Dozens attend La Quinta screening of Arnold Palmer memorial service

Dozens of desert residents showed up to Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant in La Quinta for a screening of the late golfer’s public memorial service. The service was held in Palmer’s hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania and thousands of well-wishers attended.

At the restaurant, people watched the memorial service from large screen televisions and listened as Palmer’s family and friends reminisced about the “King” of golf. The crowd watched the service that was televised by the Golf Channel and cheered when references were made to the restaurant and the city of La Quinta where Palmer was a part-time resident. Some were able to bring up fond memories of their own while watching the service.

“He meant the world to a lot of people and all of us at the restaurant,” Dustin Nichols, general manager of Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant, said. “It’s a nice day to remember the king and someone that was really special to all of us.”

He said ever since Palmer passed away, the table he always sat at during his visits to the restaurant would be permanently reserved under his name as a way of honoring him.

Another desert resident said he was a charismatic personality that would make the effort to meet anyone who wished to speak with him.

“I got to shake hands with Arnold Palmer right there and actually he put his arm around me and hugged me,” Garry Leonard, a La Quinta resident and amateur golfer, said. “I’ve got a picture of it.”