Arnold Palmer Experience brings fans closer to The King

Arnold Palmer left a legacy in golf that will last forever. This year, the tournament that bears the King’s name is bringing fans even closer to the legend, with the new interactive Arnold Palmer Experience at Bay Hill.

The Arnold Palmer Experience, a new, highly-interactive fan exhibit at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, delivers up-close memories of The King and a chance for fans to compare their golf swings to Palmer’s.

Located alongside the 10th fairway at the tournament, the Arnold Palmer Experience  treats fans to a short video that shows just a few highlights of Palmer’s storied life and career.  There’s an option to get a numbered wrist band which is important when the video concludes.  That’s when fans enter the “experience,” which includes a close-up look at trophies, medals and exhibits featuring a timeline of Palmer’s career, plus a chance to hit a few golf shots.

That’s when the fun really begins.  Simulators are set up where fans can try to duplicate some famous shots from Palmer’s career.

There’s the U.S. Open in 1960 where Palmer drove the first green in the final round and went on to win, coming from seven shot deficit. There’s the 16th hole at Royal Birkdale, site of Palmer’s first British Open victory in 1961.

Finally, there’s the 18th at Bay Hill, the year Palmer played for the last time in the tournament that became his namesake. PGA Tour players are not allowed to have a professional tournament with their name while they are still active as golfers.

For those fans who elect to take a wristband, each one comes with a special number that allows the tournament to email a side-by-side comparison of the fan’s swing to one by Arnold Palmer. What a huge treat.

But even if a fan doesn’t want to swing a club or doesn’t know how to swing a club, there are exhibits set up chronicling Palmer’s career plus mementos from his triumphs and successes. His major championship trophies are on display as well as the medals that he received from each tournament victory.

There is his personal Ryder Cup and six money clips from the contests in which he played and a seventh from the year when he was a non-playing captain, in 1975. Palmer was the last playing captain in the event’s history. That was in 1963, and it was only Palmer’s second appearance in the event. That year, the Ryder Cup was played at East Lake Golf Club, site of the Tour Championship.

The Hickok Belt, which was given to the top professional athlete of the year from 1950 to 1976, was awarded to Palmer in 1960 when he won the Masters and the U.S. Open. Palmer’s is on display surrounded by all of his tournament medals. The belt was brought back again in 2012.  Recent winners have included Michael Phelps, LeBron James and Steph Curry.

Showing his early career, Palmer’s U.S. Amateur medal, trophy and scorecards from the 1954 tournament are on display next to a flag from the Coast Guard.

In addition to awards, there are drivers used by The King back in the age of persimmon. There are endorsed products including the famous Penzoil can and even Arnold Palmer vodka.  Perhaps the most unusual is a hanger from the Arnold Palmer Dry Cleaners in LaTrobe, Pennsylvania. Palmer’s first (1967) and last (2016) Rolexes are shown, demonstrating another career-long relationship developed off the course.

One of the simulators has a photo on the side of it, a wide-angle taken at the White House showing Bob Hope, Tricia Nixon, Pat Nixon, President Ford, Delores Hope, President Nixon, Betty Ford, Henry Kissinger and Arnold Palmer.  Seeing that reminded me of the 1996 Presidents Cup when Palmer was captain of the U.S. Team.  President Clinton had been on the grounds during one round, and Palmer was asked in a press conference what the President had said.

Palmer quipped, “Which President?” because, except for John F. Kennedy, he played with all of them dating back to Eisenhower.   Kennedy had sent Palmer a film clip of his swing in anticipation of a future round with Palmer, but the clip was sent just before Kennedy departed on his fateful trip to Dallas.

And for fans who wish they could have had a photo with The King, there’s a near life sized cardboard cutout with Palmer giving thumbs up. It’s perfect for taking a selfie “with Palmer.”

For those at the tournament, The Arnold Palmer Experience is not to be missed. The only bad thing about it is that all golf fans won’t get to see it.