at the eight 33 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: six Masters for his childhood friend Mark Weeby Well. One 34 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:28,119 Speaker 1: interview led to the next and twenty plus podcast later, 35 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: Zoom Calling with the likes of Jack Nicholas, Ken Griffey Jr. 36 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 1: Walter Yos, Fred Couples, Jim Nance, Ben Crunshaw, Bill cor 37 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: Mike Kaiser, David kitt and so many more. And here 38 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: we are again an expanded fire Pit collective. But the 39 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: mission remains the same, which is to tell compelling stories. 40 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: As for the story we tell today, it's one of 41 00:02:54,080 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 1: my favorites, but it's also bittersweet. It's US Open week 42 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: of I'm on location at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania 43 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: working for the Golf Channel, and I'm there to lead 44 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,679 Speaker 1: into my feature on the Tree Removal at one of 45 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 1: the most respected venues in golf. I would also be 46 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: popping in on morning Drive throughout the week, joining my 47 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: colleagues Gary Williams and Damon Hack. The question leading into 48 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: the week was Arnold Palmer's health going to allow him 49 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: to make the trip from a Trobe to Oakmont, which 50 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: is a little over an hour away. I want to 51 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: say it was Monday of that week that word came 52 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: down that although Palmer's health had improved, he was going 53 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: to watch from home. He wished all the competitors good luck. 54 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: The good news, of course, his health had improved. The 55 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: bad news he was going to miss being a part 56 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: of yet another US Open in what has always been 57 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: his backyard. The events that took place that week which 58 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: afford it Gary, Damon and I to make the trip 59 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: to La Trobe and to not only have lunch with 60 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: Arnold Palmer, but to get time with him in his 61 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: office now seem like a dream. What you'll hear today 62 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: is that story, and you'll listen to actual phone footage 63 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: from that day that I've only shared with a select 64 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: few in intimate settings, and now, almost five years later, 65 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: I'm going to share it with you, and I'm having 66 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: Gary Williams, Damon hack, Dt Kiffen, and Bob Ford all 67 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: add their perspectives. You'll also hear from Arnold Palmer, but 68 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: we start with Gary Williams, a long time Golf Channel host, 69 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: friend and colleague, who helps set the stage for his narrative. 70 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: The story beyond the story which you're going to share, 71 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 1: is that he and let alone the game of golf. 72 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 1: I wasn't going to take a backseat to anybody normal. No, mo, 73 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: That's exactly what it was. And at that time, as 74 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: big as baseball and boxing and thoroughbred horse racing was 75 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: in this country, there was a new star on television 76 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: and it wasn't John Wayne. It was a p Again, 77 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: this is a story I've told a lot, and you'll 78 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: get portions of my version throughout, but I also asked 79 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: Gary and Damon to share with me how they tell 80 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: their version of the story. I set it up by 81 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 1: going back a couple of months because I thought the 82 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: previous time that I had seen him was going to 83 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: be the last time, and it was sad. And it 84 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 1: was on the lawn at Augusta National during Masters Week, 85 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: and he was he looked frail, and he looked ill. 86 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: And I went over to him and he was with 87 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: Kit and sat down with him on the lawn there 88 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 1: and chatted with him for about a half an hour. 89 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: A nice chat, but it was it was a different 90 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:07,239 Speaker 1: kind of talk, I mean, because he he I could 91 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: sense in him some fear to be honest with you. 92 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 1: And so when I left the Masters that week, you know, 93 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: my recollection was of you know, it's always a special week, 94 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: but that I had seen Arnold Palmer for the last time. 95 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: So that was April of spent forward two months to 96 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: US Open Week when I got to Oakmont and not 97 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: only was hosting Morning Drive, Damon and I were hosting 98 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 1: Morning Drive, but I also had done a feature on 99 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: Bob Ford for that week. So I have been up there, 100 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: uh the week prior to do these interviews with with 101 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 1: Bob and his family played in the swat lost about 102 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:51,479 Speaker 1: three fifty eight dollars. Bob Ford, the iconic and legendary 103 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,479 Speaker 1: pro who was at Oakmont for thirty seven years, and 104 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 1: who's been double dipping as director of golf Operations at 105 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: Seminole in Florida since two thousand and provides a brief 106 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: history on the famous money game at Well the Swan 107 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: was started by the Phones family who founded the club, 108 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: So it's been going on for a long long time. Uh, 109 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: you know, it's a it's a pickup game. You you know, 110 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: put your name in the hat and the captain makes 111 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: the themes and you go at a certain time and 112 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: you play everybody at ten dollar and NaSTA on today's 113 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: world and uh, come in and figure out how much 114 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: you want are lost and pay your bets and have 115 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: some beers and it's just a great fraternity. The greatest 116 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: thing about it is that you have a game. You 117 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: have a game three times a week. You don't have 118 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: to make a game. Uh you know, you played with 119 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: different guys all the time, and it's just and it's 120 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: a scratch game, you know, it's not a you know, 121 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: uh handicapped game where everybody's complaining about everybody's handicap and 122 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: it's just just real golf. I asked Bob if he 123 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: remembered Gary losing money in the Swad the week before 124 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: the US Open. Do you remember that. Yeah, yeah, poor Burger, 125 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: I'll tell you he came down here and fleeced me 126 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 1: out of a few hundred. He made six birdies on me. 127 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: I was done by the six. Hold. Yeah, that's the truth. 