John O'Sullivan meets a legend of golf - a man of wit, compassion and loyalty who exudes an aura more inviting than off-putting
Arnold Palmer corrals the young children in a bear hug, his enjoyment of the scene guaranteeing a new legion of recruits for Arnie's Army as parents capture that Kodak moment. The youngsters may know little more than he was once a golfing superstar but after yesterday will be aware that he is a nice man to boot.
Later, by way of explanation to an inquiry as to why golf remains his passion, Palmer offers, "I like people, I like doing what I do. I can't think of anything in life that I enjoy doing more than I am doing." It's easy to see why he was, is, an iconic figure in golf, worshipped in his prime, admiration undiminished in the interim. At 73 years he retains a warmth and sincerity that would shame many sportsmen. In Ireland to officially open the South course at the K Club, he spoke briefly alongside Dr Michael Smurfit at the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the occasion.
Palmer's legacy at the K Club now numbers two courses, the North and South, the first a traditional parkland, the newest with an 'inland links' feel to it. Inevitably conversation strayed to which course he would favour when the Kildare venue hosts the 2006 Ryder Cup.
Diplomatically adroit, he initially ventured: "It (the South course) certainly will be ready for that kind of a competition. I suppose I have some mixed emotions about whether it should be here or on the North," before adding, "I think the North (course) is probably at the present time more prepared for the Ryder Cup. I have talked to Dr Smurfit about it. I think we'll stick with the North as the venue."
To that end Palmer toured the North course yesterday morning, casting a critical eye. Several relatively minor changes will be made this autumn, starting with the third hole.
"We'll do a little altering there to make it more competitive, probably slide the water into the green and move the green to the left. Our concern is keeping it out of the traffic on the second tee. We will make that hole considerably more difficult.
"(On) the fourth we'll add a sand trap, front left. We will extend the seventh back a little and correct the fall on the right of the back of the green. The eighth (will also have) minor surgery including elevating the green so that it doesn't curl off into the water so quickly.
"We're going to add a couple of sand traps on 11; they're there now but we'll move them closer to the green to tighten it up a little. That will be done this fall." The South course offers a startling contrast to its big brother and that is something Palmer enjoyed. "I am extremely pleased at what has happened here, to see the progress. The A4 greens are about as fine as I have seen anywhere in the world in some time. I haven't putted on greens like this in years.
"The golf course has come out superbly, this early (in its life). It'll only get better with the maturing of the turf and the trees. It's very exciting. It's much different than the North, which pleases me no end."
He demonstrated that his sense of humour hasn't deserted him when gently teasing that he had received some complaints from ladies that the new course was a little too easy. "I can promise you ladies it won't be too easy for very long. We will stiffen it up, so to speak."
The unlikely triumph of Ben Curtis at the British Open Championship over the weekend brought a rueful smile to the great man's lips.
"Unfortunately I could see myself in the position of those players (Thomas Bjorn, Davis Love, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh), having years ago had the same thing happen to me.
"A putt here and a putt there, a sand shot here and a sand shot there; I should probably have two or three more Opens as well as a couple of US Opens; those things happen. On the other side of that coin, I'm very happy for the young man that won. I think it gives him a shot in life that doesn't come very often. (Winning the Open like that) it's kind of like catching lightning in a bottle."
The staging of the Nissan Irish Open at Portmarnock this week inspired fond memories as it was the first links venue that Palmer played when partnering Sam Snead to win the Canada Cup in 1960. He finished second in the British Open that year at St Andrews behind Kel Nagle but would win the next two championships at Royal Birkdale and Royal Troon.
On the British Open, while sympathetic to Mark Roe's plight in disqualification from this year's event, he wouldn't alter the rules. "I would give them (the players) every opportunity to correct something that is not meant to affect the bottom line, meaning their score." Arnold Palmer: golfer, golf course designer, sportsman.
