The King: Examining Arnold Palmer’s Best Golf Courses
Arnold Palmer is known as one of the greatest golfers of all time with 62 PGA TOUR wins, including 7 major championships.
Arnold Palmer, also known as The King, is also known for his business ventures, creating a successful line of beverages in his name as well as creating the powerhouse sports agency IMG and The Golf Channel.
While other namesakes are more known for their golf course design work, Palmer helped design over 230 courses around the world.
While his former rival Jack Nicklaus is known for designing challenging, championship-style golf courses (last week’s Honda Classic host site PGA National), Palmer’s courses are more friendly, resort-style designs.
Below is a list of his greatest golf courses:
Tradition Golf Club
La Quinta, CA (1998)
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The winter home for Arnold Palmer in his later years, Tradition Golf Club is without question one of the finest designs in Palmer’s career. Built alongside the mountains of the Coachella Valley, Palmer used the undulating land to its upmost potential creating both a fun, yet challenging golf course. Golfers will recognize many elements of the property as a nod to Augusta National.
The entryway is a magnolia lane-esque road, framed instead with Palm trees. In addition, the caddies wear white jumpsuits and the bunker sand is rumored to come from the same supplier as Augusta. The course also has a very fun 9-hole short course (pictured above).
Tralee Golf Club
County Kerry, Ireland (1984)
Arnold Palmer designed the front nine, but God created the back nine. Mixed in amongst classic stalwarts Ballybunion, Waterville, and Lahinch is the modern Tralee Golf Club, built during 1984. You’d swear this course has been around for 200 years given it’s beautiful and natural setting.
The front nine is built along the water on the flatter side of the property. Whereas the famous back nine is built in and around herculean dunescapes. This stretch of golf is considered one of the finest in the world. If you have a chance to go to Ireland, play it!
Bay Hill Club and Lodge
Bay Hill, Florida (1961)
The Annual host of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA TOUR since 1979 and home to the late Arnold Palmer, Bay Hill winds its way around the low-lying watery areas of central Florida. Originally designed from a Citrus grove, the golf course has seen several changes, most recently in 2009.
"“Bay Hill is a great golf course. We don’t want to change it – let’s tweak it, said Palmer. “Let’s get the greens closer to the water and take the sand where you can see it.”"
Aviara Golf Club & Resort
Carlsbad, CA (1987)
The site of the LPGA’s Kia Classic since 2013, Aviara Golf Club is a public, resort-style course just north of San Diego. The course is typically in immaculate condition and is known for its lush and colorful vegetation. More difficult than most of his courses, the Palmer design can be a bit narrow in certain areas with plenty of water coming into play on approach shots.
Isleworth Golf and Country Club
Windermere, FL (1986)
Ranked 22nd in Golf Digest’s latest best in state rankings, Isleworth CC is a 1986 Arnold Palmer design located just outside Orlando. The host of the 2014 Hero World Challenge, the course sits approximately a mile away from this week’s API host Bay Hill. Home to many professional golfers, it’s also the site of the infamous 2009 Tiger Woods car crash. The course tips out at a stout 7544 yards and is known as a brute of a golf course.
Musgrove Mill Golf Club
Clinton, SC (1988)
Situated in Northwest South Carolina, two hours from Charlotte lies this 1988 Arnold Palmer design. Resort golf is not what you get at this members-only golf course that winds its way along the Enoree River. Bring your A-game as there is not a lot of room to miss on this difficult track.
Old Tabby Links
Spring Island, SC (1993)
45 Minutes from famed Hilton Head, SC lies an exclusive gated community on the remote Spring Island. The definition of low-country golf, Old Tabby Links winds its way through a former cotton plantation. Old Tabby Links is the highest-rated course Arnold Palmer helped build, ranked as high as No. 37 on Golfweek’s Best Modern list in 1997. Only 11,000 rounds a year are played at this highly private course.
Adios Golf Club
Coconut Creek, FL (1982)
The property that would ultimately become Adios GC originally belonged to Eleanor Ritchey, the heir to the Quaker State Oil family. While childless, upon her death in 1968 her will declared that all of her money would go to her 150 dogs. In the late 1970s, a group of businessmen acquired the property. With help from founding members Arnold Palmer, Dave Thomas (founder of Wendy’s) and Whitey Ford the course began construction in 1982.
The membership is filled with former pro athletes, including Dan Marino, Jason Taylor, and Alex Rodriguez. There are few rules at Adios (it’s not uncommon to see people playing shirtless).
dark. Next. Arnold Palmer honored again with Rickie Fowler’s custom API collection
Arnold Palmer created many courses. These are some of the ones that stand out. Make sure to turn into the tournament honoring the man himself this week, as they tee-up at Bay Hill for the Arnold Palmer Invitational.