128 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: The next week when I went in, it was Monday 129 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: of that week. I went to see Bob and they 130 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: were gonna have him on Live from He was gonna 131 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: be on Coming out of the Future, And just arbitrarily, 132 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: he said, Gary, you should go over and see the 133 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: old man this week. And I said, what do you mean. 134 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: He said, he's rallied And I said, you're kidding me. 135 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 1: He said, nope. He said he's not gonna be here 136 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: this week, but I'm telling you he's rallied again. Bob 137 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: Ford on how he knew Mr Palmer's health had improved. 138 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: The friday before the week, I took devn Gee, who 139 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: took my place at Oakmon. I took him up to 140 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: have lunch with Arnold, and uh, you know, we had 141 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: lunch with him and he was terrific. He was sharp. 142 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 1: He got up from the table, walked away pretty good. 143 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: And uh, actually, I think that was the last time 144 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: I saw Arnold. You know, I said, look, you've gotta 145 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: come down. We gotta play this summer. We gotta play 146 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: one more time at Oakmont. I'll come up to Latrobe 147 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 1: and he said absolutely, and yeah, and play golf in 148 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: about a year. And we obviously didn't get to do it. 149 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: But but I thought he was well enough for you 150 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: guys all to go up and you know, just say 151 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: him and say hi, and he would have he would 152 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: have loved that. I stuck that in the back of 153 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:26,439 Speaker 1: my mind. But it didn't appear that our schedules were 154 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: gonna permit us to to carve out time to drive 155 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: almost an hour over to Latrobe. At this point, say 156 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: it's Monday of US Open Week, and hearing that Mr 157 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: Palmer won't be making the trip to Oakmont, I had 158 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 1: never had the thought of going to visit him in Latrobe. 159 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 1: Now we're here from Damon Hack, another long time friend 160 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 1: and colleague at the Golf Channel. This is how I 161 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: remember US Open Week Oakmont Country Club. We're there for 162 00:09:55,600 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: the Golf Channel. It's a huge week. Obviously we know 163 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: that the founder of Golf Channel, Arnold Palmer, the best 164 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: friend the game of golf has ever had, is not 165 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: doing well. So that's kind of also in the story. 166 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: We know he's from La Trobe. We're not that far away. 167 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: In the Trope. To me had always been this mystery 168 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 1: placed in the game of golf, and I kind of 169 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: had just assumed I would never go. I'd never been 170 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: to La Trobe. I had never been invited to one 171 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: of the Arnold Palmer charity events that that some of 172 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: the other reporters had gone to Savoricuz, I know it 173 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:31,559 Speaker 1: covered a couple of them, and I just said, figured, 174 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm gonna be too busy this week. Anyway, 175 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be at Oakland every day, and this is 176 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: gonna be one of those places in golf and I'm 177 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 1: probably ever be able to go to. And I had 178 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: kind of accepted that, you know, you can't go everywhere 179 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 1: in the game, and I had known about the Trope 180 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: Country Club and what it meant to Aarnold Palmer his family. 181 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: I just felt like, it's there's not a place I 182 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: would ever be able to go. I was with Damon. 183 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: I had never been, and it was looking a lot 184 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 1: like I'd never go. And then inclement weather was in 185 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: the forecast. Now back to Gary you know, you talked 186 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: about the the wonky weather and them having to start 187 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: and stop Day knocked Morning Drive off the air on 188 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 1: Saturday morning because they were gonna bring on live from 189 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: early before Fox resumed their coverage. That was obviously, as 190 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: you know, the second year of Fox's coverage, so we 191 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: had rights issues, so we had Saturday off the way. 192 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: I remember we're at dinner during the week and we 193 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 1: find out that because of the weather delays and some 194 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: of the issues, that there's not gonna be a Morning 195 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: Drive that next morning, that we're actually gonna have a 196 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: show the following day. No show the next morning. I 197 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: remember us being at dinner and I remember Gary Williams 198 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: face lighting up and he says, I'm calling Corey. We're 199 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: going to see Mr Palmer, and I was silent. I 200 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: was like wow. I recall being at that dinner and 201 