My first glimpse of Arnold Palmer, the King of Golf, came when I was 15 years old and attended the PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Potomac, Maryland outside Washington, DC.  I can't remember the hole, but Arnie and his group approached the tee box (I believe it was on Sunday, the final round), I could just sense his kindness, humility, and countenance!  My 21 year old brother was with me (I was about a 14 handicap at the time, my brother about a 3 handicap).  I will never forget that when Arnie was on the tee box, he scanned the crowd; for some reason (probably because my brother is 6 foot 3 inches!), he looked at us, nodded with a twinkle in his eye and said hello.  For me as a young golfer, I had never been this close to such a great golfer and I have never forgotten just this simple gesture.  It is what to this day, now that I am 49 years old, makes Arnold Palmer stand out from the crowd.  He is a class act!!  The current golfers that exemplify Arnie's spirit are Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson.  I have to believe that some of Arnie's charisma has rubbed off on them from when they have played with him.  Arnie, Happy birthday and thanks for this great memory.  I have an autographed picture of you on my wall, and they broke the mold when they made you.  My next goal is to sidetrack during one of my business trips, and stay and play at Bay Hill CC and hope I can meet Mr. Palmer in person.  I hope I can make this happen!  Thanks for letting me share this memory of the greatest golfer and person in the golf world that has ever lived.

Steve Johnson

Atlanta, GA 

stevejohnson@johnsonstephens.com

www.johnsonstephens.com