Sandra Palmer - Part 4 (The Later Years)

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Mike Gonzalez  00:15

Well a couple more wins in 1976.

Palmer, Sandra  00:18

This is kind of fun. Yeah. We're talking about the good things, not the bad.

Devlin, Bruce  00:23

You went to second time at the Jewish Hospital Open. And then then then you won the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy classic at the Rail Golf Club. And

Palmer, Sandra  00:33

that was the first winner there.

Devlin, Bruce  00:35

Yeah. JoAnne Carner. Mary Lou Crocker, Michelle Walker.

Palmer, Sandra  00:40

Yeah. So you don't get a chance to be JoAnne very often. So. You know, I always felt like I had to have my best day and she kind of had to have not so good day, so I've had a few playoffs with her and some of them that might have been the only one that I want against her. So

Devlin, Bruce  01:03

you had three of them in 76.

Palmer, Sandra  01:06

Three, yeah, but they kind of drifted off after the first hole or something. But in fact, there was one hole that I actually hit this par five into, and I beat her on a par five Can you imagine being JoAnne Carner on a par 5? She might have been in the wild blue yonder. Well actually they are you had to be pretty straight. The bunkers were kind of imply a lot of them so I hit it pretty straight in

Mike Gonzalez  01:33

Yeah, the Rail in Springfield Illinois 

Palmer, Sandra  01:35

They said no jail at the Rail that was their motto no jail at the Rail

Mike Gonzalez  01:42

right down the road from from where I was living in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Palmer, Sandra  01:49

I don't know if it's still there, but it was it was very tight.

Mike Gonzalez  01:53

It is but they did move the tournament at some point from the rail somewhere else.

Palmer, Sandra  01:57

Many years later. So

Mike Gonzalez  01:59

yeah, yeah, there were a lot of years played there. Of course then it was known as the Jerry Lewis. I think his name came off of it at some point, right?

Palmer, Sandra  02:06

I believe so. Yeah. But that was really Yeah, I don't know if he came or not. Probably not because he was raising money.

Mike Gonzalez  02:13

But probably he's doing his his telephone at the time. So two more wins in 77 We start off with the Catherine Crosby Honda Civic Classic. This was at Whispering Palms Country Club in California this was by for over Ms. Stacy

Palmer, Sandra  02:28

about that. Yes, yeah, that Golf Course has another name now it's owned by maybe Clubcorp Now I forgot the name of it now but it's they have Yeah, that was a good course. Any course I played on was good right?

Mike Gonzalez  02:44

Well, anyone you want on let you

Palmer, Sandra  02:47

know most sorry. Most of my wins it seems like I've won most of my tournaments on longer courses. I don't know what that is but about but maybe it was because I was you know pretty straight hitter and good around the greens at that time and always trusted my party.

Mike Gonzalez  03:07

Yeah, you came back down toward the low country in in Hilton Head at the at the Moss Creek tournament at Moss Creek which they had for quite a while didn't that's

Palmer, Sandra  03:21

a that's that's another fabulous course and that particular year. Oh, what was his name that it was on? Well, the Mosses it was a they invited Joyce Weathered it to come to mass Creek. Now, the very famous Joyce Weathered, whether it married in became Lady Heathcoat Amory. She played back in the Bobby Jones era. And they all he always said that she was one of the best ball strikers that's ever played. And she did a lot of exhibition. So it I knew who she was. And she was a very tall lady, very regal looking. And she followed me for nine holes. And I don't know if it's just me, but I'm going to claim her that she followed me. But anyway, she stayed at the same hotel that I stayed in. And we were on that she came into the elevator that I was on and she asked me how I ended up and I said well, two shots behind. And she said that's right where you should be. So you know, there's no pressure there's more pressure on the one that's the leader. So anyway, that ended up there then then I won and then that particular night in my celebration, I I asked her to go to dinner. And I think Amy Alcott joined me but it was a small little little group for having won the tournament. I don't think I had family or anything there. But anyway, it was a real big, big thrill to have her there and I she would come to Sunningdale when we had the tournament there. And watch the girl so was

Mike Gonzalez  05:24

famous amateur player and she never did play professional did she don't believe

Palmer, Sandra  05:28

she did. Well, well, what else real money?