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,719 Speaker 1: finding out we had the day off. I thought we 202 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 1: got Thursday off. Gary remembers it being Saturday. It was 203 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: actually that Friday, June round two of the U S Open. 204 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: So I called Corey Britt, who you know, along with 205 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: Doc Given was he was really you know, Corey was 206 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 1: running everything on a on a real day to day 207 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: it was more doc on a on, a more of 208 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:32,599 Speaker 1: an honorarium ceremonial role, although Doc's sharpest attack. So I 209 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: called Corey and I said, listen, I want to come 210 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: over to Latrobe with Matt and Damon. Those guys haven't 211 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: been over there, they haven't been in Mr Palmer's office, 212 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 1: and I'm not asking for any time with him. He said, Gary, 213 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: come on, He'd love to see you guys. Come on. 214 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: And I just was like, Wow, what a great opportunity 215 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: for me at already accept that I would never go 216 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: to Latrobe and never have a chance to see it, 217 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: and I knew what it meant to the history of game, 218 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: and I get goose bumps just thinking about it. We're 219 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: you know, we're going to the Rope Country Club Tomorrow's like, okay, 220 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: there's no morning drive. We're going. So I remember us 221 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: caravanning out the next day and listen, I've covered, you know, 222 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: Michael Jordan's Patrick during interview Tiger. I've been on the 223 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 1: first team Augusta twice, the old course at St. Andrew's. 224 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: I was as nervous and excited, had that nervous energy 225 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: as any time in my life. For a lot of reasons. 226 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: You're going to the home of the King, Arnold Palmer. 227 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: You know he's not doing well physically, so there's all 228 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: these emotions that are swirling at the time as we're 229 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: driving up. Like I said earlier, I actually chronicled this 230 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: entire trip with both videos and pictures, which will soon 231 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 1: be releasing on the fire Pit Collective YouTube channel. I 232 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: guess we had the idea that if I shot it 233 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: on my phone, we could potentially use some of it 234 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: on Morning Drive the next day or even the following week. 235 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: This is what we recorded as a possible opener to 236 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 1: whatever we ultimately never used on air. It's Gary and 237 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: Damon out front, just before going into the clubhouse of 238 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: Latrobe Country Club, the entrance to the Holy King Day 239 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: and the first time you've been here. It is the 240 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: old country Club. It's amazing to be here. And I 241 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: can honestly say, before I knew what golf was, I 242 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: knew who Unld Palmer was, and it's really to be 243 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: able to be here today. But a gorgeous day. It 244 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: really is so nostalgic. It's like walking back in time. 245 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: We're gonna walk down to the pro shop and then 246 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: we expect to meet the King in the clubhouse here 247 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 1: in about fifteen or twenty minutes. We definitely arrived earlier 248 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: that day. There was no chance we were going to 249 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: be late. While we waited for lunch towards the clubhouse, 250 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: which was covered in black and white pictures of the 251 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: good old days, there was obviously lots of memorabilia throughout. 252 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: This is before we even see Mr Palmer. We're kind 253 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: of getting a run of the place where we're seeing 254 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: some of the old furniture upstairs in the club house. 255 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: Some of it had like the the cover still on it, 256 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: that kind of that kind of clear wrapper over like 257 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: you know your grandparents sofa that you used to see 258 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: back in the day. And it's almost like time literally 259 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 1: stood still. The clubhouse everything was very throwback old school. 260 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: It looked like it might as well have been from 261 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: the nineteen seventies. And the way I remember it is, 262 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: at some point it's it's getting towards lunchtime, and uh, 263 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: it doc in bites us downstairs and we're kind of 264 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: waiting to see if if Mr Palmer's gonna join us, 265 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: and you know, we don't know how he's feeling that 266 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: day necessarily, so um, sure enough he comes down. He's 267 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: not moving all that great, but his face is bright. 268 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 1: He lights up. He's got his doc is there. I 269 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: would say his brother might have been there, and there's 270 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: his pilot was there. We're basically all arriving at the 271 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: table at the same time. So Damon receded to Mr 272 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: Palmerson right. Gary was on his left. I was actually 273 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 1: at the table next to them, but close enough to 274 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: hear the conversation. I don't recall doing anything other than 275 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 1: listening when we sat down. And then the waiter you know, 276 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: went around the table. He asked Damon what he wanted, 277 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: and Damon kind of he paused, and Mr Palmerson look 278 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: he was Damon was two to his right and and 279 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: he looked at and said, don't blow it, like you 280 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: know what you're ordering, aren't you. The waitress comes to 281 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: me first and asks me what I want to drink? 