NWO Golf Links November 2016

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How would you like to have
Arnold Palmer involved
in golf in Gulf Shores?
This article is taken from an interview with Robert Craft and
can be heard in its entirety on the October 20, 2016 Back 9 Report at:
In 1986, he read an article
that mentioned Arnold Palmer
was expanding his golf course
design company to include,
management and construction.
Craft needed a big name and a
turn key operation, plus there
was no bigger name in golf
than “The King.”
Robert secured an audience
with Palmer at the Bay Hill
Classic and made his pitch. At
the end of the meeting Arnie
agreed to at least visit the site.
The day that Palmer visited
Gulf Shores, preparations had
been made and the media was
alerted. Arnold and Robert’s
father, R.C. hit it off like two
old friends. Arnie immediately
took to R.C.’s hard-nosed work
ethic and the pair ended up
on the back of a sod harvester
stacking sod.
Not quite the plan Robert
had envisioned, but before he
jumped back on his plane to
fly back to Orlando, Arnold
committed to build the
proposed golf course.
Robert Craft once again met
with the Gulf Shores Town
Council and only had to ask
one question,
“How would you like to have
Arnold Palmer involved in
golf in Gulf Shores?”
Craft got his sewer line and it
helped turn Gulf Shores into
golf and beautiful beaches, it
now has fantastic restaurants
and a variety of entertainment
for the entire family.
Thanks, in part, to the
foresight of the Crafts, along
with a little help from Arnold
Palmer.
NWO Golf Links