THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016

The flag at The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course flew at half staff Monday.

The death of Arnold Palmer last Sunday at age 87 seemingly touched everyone — including some pros at area golf courses.

“It is a sad day in the golf world indeed,” said Andy Mackimmie, head pro at the Resort Course.

“Arnold did visit the Resort Course several years ago as part of a small resort convention for Citation jet pilots and he did enjoy an “Arnold Palmer” (his signature drink — half lemonade and half iced tea) on our restaurant patio on a Sunday afternoon overlooking the floating green,” Mackimmie recalled. “He was already at the age where he wasn’t really playing much golf anymore or didn’t have the time and did not play the Resort Course. I was not at the course that day, unfortunately.”

• Billy Bomar, co-owner of Prairie Falls Golf Course in Post Falls, had his “Arnie” moment as a youngster.

“I first met Arnold Palmer at the Phoenix Open when I was about 7 years old and got a autographed photo from him,” Bomar recalled. “Then when I turned pro in 1984 my first staff deal was with Pro Group, which was Arnold’s company. He sent me a letter welcoming me to the staff team and also sent another signed photo to me. I always loved watching him play because of his go-for-it approach and how the crowds loved him. I still have the photos, letter and staff bag. ‘The King’ will be missed.”

• Fortunately for Mackimmie, he had his “Arnie” moment years earlier.

“I used to travel down to the Fred Meyer Challenge in Portland with my dad in my high school years (1985-87),” Mackimmie recalled. “Otherwise known as “Peter’s Party”, the Fred Meyer Challenge was fun spectator event hosted each summer by (Portland-based pro golfer) Peter Jacobsen. It was a great chance for Northwesterners to see some of the PGA Tour’s most popular players at the time along with some of the legends like Gary Player and Arnold Palmer in a best-ball format.

“I’ll never forget standing next to him as he prepared to hit his second shot from an errant tee shot under some trees. I wanted to get as close to him as the crowd control would allow. As he was taking his practice swings, he turned to me and told me to take one step back because he didn’t want the powerful vortex created by his swing to suck me in. I laughed along with everyone around me and I was even more of a fan ever since. My dad used to tell me stories about “Arnie’s Army” back in the day with faithful crowds following his group at every tournament back in the 60s and 70s.”

IN THE late 1970s, when I was in college, I was fortunate enough to catch the final few holes of a golf exhibition at the Spokane Country Club which included Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.

(Think about that one ... that would be like getting Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth together for an exhibition these days, which would never happen because of the appearance fees they would charge).

Anyway, didn’t get Jack’s autograph, but did get Watson’s. After the final hole, as everyone was leaving, I happened over to where Arnie was and he was gracious enough to sign for me.

We lived not too far from the country club at the time, so I happily hoofed it home, armed with autographs from two of the all-time greats.

Happily ... at least until I got home, in the midst of the family sitting down for dinner, and got a bit of a butt-chewing from the parents.

See, it was long before the days of cell phones, and I’d forgotten to tell the folks where I was.

Still, as butt-chewings go, it was well worth it.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.