282 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: And I'm like, what what are we drinking? Alcoholiday? Are 283 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: we are? We isn't gonna be straight up? Are we 284 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: drinking waters? And I believe I ordered an old Palmer, 285 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 1: which is either like the coolest move ever by me 286 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: or like the lamest move ever to order an honor 287 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: Palmer while sitting that's an Arnold Palmer. But I believe 288 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: that's what I ordered and had. And Gary said, he 289 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 1: remembers the l waitress comes to you first and says, 290 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: what would you like to drink? And you're like, You're thinking, like, 291 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: what are we doing here? Are we? Are we doing alcohol? 292 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,199 Speaker 1: Adby should I order? Being? What should I do? And 293 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 1: he says, Arnold looks at you and goes, don't blow this. 294 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 1: I was so nervous. I mean, yeah, you got that's pressure. 295 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: I'm telling you less pressure playing Augusta Nashville than than 296 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: going to hang out with Arnold Palmer at Latrope Country Club. 297 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 1: And he's a guys guy. I mean, he's all about, 298 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:42,879 Speaker 1: you know, the inside joke, the wink, the elbow to 299 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 1: the ribs, and he he is as delightful as you 300 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,880 Speaker 1: can imagine. But he's also he's a man's man. So 301 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 1: I remember ordering an Arnold Palmer, and you know, I 302 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: think a couple of people around the table might have 303 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 1: ordered the same. I can't remember exactly. I remember just 304 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: wanting to get it over with, you know, getting my 305 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 1: getting my order out of the way. I wanted her 306 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: to walk away from me, go go ahead and make 307 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 1: your way around the table because I was like, this 308 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: is just too this is too much. What do I order? 309 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 1: All Sitting next to Aunold Palmer sitting in a clubhouse 310 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: at Latrobe, so he orders an Auto Palmer. Mr. Mr 311 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 1: Palmer had a hot dog that was about the size 312 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 1: of a fungo. I mean, it was so all American. 313 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 1: He has an Orno Palmer glass of brandy and this 314 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 1: big giant hot dog with mustard smeared on it. And 315 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: we're watching the US Open at Old Mont with Arnold Palmer. 316 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 1: So of course you remember the teams are on. Our 317 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: show had been canceled, but the coverage of the tournament 318 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:45,879 Speaker 1: of the of the U s Open was on, and 319 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:48,919 Speaker 1: so you know, we're making small top and you know, 320 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 1: he's telling some stories and he's looking around. I think 321 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:56,199 Speaker 1: there was like a wedding going on or something, and 322 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: there was like the bride to be came over at 323 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 1: one point and took a picture with Mr Palmer sat 324 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: on his lap, and then the whole bit, And I 325 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: mean it's like everything that you knew and you've heard 326 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 1: about him, he's just is loving and gregarious, is anyone, 327 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,959 Speaker 1: and and and kind of recognizing a pretty woman as well. 328 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: And not missing that opportunity to take a photo or 329 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: with her. But then he got down to business, and 330 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: we're watching the tournament. We're watching the US Open, a 331 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: tournament that meant a lot to Arnold Palmer, of course. 332 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 1: And of course this played at at Oakmont ABO, an 333 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: hour plus from where we're dining that day. So this 334 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,880 Speaker 1: is an opportunity for all of us to actually picked 335 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: the brain of one of the greatest players of all time, 336 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: the greatest ambassador of the game has ever known. And 337 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: and we know that we don't have all that much 338 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,920 Speaker 1: time with him on this day, or or on this earth. 339 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:53,119 Speaker 1: And you know, I was sitting to his right and 340 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: we're watching the TV and at one point, Jason Day 341 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: comes on on the screen. And I've always been intrigued 342 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 1: by Jason Day's short game. He kind of like a 343 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: Steve Stricker, very little wrist hinge, if at all, It's 344 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: more of a body move. So Jason hits the shot 345 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 1: from the rough, and I immediately turned to Mr Palmer, Hey, like, Hey, 346 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: what what do you think about that shot? You do 347 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: you like that kind of style of short game? And 348 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: I'm like rambling, I'm stumbling over my words, and he goes, 349 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:22,639 Speaker 1: you better look at the screen. You're gonna miss it 350 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,680 Speaker 1: because they had done a slow mo of Jason Day 351 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:29,160 Speaker 1: and his move through the ball. And I'm like looking 352 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: at Mr Palmer looking for some wisdom, and he's like, 353 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,880 Speaker 1: hey man, it's right there on the screen. They're they're 354 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: doing a slow mo. And I'm like, you know, uh, 355 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:37,679 Speaker 1: you know, He's like, he's giving me a little one 356 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: of these little elbows to to the ribs, and I'm 357 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 1: just like, you know, I'm doing everything but sweating, trying 358 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 1: to talk golf with the legendary Arnold Palmer. And we're 359 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: sitting and we're getting real time analysis from the King 360 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: watching the US Open and his beloved Open, and I'm 361 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,199 Speaker 1: amazing how sharp and engaged, and he's paying attention to 362 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 1: every single shot on the tube and he's wanting us 363 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 1: to do the same, while also telling stories and giving 364 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,200 Speaker 1: a little stick as well. And at one point Phil Mickelson, 365 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: of course, is chasing the career Grand Slam, trying to 366 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:18,400 Speaker 1: win an elusive US Open. Has six runner up finishes 367 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: at that point, and I turned again to to Mr Palmer. 