Lessons and a Legacy of Impact
More than Just Golf
Kay McMahon
This is not a totally instruction article on golf swing techniques or skills, but it is certainly a few
impactful lessons and cherished moments in time.
As the PGA Tour makes its annual Florida swing, the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by
Mastercard (API) arrives at Bay Hill Club & Lodge for Orlando’s signature event this week
March 4th through 10th.
Every year the API – allows me to reflect on how lucky I was at the beginning of my golf career
seeking to become an LPGA Tour player, to have ended up, or I should really say started out
working at an Arnold Palmer course – Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert, CA.
As a young first-year female assistant in the golf shop, along with the four other young male
assistants, we knew Mr. Palmer was arriving for a short visit and a round of golf. We were
ready for his visit . . . spiffed, polished and ever so eager to meet the King, also knowing he
might need a fourth for his round of golf.
Lesson #1 – Benefits of being a women in the golf business.
Mr. Palmer came in with two of his colleagues. Graciously greeted each of us. Looked at me
and said, “Let’s go play!” My male counterparts were not as excited as I was needless to say,
but being a woman can have benefits. And this was only the first of the many memorable days
that I got to play with the King.
Lesson #2 – Ego, Respect and Golf is your Game.
After that first round of many more to come, Mr. Palmer said, “ Would you like to come in for a drink?” Are you kidding? “Of course! Yes!” As the conversation went, golf was obviously the subject. “What did you think about my swing on number 5?” He was asking me? Really? Was it ego? No. . .it was respect! R-E-S-P-E-C-T. We did talk about my game too. But what it taught me is that golf is singular. His game is his game, my game is my game, golf is your
game, but we get to play it together and respect how we each own it.
Lesson #3 – Be Present
Dinner with Mr. Palmer. At the final dinner for the huge AP Ironwood Member-Guest event, I
was seated at the back of the room when he joined me for dinner before he was to speak and
hand out the awards. Three hundred plus people in the room, far more important than me, but it
was if I was the only person in the room. We talked golf, we talked work ethics, we talked
principles of honesty, we talked respect for people. Then he got up, wowed the room and
handed out the awards. Lesson. . .whether you are playing golf or having dinner – be present in
that moment…one shot at a time. . .one person at a time can make a huge personal impact.
Lesson #4 – Play boldly – Go for it!
“Kay, get two of your mini-tour girlfriends, you be my partner and let’s have a quick match.” First hole, short par four – I hit my four-iron safely in the fairway so he could go for it. My two friends, also safety in the fairway. He tees it up with a one-iron over the long water carry, hits the stone wall surrounding the green one foot short, kicks back into the water. Smiles, throws down another ball, swings a little harder with the same one-iron — on the green, sinks the putt. We – my partner and I win the hole. Lesson – If you don’t first make it, swing or work a little harder and go boldly for it again.
Lesson #5 – Arnie’s Army
We were at the range one day. Arnold was practicing and I was giving a few lessons. I witnessed how many members had interrupted his practice to say Hello. As I finished my lessons, he called me over. I started to say how awful I felt that his practice session had been so interrupted before he stopped me… for my next lesson.
“When people ask what’s driven me all these years, I always give the same answer… Remember we get to do this because of them!” Nothing more needed to be said.
Kay McMahan
Over those ten years, these are only a few lessons that I was lucky and privileged to be in the
right place and the right time.
In golf instruction it is all about the moment of impact. Lives well lived – lives well played… yours, mine and his… a lasting legacy of impact.
