ROLAND — Terry Fiddler didn’t grow up playing golf, but like so many others, he was an Arnold Palmer fan.
“I was part of his army, even though I couldn’t afford to play golf at that time,” said Fiddler, 71, a retired Conway dentist, referring to the legions of Palmer fans who made up Arnie’s Army.
“Sports figures can be the best heroes and the best role models, or they can be the worst,” Fiddler said. “He was a blue-collar guy, and his swing didn’t fit anything like what they’d tell you to do now, but it didn’t make any difference. The end result went in the hole.”
Fiddler will have a chance to rub shoulders with the memory of his late idol when The Alotian Club in Roland plays host to the 23rd Arnold Palmer Cup on June 7-9. Fiddler is one of 400 volunteers, in addition to approximately 60 junior caddies, who will help make the event a memorable one.
“I haven’t been to another Palmer
Cup, but if we can get some decent weather, I expect us to put on one of the best they’ve ever had,” said Warren Stephens, owner of The Alotian Club, during a press conference at the club Wednesday.
According to press materials, the Arnold Palmer Cup seeks to pass on Palmer’s values, such as passion and respect for the game and others, to the next generation of golfers.
“That is so needed in our society today,” said Jon Podany of the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation. “Arnold Palmer had a civility around him that will inspire others going forward.”
Palmer hosted the inaugural event at his Bay Hill Club in 1997.
The field at The Alotian will be made up of 48 college golfers. Last year, the format expanded to include men’s and women’s USA collegiate golfers against their counterparts from around the world. This year’s event will include players and coaches from six continents and 20 countries, including Australia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Scotland, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and the U.S.
Team USA leads the series, 12-9-1, having won the 2018 event at Evian Resort Golf Club, 38.5-21.5.
The story of how Stephens and his club came to host the Palmer Cup is a good one.
The Alotian, which opened in 2004, played host to the 2013 Western Amateur, at which Fiddler was one of 600 volunteers. Palmer was a longtime friend of Jack Stephens, Warren’s father and a former president of Augusta National, home of The Masters.
“That’s how I got to be around him,” Stephens said. “He’d been here for our Jackson T. Stephens Charitable Tournament about [2009], and [Palmer} wanted us to host the Palmer Cup. I was dragging my feet a little bit.”
Dan Snider, then director of golf at The Alotian and now chief operating officer emeritus, told him, “I think Mr. Palmer is going to call you.”
“He in fact did, and he asked if we would host the Palmer Cup,” Stephens said. “My response was, ‘Yes, sir. We’re going to host the Palmer Cup for you and for what you’ve meant to golf. We’ll do it.’”
That was about 10 days before Palmer died on Sept. 25, 2016.
Podany said at the press conference that he believed that was Palmer’s final business call.
“When he died, I thought, ‘Thank God I said yes,’” Stephens said.
Besides Bay Hill, previous host clubs include St. Andrews, The Honors Course, Royal Liverpool, Baltusrol, Doonbeg, Cassique, Ballybunion, Whistling Straits, Prestwick, Caves Valley, Glasgow Golf Club Gailes Links, Cherry Hills, Royal Portrush, The Stanwich Club, The Royal County Down Golf Club, Wilmington Country Club, Walton Heath Golf Club, Rich Harvest Farms, Formby Golf Club, Atlanta Athletic Club and Evian Resort. The matches will move to Lahinch Golf Club next year and return to Rich Harvest Farms in 2021.
Fifty-seven Palmer Cup alumni have gone on to combine for 227 wins on the PGA or European Tours, including U.S. Open champions Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell, Lucas Glover and Webb Simpson; Open champions Ben Curtis and Francesco Molinari; and PGA champion Justin Thomas.
“You can’t have good professional golf without good amateur golf,” Stephens said, “so we want to be as supportive of amateur golf as we possibly can.
“Mr. Palmer and my dad were good friends. I’m sure they’re both very happy this will be at The Alotian.”
For tickets to the Arnold Palmer Cup or to volunteer, visit www.arnoldpalmercup.com.