368 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,679 Speaker 1: I said, hey, you know the Phil and his press 369 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: conference this week is pretermam at press conference, and he's 370 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 1: gonna lay up every day on the drivel par for 371 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: seventeenth hole. And it's surprising considering how aggressive he normally plays. 372 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: You know, what do you think about that philosophy? He 373 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: go as well, if he lays up all four days 374 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:43,679 Speaker 1: on seventeen, he's gonna have seven runner up finishes in 375 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 1: the US Open. I mean, he was just quick, quick 376 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:50,679 Speaker 1: on his feet, great line, knowing how much of the 377 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 1: U s Open means to to film Michaelson and he's like, hey, 378 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 1: I'm not buying that strategy. He was still thinking about 379 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 1: being an aggressive player and saying, Phil, you got six. 380 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 1: You've been dumb, and you're about that seven if you 381 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 1: don't try to drive green. Just the wisdom of the man, 382 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: the energy of the man, how sharp he was, how 383 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:16,439 Speaker 1: happy he was that we were in his midst of 384 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:20,439 Speaker 1: that afternoon watching the game that he loved and knowing 385 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: how much we loved him. It was just, uh, I 386 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:26,879 Speaker 1: can I can just picture it. It's like I'm trans 387 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 1: transported back in time. It's like I'm there right now. 388 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 1: But that's when that's when you're thinking, Okay, we're done. 389 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: This is as good as it's gonna get check. Please, no, no, 390 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 1: he says, why don't you guys come back over to 391 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: the office. I remember the little drive that we took 392 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:50,439 Speaker 1: up to the office. I remember walking in there. And 393 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 1: you want to talk about Disneyland for golfers. First of all, 394 00:22:56,080 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: there's only one artifact in golf history that doesn't reside 395 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 1: in that office, and that's the Watermaker Trophy. Because he 396 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: won everything else he wont. He literally virtually won everything else, 397 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: so that the front of the office is a museum 398 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: where where his staff is, and then he's got the 399 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 1: workshop where there's ten zillion clubs, and then when you 400 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:21,919 Speaker 1: make your way back it is it's that. If that 401 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:26,639 Speaker 1: office wasn't the epitome of the Arnold Palmer office, I 402 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 1: mean just it was. It's everything that you would think 403 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 1: it would be, and then something. I mean, there's every 404 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: important piece of memorabilia in the history of the game 405 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: outside of a p GA championship is in that office. 406 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 1: And you've got my Rider cup bags and US Open 407 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:53,439 Speaker 1: trophy and incredible memorabilia. The Arnaty magazine was there. Remember 408 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: many copies of that beautiful glossy magazine. Just the amount 409 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: of trophies we saw his his little tool rum wheres. 410 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: Golf clubs were hundreds of golf clubs all over the walls. 411 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,199 Speaker 1: It was just like, if you love this game and 412 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 1: you get to spend five seconds in this office, you're 413 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 1: just moved thinking about the incredible history that he was 414 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: a part of. He had the little wall also where 415 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 1: he had the airplanes, all the different airplanes that he 416 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:25,880 Speaker 1: had flown throughout his life. He had like a kind 417 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:29,680 Speaker 1: of a miniature on the wall. All you know, he's 418 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: one of the first golfers and athletes to pilot himself, 419 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: you know, to golf tournaments into two two outings and 420 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:41,199 Speaker 1: different things. So there's that aspect of his life. It 421 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:44,640 Speaker 1: really was a special experience. Doc greeted us at what 422 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,400 Speaker 1: was a converted house now a mini museum and office. 423 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:53,199 Speaker 1: Again you're hearing video from that day, Doc giving us 424 00:24:53,280 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: part of the tour. And that's the HICCO when he 425 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: won that when the Open End of Masters that year 426 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:07,880 Speaker 1: and then was selected the Professional Athlete of the Year. 427 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:15,679 Speaker 1: Because you've heard it, love that story, I feel like 428 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: we might need to hear it one more time. I'll 429 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: tell a little difference in I clean it up. What 430 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:26,199 Speaker 1: what what was it? Who were the detail? When they 431 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 1: all gathered in Rochester for the for the awards ceremony, 432 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: all the winners, the monthly winners were all there, including 433 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 1: Roger Marris who having one of his great years. And Okay, sorry, 434 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: you want to see if I can call it? Uh? 435 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 1: Where was I? So Doc finished telling us the Roger 436 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: Merris story his version, but for the purpose of this podcast, 437 00:25:56,560 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: you'll be hearing from the king, after all, it is 438 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: his story. But first a little more context. Apparently, the S. 439 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: Ray Hiccock Professional Athlete of the Year Award the Hiccock Belt, 440 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 1: is a trophy that was awarded from nineteen fifty to 441 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy six. It was in honor of Stephen Ray Hiccock, 442 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 1: founder of the Hiccock Manufacturing Company which made belts. So 443 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:27,040 