 Arnold Palmer, one of the most legendary golfers of all time, played the Old Course, at the Bedford Springs Resort, the historic Benchmark Hospitality International Conference Center in Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania. For Palmer, a Pennsylvania native, it was actually a return visit—the legend had played the course twice in the 1960s.
When Palmer heard from his sister, that the conference center’s golf course had been restored to meet the design integrity of its original architects—A.W. Tillinghast and Donald Ross—Palmer himself called to book a tee time. "He was very gracious," said Ron Leporati, Head Golf Professional at Bedford Springs. "He toured the whole property."
The Old Course is part of Bedford Springs Resort, which re-opened in July following the completion of a $120-million restoration and expansion. The venue features more than 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space with pre-function areas to accommodate a wide variety of groups. Palmer, however, was more interested in the restoration of the golf course, which features such early 20th century golf design attributes as small greens, serpentine bunkers, "doughnut" bunkers and false fronts on greens.
Leporati reported that Pamer, "was very intrigued by the golf course and the history of the resort. And he said he would be back." |
