Greetings Reader,

For you to appreciate and understand my real and genuine respect for Arnold Palmer the King of Golf, you should know my background. From there I hope you will gain more insight on how ultimately we,as humans and lovers of golf, have more in common than we realize.

Youngster Howard Bankhead, in 1967 at 11 years old, with his father, Robert (Bubba) Bankhead Sr.

As a teenager growing up in the early 70’s, I always thought, from TV commercials and Arnold Palmer’s associations with the Republican Party, that he was not a friend to black people. But over time I have gained a deeper appreciation and healthier realization of life, politics, and golf.

Because of my father’s interest in golf, and sometimes golf being the only sports on TV, I watched golf. My memory serves me to recall black players Lee Elder and Calvin Peete, and of course other name players such as Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Arnold Palmer. Mind you, it was at the end of Arnold Palmer’s playing era and the emergence of Calvin Peete when I viewed television golf.

After reading Pete McDaniel’s blog about Arnie Palmer, I believe Pete and I share similar experiences regarding other sports heroes back in the day.  Back then, most young boys loved baseball, football, and basketball, and catching fireflies in a jar. I know in the old south we only had access to the traditional sports of baseball, football and basketball and a little tennis.  I also had a diehard allegiance to Willie (Howard) Mays of the San Francisco Giants, mainly because he is from my home state of Alabama and his middle name is Howard, which happened to be my first name. Back in those days, young aspiring black boys like me would attach ourselves to TV sports stars so we could be like them. Black sports stars and heroes on TV were rare.  In the media, black educators, businessmen/women (entrepreneurs), scientists, engineers and medical doctors were as rare as hen’s teeth!

In 2001, when I hit my first golf ball at the age of 44, I was intrigued. As I forayed into the world of golf (as a late bloomer), I began to realize the intrinsic value of golf and was inspired to start my own youth golf program. In addition to my hypersensitivity to the past Jim Crow laws and their effect on society, the lack of access (denial) to learn and experience the game of golf, in contrast to my white peers, really pissed me off. That realization also sparked the urge and interest in making it possible to provide the youth of all colors and gender an opportunity to experience something I did not have growing up in the so-called Bible Belt, the southern region of America.

After I had learned more about playing the game of golf, somehow I acquired the audacity to want to introduce golf to kids. Through a long process, in 2002 I was able to establish the non-profit Tennessee Valley Youth Development Golf Program in Huntsville, AL. As the program expanded and partnered with other youth serving agencies, organizations, and institutions, we began to impact lives—an impact that continues to this day.

One thing that I love doing is exposing youth to things in the world around them. In 2005, Huntsville Municipal Golf Course hosted a Hooters Golf Tournament. This was my first professional golf experience. Since then, I have experienced bigger golf events such as the President’s Cup in Manassas, VA, and the PGA Championship in Tulsa, OK, at the Southern Hills Country Club.
In Huntsville at the Hooters Tournament at the Muni, I had a group of kids stationed between Holes 11 and 12. I made sure the kids understood golf etiquette and what the players were doing as they traversed the course.

As we waited for the next pairing of players to hit their tee ball on Hole 12, a couple approached and asked about the kids with me. I explained my program to them and thanked the lady for acknowledging us. Out of the modest crowd, we were the only people of color at the course.

The lady told us one of the players was her son. She also said that she knew Arnold Palmer and asked if I wanted an autographed picture of him. Of course, I said I would appreciate that and gave her my card.

About a month later, I received a package in the mail. It was this signed picture of the King, Arnold Palmer.

Arnold Palmer autographed gift to Howard Bankhead.

From the efforts of the Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development to The First Tee of Huntsville to Par Excellence Youth Development Program, over 1,800 youth and their families have been introduced to, experienced and benefited from the wonderful game of golf.

Recently, Huntsville’s Par Excellence Youth Development (PEYD) Program was awarded a grant from The National Alliance for Accessible Golf, Inc. This is a one-year matching grant of $8,700.00.

This grant is for PEYD to provide great opportunities for individuals with and without disabilities and to integrate into the social fabric of their communities while engaging in and building healthy lifestyles.
On one of my First Tee business visits to the World Golf Village near St. Augustine, while relaxing in my room, I turned on the television. The first channel on the TV was most likely the Golf Channel, and there was Arnold Palmer practicing his short game. Mr. Palmer had to be at least 75 years old—still working on his short game—and that impressed me.

One last thing about Arnold Palmer that I appreciate is, along with being one of the world’s best golfers, a great businessman, and leading humanitarian, he also was a visionary. It took deep vision and understanding for him to partner with Joseph E. Gibbs and create the Golf Channel and I love the Golf Channel. The Golf Channel, PBS, and C-SPAN are the only reasons I subscribe to satellite/cable television.  In my humble opinion, the Golf Channel was the second greatest thing Arnold Palmer did in my lifetime. The greatest thing he did was to send a middle-aged black man whom he did not know a hand written autograph wishing good luck to my youth group.

Rest in peace the King of Golf!

For more information and to support contact Howard Bankhead, 256-604-8172 or email: [email protected]

Howard Bankhead
Executive Director
Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development
604 Jordan Lane
Huntsville, AL 35816 USA
256-604-8172