Speaker 1: every winner of Athlete of the Month would be invited 444 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 1: to Rochester for the award ceremony, where one of them 445 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 1: would be crowned Athlete of the Year. Prior to nineteen sixty, 446 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:39,199 Speaker 1: winners included Phil Rizzutto, Willie Mays, and Otto Graham. The 447 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:43,959 Speaker 1: belt itself was impressive, alligator skin with a solid gold buckle, 448 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 1: an encrusted four carrot diamond, twenty six gem clips and 449 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,360 Speaker 1: roughly valued at a hundred and fifty grand. In nineteen sixty, 450 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:55,639 Speaker 1: only eleven athletes were invited because Arnold Palmer, winner of 451 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:58,120 Speaker 1: the Masters and the US Open at Cherry Hills that year, 452 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: was two time Fleet of the Month. But to go 453 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: back to the trobe as the tour of the office continued, 454 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 1: I just happened to be filming as we got the 455 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:14,439 Speaker 1: invite to see Mr Palmer in his office. Aren't can 456 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:22,880 Speaker 1: I shure the guys in here? What a mean? Guys? Yes, 457 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:35,959 Speaker 1: Arnold's Office. Family time, the first time family on that 458 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:44,680 Speaker 1: wall over years, wake Force University, speaking at Tremasm, more 459 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:47,880 Speaker 1: reflections from Damon and then Gary, and then of course 460 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 1: he invites us into his office of a huge office 461 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:55,919 Speaker 1: with another airplane on the table, and I'll just never forget. 462 00:27:56,920 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: Ask me something, guys, ask me anything, asked me anything? 463 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:04,919 Speaker 1: You want again? He settled in behind his desk, and 464 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:08,879 Speaker 1: then I knew I just I needed I needed him. 465 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,399 Speaker 1: I needed him to bring the curtain down the only 466 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 1: way that he could, and that was to tell the story. 467 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:22,640 Speaker 1: Do you mind telling us the Roger Merri's story nineteen 468 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:32,919 Speaker 1: sixty with the belt oh the belts out there. Yes, Well, 469 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 1: they decided to call all of uh monthly winners to Rochester, 470 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: New York to present the winner of the Hitcock Fell, 471 00:28:53,120 --> 00:29:00,120 Speaker 1: which is the Hiccock felt Man. Very buddy hesitated. And 472 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 1: they finally got to New York and in a hotel there, 473 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:11,080 Speaker 1: and we're all standing around and all like, you know, 474 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 1: everybody one thing he talked about, you name him, like 475 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 1: Mickey Man or Roger Maris uh Rockey Morciano, Robert for 476 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 1: all months. And so then just before they called everybody upstairs, 477 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 1: they said, okay, we'll war upstairs now to present the 478 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 1: winner of the Hipcock Bell for the year. And so 479 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: we all got in front of the elevator and I 480 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:51,440 Speaker 1: was standing there beside Roger Mayors h and we just 481 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: said a long He looked up at me and like 482 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:59,160 Speaker 1: I'm looking at you and he says, what the fuck 483 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 1: are you? Yeah, And I was embarrassed. I didn't know 484 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 1: what to do, so I didn't say a word. I 485 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:14,720 Speaker 1: just starting the elevator and went upstairs. Well, I had 486 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:22,360 Speaker 1: two musicals and some stuff. Decided to present the winner 487 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:28,960 Speaker 1: the Hiccart Belt. So they announced the winner and they 488 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:34,720 Speaker 1: said in the winner for nineteen sixty of the Hiccot 489 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:40,760 Speaker 1: Belt is Arnold Palmer, and I had no idea I 490 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 1: was standing there. Roder Merritt was right beside. M hmm. 491 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 1: I looked at it. I decided I did even turned 492 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:59,040 Speaker 1: and I looked at and I said, oh, by the way, Roger, 493 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 1: what the fund us? It was fun and that was good. 494 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: Did you guys become buddies after that? Did you guys 495 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:24,360 Speaker 1: become buddies after that? Yeah? He months later he called 496 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 1: me a very hill and we talked a little about me. 497 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 1: He said, hey, by the way, can I played very Hill? 498 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 1: And I said, sure, come on, I don't I'll play 499 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 1: with you. Well he became friends. So that's it. Arnold 500 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 1: Palmer telling the story about how he flipped the script 501 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 1: on Roger Merris, the New York Yankees and mainstream sports 502 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:58,280 Speaker 1: now more reflections from Doc Damon and Gary and the 503 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 1: aftermath is. Some years later, Roger Marris had a bare 504 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:07,640 Speaker 1: distributorship in Tampa, and he and Arnold became good friends. 505 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:11,520 Speaker 1: They visited each other. I wouldn't say great friends, but 506 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:15,440 Speaker 1: they became. They were very friendly in the subsequent years, 507 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 1: which is typical orally. He never held a grudge against anybody. 508 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 1: It didn't surprise me at all that from a moment 509 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:25,960 Speaker 1: of of stress and strife and two alpha males kind 510 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 1: of pulping their chest out that ultimately those two would 511 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:32,400 Speaker 1: find some common ground in the game of golf and 512 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 1: spent some time together a chaste in the great game. 513 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:38,840 Speaker 1: I mean, how often would that happen? Where you know, 514 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:41,160 Speaker 1: I've got a couple of guys like us show up 515 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 1: and we get a chance to sort of walk through 516 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:48,280 Speaker 1: the office and spend time with Mr Palmer like that. Oh, 517 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 1: it wasn't that often. It was maybe three four, three 518 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:56,280 Speaker 1: or four times a year, maybe more than that, but 519 00:32:56,360 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 1: not But we had people through the office in way 