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PGA National honors the memory of Arnold Palmer

Posted at 12:56 PM, Sep 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-26 17:22:30-04

The golf world is remembering Arnold Palmer who died Sunday.

He left a lasting impression on the golf community around the world and in South Florida.

PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens lowered flags to half-staff in his honor.

But he was so much more than a golfer; he was a kind man with a big personality.

At PGA National he helped create the General Course and it was named after him years later.

"It’s an emotional experience for many of our members and our resort guests to play on a course that’s named after Mr. Palmer. I had the pleasure of spending some time with him during the renovation in 2008. And the last year fourteen of us went up to Latrobe (Pennsylvania) in September and spent two days with him in his office, in his warehouse playing, dining.  Such an amazing experience," PGA National Members Club General Manager James Gelfand said.

Palmer also was a pioneer in sports marketing, paving the way for many athletes to reap in millions from endorsements. Some four decades after his last PGA Tour win, he ranked among golf's highest-earners.

"It is not an exaggeration to say there would be no modern-day PGA Tour without Arnold Palmer. There would be no PGA Tour Champions without Arnold Palmer. There would be no Golf Channel without Arnold Palmer," PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement.

On his Twitter page Jack Nicklaus expressed his condolences and said “golf lost a great friend.”

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.