It has been a decade since the legendary Arnold Palmer last presided over the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. Now, it’s Sam Saunders, Palmer’s grandson, who has taken up the reins. But does he still find himself asking what his grandfather would do?

“Absolutely,” Saunders agreed. “That's our obligation here to carry on his legacy. At the end of the day, this is still his place. When we make changes or modifications to a golf course, the presentation, anything, we try to think of would he want this.” 

“And I like to think, I know we're trying our best to keep it that way, and I do think he would be incredibly proud of what this event is and how hard everybody works.”

Saunders believed that Palmer would give him his blessings if he looked at the current state of the tournament and the course. And Saunders stayed adamant in his belief, even if it came to a grandstand of two feet. 

Reflecting on Palmer’s pride in the club, the 38-year-old revealed that he worked on the maintenance crew around 20 years ago. And some crewmen still work to maintain the course. 

“I absolutely love seeing it,” Saunders went on. “My grandfather treated everyone here like they were family, and there's a feeling at Bay Hill that people get when they come here. That feeling is still here today, even 10 years after.”

But Palmer’s reach doesn’t stay limited to the club. Even after a decade since his passing, Palmer still works for his community. 

How Does the Arnold Palmer Invitational Help the Community?

The tournament supports the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Foundation. And that’s what carries Palmer’s legacy. 

“So locally, what's been done over at Lake Lorna Dune, Lift Orlando, and now the impact we're having with the U.S. Kids local golf tournament, providing registration fees for kids to be able to have access to junior golf and be able to get an introduction to the game, get outside, get in nature, live a healthy lifestyle,” Saunders said. 

The family provides continuous support to children’s health in Orlando. And that’s what keeps the tournament close to the fans’ hearts. Making an impact in his grandfather’s home state has moved Saunders forward. 

The Arnold Palmer Invitational continues as a premier stop on the PGA Tour calendar, but for Saunders and those who steward the property, it remains personal.

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Joyita Das