520 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:06,160 Speaker 1: of tours almost daily, uh, by request of individuals, and 521 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:10,840 Speaker 1: some of them were actually business oriented trips that where 522 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:13,600 Speaker 1: it was part of a part of a commitment he 523 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 1: made for appearances for a company. It was so special 524 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 1: for us. I mean, here I am. He was my 525 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: first autograph. My dad brought me over to watch him 526 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:24,960 Speaker 1: play at the Silverado when I was just a kid, 527 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:28,760 Speaker 1: um and he signed my my cap And then I 528 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:32,000 Speaker 1: go on to I worked at Sports Illustrated obviously and 529 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:35,280 Speaker 1: did some stuff there with you guys and then to 530 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:39,240 Speaker 1: Golf Digest and then to Golf Channel, which he started, 531 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:41,480 Speaker 1: you know, helped start, and then Morning Drive and then 532 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:43,840 Speaker 1: to be able to go also then to connect the 533 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:48,840 Speaker 1: dots to Latrobe and spend intimate time with him at 534 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:52,880 Speaker 1: that time in my life and be able to essentially, 535 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:55,040 Speaker 1: you know, we didn't know it at the time, but 536 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 1: you know, that was the last time we all saw him. 537 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:02,280 Speaker 1: Um and uh so it's just a tremendous It was 538 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 1: tremendous memory and moment for me in my life. I 539 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:09,759 Speaker 1: think Gary and Damon have said the same. Um. And 540 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:12,680 Speaker 1: it was so nice that we had that opportunity. That 541 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:15,480 Speaker 1: was probably that was probably the last time that he 542 00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:19,400 Speaker 1: had a group like you three guys in his lifetime. 543 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:23,439 Speaker 1: I don't I don't recall anything in those final few 544 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:26,279 Speaker 1: months because his health was so bad he was not 545 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:31,840 Speaker 1: even coming to the office some days. Wow. That that really, 546 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:35,480 Speaker 1: that's really amazing talk was his passing was still a 547 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:37,840 Speaker 1: shock to me. I thought that they were going to 548 00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:40,480 Speaker 1: he was going in for that heart surgery and we 549 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:44,640 Speaker 1: thought that might be you know, I turn him around, 550 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:54,200 Speaker 1: but didn't. M H. Still still a shocked to you today. Yeah, yeah, Wow, 551 00:34:55,000 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 1: he said that that our visit would have been the 552 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:06,680 Speaker 1: last visit by anyone he sitting down and uh having 553 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:13,680 Speaker 1: a conversation and at a meeting like that in his office. Wow, Wow, 554 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,440 Speaker 1: that's that's heavy. I mean, I've always thought this was 555 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:19,840 Speaker 1: a heavy trip. I always thought it was like a 556 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:23,279 Speaker 1: heavy life affirming trip. But to know that we were 557 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:26,760 Speaker 1: the last to have that kind of a special visit 558 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:31,640 Speaker 1: with him in his office is just it's incredible for 559 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:33,719 Speaker 1: for those of us. I mean, think about how much 560 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 1: you love this game, mad and how much Gary loves, 561 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:38,760 Speaker 1: how much I love it, how much we love Mr Palmer, 562 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:42,520 Speaker 1: what he's meant to our life and career as a player, 563 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:47,919 Speaker 1: as a businessman, And to think we had that special 564 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:52,200 Speaker 1: time with him, and we saw him move around the 565 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:54,239 Speaker 1: office and moved on to the clubhouse. He didn't he 566 00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:57,479 Speaker 1: didn't look all that great when he moved, but man, 567 00:35:57,520 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 1: he was still sharp and he was alive when we 568 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:04,120 Speaker 1: were in his presence. And to imagine that we have 569 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:08,960 Speaker 1: that special gift to take with us going forward to 570 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:11,120 Speaker 1: tell the story of our time with him is just 571 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:14,759 Speaker 1: it's beautiful. I did not know that, and uh, it 572 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:16,920 Speaker 1: makes it that much more special to know that that 573 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:20,040 Speaker 1: we were the last to spend that kind of special 574 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:25,040 Speaker 1: time with him. Thank god there was a weather delay. Again, 575 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:29,280 Speaker 1: logic and reasons sometimes don't. They don't play in every game, 576 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:34,640 Speaker 1: they don't. Fate brought us to Latrolle, Pennsylvania on that 577 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:39,200 Speaker 1: Saturday afternoon and we got to you know, we didn't 578 00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:44,880 Speaker 1: say goodbye, but we got to say goodbye basically because 579 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,640 Speaker 1: he was you know that that line, I'm not as 580 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:51,359 Speaker 1: good as I once was, but I can be as 581 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:55,720 Speaker 1: good once as I ever was that Saturday afternoon telling 582 00:36:55,800 --> 00:37:00,160 Speaker 1: that story. He was as good as he could ever be. 583 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:05,000 Speaker 1: You know, we left there. We were like flying if 584 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:07,080 Speaker 1: we were in a limo with the sunroof. We had 585 00:37:07,080 --> 00:37:09,200 Speaker 1: all been hanging out at the top of it, you know, 586 00:37:09,239 --> 00:37:17,439 Speaker 1: like like women in Vegas. I mean we were like, 587 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 1: we know, it's like Tom hankson Big Got the limo 588 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:28,720 Speaker 1: andies we're in the blue tuxedo. We were growing up kids. 589 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:32,400 Speaker 1: We were grown up kids. It was it was it 590 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:37,800 Speaker 1: was I'll never that will be forever, you know, obviously, 591 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:42,200 Speaker 1: it's it's it's one of the most precious, one of 592 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 1: the absolute quintessential moments of my life, where the were 593 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:53,480 Speaker 1: the intersection of friendship and and career um and and 594 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:58,960 Speaker 1: in idolizing came to just it was a convergence, it 595 00:37:59,040 --> 00:38:01,800 Speaker 