Charlie’s Corner: An Hour With the King

Working for the Golf Channel really has been a dream come true.  I’ve been here for a year now and I have had some amazing days and none more fun than this past Thursday. 

I sat down for an interview with Arnold Palmer for an entire hour.  I have had the chance on several occasions to speak with him but never for that amount of time.  The first thing you notice is that when he walks into the room the temperature goes up about ten degrees. 

Even at eighty, he’s still got “it” whatever “it” is.  His eyes are amazing.  You get the since that he doesn’t miss anything.  I spoke with him about the changes recently made to Bay Hill.  He is quite proud of the course and he should be.  I believe the players will be quite happy with the course moving back to a par of 72 for the Arnold Palmer Invitational this year. 

Along with new turf and re-contouring on the greens, many bunkers have been relocated and updated.  The new Bay Hill is quite a gem. 

He spoke of the Masters and Bobby Jones.  His description of the twelfth at Augusta was phenomenal.  He said the golf hole is like a lady.  Sometimes she is your best friend and then there are the other days …

He told me some Walter Hagen stories. Apparently they were pretty good friends and Mr. Hagen was quite the character.  We finished by discussing what the first tee as an honorary starter with Jack Nicklaus at Augusta will be like.  I’m thinking they will be pretty competitive on who hits that tee shot the longest.  Tough job I have.

Charlie Rymer, a Golf Channel analyst and the host of Road Trip: Myrtle Beach, is a former PGA Tour player and collegiate All-American at Georgia Tech. Rymer, who grew up playing in Myrtle Beach, has traveled the world playing and talking about the game of golf and will share his unique perspective in Charlie's Corner.

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