1: really was. It was a confluence of all the things 596 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:05,440 Speaker 1: that as boys you want to idolize your idols, but 597 00:38:05,520 --> 00:38:07,840 Speaker 1: remember who they are and that they just do whatever 598 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:12,640 Speaker 1: they do. But golf provides certain things, and that those 599 00:38:12,760 --> 00:38:17,800 Speaker 1: those moments of fellowship connected with with with figures that 600 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:20,319 Speaker 1: that you grew up either love and watching and then 601 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:24,560 Speaker 1: you come to actually know. And and oh, by the way, 602 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:27,040 Speaker 1: none of us wanted that to be the last time 603 00:38:27,040 --> 00:38:32,400 Speaker 1: that we ever saw him, of course not, but it was. 604 00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:41,759 Speaker 1: Arnold Palmer died of heart complications on September two, thousand sixteen, 605 00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:46,160 Speaker 1: shortly after his eighty seventh birthday, and while awaiting heart 606 00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:50,520 Speaker 1: surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. I can't 607 00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:54,479 Speaker 1: remember how I heard or exactly where I was that day, 608 00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:56,719 Speaker 1: but I remember I was on my own at a 609 00:38:56,800 --> 00:39:00,840 Speaker 1: charity event. It was a big barn setting, several food stations, 610 00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:05,400 Speaker 1: party atmosphere. I immediately got lost in a quiet corner, 611 00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:11,480 Speaker 1: sat down on a sofa, and I cried. It was 612 00:39:11,520 --> 00:39:14,040 Speaker 1: exactly one hundred days after a visit to the Troll 613 00:39:16,160 --> 00:39:20,080 Speaker 1: King is Dead. Long Live the King. And on that 614 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:24,160 Speaker 1: note and given its Master's Week, Bob Ford one more 615 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,880 Speaker 1: time on another one of Arnold Palmer's famous stories about 616 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:31,360 Speaker 1: flipping the script on the doubters and the disrespecters of 617 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:36,920 Speaker 1: the crown. Jesus he loved. He loved a couple of 618 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:39,080 Speaker 1: stories that he just loved. That was one of them. 619 00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:41,880 Speaker 1: The Hogan story was the other one. He said, you know, 620 00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:44,280 Speaker 1: I never sat down where he didn't tell those two stories. 621 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:48,520 Speaker 1: I'm not what's the what was the Hogan story? Well, 622 00:39:48,640 --> 00:39:52,680 Speaker 1: when he when he endal played h Hogan and Jackie 623 00:39:52,680 --> 00:39:57,439 Speaker 1: Burke practice round at AUGUSTA not familiar with I've never 624 00:39:57,480 --> 00:40:02,759 Speaker 1: heard the story, he said. He said, Well, I won 625 00:40:03,040 --> 00:40:05,719 Speaker 1: three tournaments in a row on the PGA Tour coming 626 00:40:05,719 --> 00:40:09,360 Speaker 1: into August. It was eight and uh, I was supposed 627 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:11,840 Speaker 1: to play a practice round with Hogan on Tuesday, but 628 00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:15,480 Speaker 1: the tournament that Carolina's I had to play a playoff 629 00:40:15,560 --> 00:40:17,759 Speaker 1: on Monday, so I had you know, I won three 630 00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:19,920 Speaker 1: in a row, and I had the playoff Monday, and 631 00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:22,920 Speaker 1: I won, and I'm bugger, But I'm going to August 632 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:24,560 Speaker 1: to guy because I'm gonna get a chance to play 633 00:40:24,600 --> 00:40:28,080 Speaker 1: with the Hogan. And he said, I played just awful, 634 00:40:28,280 --> 00:40:30,920 Speaker 1: but that'll played great. Chat like sixty seven. We beat 635 00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:33,560 Speaker 1: him for like thirty five bucks. He and Jackie Burke 636 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:37,480 Speaker 1: and walking off the eighteenth Green, I heard Hogan say 637 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:40,200 Speaker 1: to Burke, how did that kid get in this tournament? 638 00:40:40,760 --> 00:40:42,719 Speaker 1: Because I donold shat like eighty that day, you know, 639 00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:45,399 Speaker 1: it was bugger. And then he looks at you any 640 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:50,400 Speaker 1: when he said I won that week to Bob, I 641 00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:55,080 Speaker 1: was like, oh my god. And I got in the 642 00:40:55,080 --> 00:40:58,520 Speaker 1: clubhouse and Jackie Burke and Hogan sat at one table 643 00:40:58,560 --> 00:41:01,600 Speaker 1: and and it wouldn't even have lunch for those guys. 644 00:41:01,640 --> 00:41:04,719 Speaker 1: You know, he was not fond of them, and uh, 645 00:41:05,320 --> 00:41:07,920 Speaker 1: you know, it's a shame because obviously the legends. But 646 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: he said, you know, Bob, like I never called me 647 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:14,400 Speaker 1: by my name ever, so what do he call you? 648 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:18,640 Speaker 1: You know, fellow? Usually called me fella a fellow. There's 649 00:41:18,680 --> 00:41:20,960 Speaker 1: a little you know, pretty disrespectful, you know, I mean, 650 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:24,680 Speaker 1: but I'm sure Ben was like, you know, I'm going out, 651 00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:28,799 Speaker 1: He's coming in. He's the star, and he was just jealous. 652 00:41:28,840 --> 00:41:32,080 Speaker 1: You know. In a few days, we'll be dropping a separate, 653 00:41:32,120 --> 00:41:37,080 Speaker 1: shorter podcast with Doc Giffen, who's who reflected on his 654 00:41:37,160 --> 00:41:41,480 Speaker 1: fifty years shadowing his friend Arnold Palmer all over the world. 655 00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:46,239 Speaker 1: But we end this podcast with Damon, do you know 656 00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:51,799 Speaker 1: who won the nineteen sixty one hitcock Belt? I mean, 657 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:54,440 Speaker 1: it's got to be Roger Merris. It's gotta be Mayorris. 658 00:41:56,760 --> 00:42:03,640 Speaker 1: Is it? Is it Roger Merris? Yes, of course it is. 659 00:42:04,719 --> 00:42:08,200 Speaker 1: But already came first. Arnold Power beat him to it. 660 00:42:09,360 --> 00:42:12,279 Speaker 1: And there's was the m v P in nineteen sixty 661 00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:17,080 Speaker 1: of the American League and Boston Parmer comes back. And 662 00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:19,319 Speaker 1: after all of that, I just was looking this up 663 00:42:19,360 --> 00:42:22,120 Speaker 1: this morning, you know, I was like, well, in nineteen 664 00:42:22,239 --> 00:42:25,640 Speaker 1: six one, the winner of the hiccock Belt was Roger Marris. 665 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:28,160 Speaker 1: That is so beautiful. I never knew that either. I 666 00:42:28,520 --> 00:42:30,840 Speaker 1: never I never followed up and wondered who won the 667 00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:34,160 Speaker 1: next one the one before that. I mean that that 668 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:37,839 Speaker 1: is cool. Roger Marris won the hiccock Belt one year 669 00:42:37,880 --> 00:42:40,839 Speaker 1: after Arnold Palmer. Of course he did, of course he did. 670 00:42:47,560 --> 00:42:49,960 Speaker 1: To listen to any and all of season one at 671 00:42:49,960 --> 00:42:54,160 Speaker 1: the fire Pit Podcast, go to the Firepit Collective dot com. 672 00:42:54,320 --> 00:42:56,360 Speaker 1: Be sure and sign up for a newsletter to be 673 00:42:56,440 --> 00:42:58,760 Speaker 1: put in Luke on all of the content we create 674 00:42:58,840 --> 00:43:02,200 Speaker 1: going forward, plus some special events were planning, as well 675 00:43:02,239 --> 00:43:05,759 Speaker 1: as discounts and giveaways of Firepit merchandise. We're also on 676 00:43:05,800 --> 00:43:08,680 Speaker 1: Instagram and YouTube as the Firepit Collective