Mike Gonzalez  05:33

Yeah. Do you remember what happened there next the following year at Moss Creek? There's just Sally Little bladed plated went out of the bunker to beat Jan Stephenson. No.

Palmer, Sandra  05:45

Was that what did ever did Jan ever tell you about the year that that we were there? And it was the clearest day? Do you ever hear this story that it was a clear day? And they call they blew the siren that we had to come in? Some one of the security guards had seen somebody come in with a gun.

Devlin, Bruce  06:08

Oh, you know, I think? I think we did. Yes.

Palmer, Sandra  06:12

So we weren't sure exactly what was going on. But there was somebody that that was I guess, pursuing Jan Stephenson and on the way out to the practice day after everything had been cleared up Sylvia Sylvia Bertelacini had this thing written on her visor. I am not Jan. But no, I don't remember exactly what happened. You know, if you're not in that group playing and I don't know how I fared the next year. So

Mike Gonzalez  06:50

yeah, well, she dunked one from the greenside bunker and 18 to beat Jan Stephenson by one but what she won't tell you is that she sort of skulled it would have gone probably OB hit dependent drop. Oh, wow.

Palmer, Sandra  07:03

Well, you need you need luck, you know, I mean, I've bought a few bouncing over a few bulk or so.

Devlin, Bruce  07:11

Yeah. So a little little gap in victories. For the next few years. We always seem to find

Palmer, Sandra  07:21

out what that is. It happens. You know, it's living life. Well, I don't know. It's just hard to keep your game at a high level. But going yeah, I remember going down many times I would be at a tournament and finishing up and I just wasn't confident I'd get on an airplane and go down, fly down to Austin to see Harvey. And he would say if we can just get you back thinking to the way you were when you won the open. So the right when you start losing

Devlin, Bruce  07:52

or you want to get in at one at the Whirlpool championship of Deer Creek Country Club in Florida, where you beat Amy Alcott by two shots.

Palmer, Sandra  08:02

Well, that's a good feather to beat her. Yeah, remember, it was pretty tight. Remember Amy on her? Very first, when when she was what, 19 years old or something. And over in St. Petersburg. Amy was. Well, it still is a good player. But she had a terrific short game. Very good. Very good. Very short, compact swing.

Mike Gonzalez  08:28

Yeah, you had a couple more wins in 1982. The Boston Five Classic at Fern Croft CC that was in Massachusetts, one over Terri Moody. And then no one other than that was the 1986 Mayflower Classic the second time winning their The Country Club of Indianapolis in a playoff with Crista Johnson and Jan Stephenson, who by the way was 0 and 4 in playoffs. Oh and four in PGA playoffs 

Palmer, Sandra  08:54

I didn't realize that. That the the club at at Fern Croft. A lot of not so much link there but you had to have good course management. So I had that. But they wanted Indianapolis Country Club. I'm very proud of that. Because I think later on I don't know how many years later they had the U.S. Open the Women's U.S. Open there. I believe Hollis might have won there. I'm not sure who the winner was. But I think maybe Hollis but it's a it's a great Golf Course.

Mike Gonzalez  09:32

Yeah, yeah. So bridge the gap between this  last win in 1986. And when I think you finally played your your final LPGA event at the Nabisco Dinah Shore in 1997, that nine year period, or 11 year period, I should say.

Palmer, Sandra  09:49

Well, you're asking me what happened in between those years? I don't know.

Mike Gonzalez  09:55

Were you playing a full schedule or had you kind of No,

Palmer, Sandra  09:57

I think I was it's just that I just won wasn't playing very well, I think, you know, the game got you know, the players probably started hitting it longer and I don't know, you know if the equipment in there too was when did they start having the the the metal woods, you know the actually that hurt me more than anything when the metal Woods came into play because my clubs are flat. And you could only get one size one standard upright wood. And so when I was playing when I played Hogan clubs, they could be Gene Sheely, who was Hogan's club maker, he bought my clubs flat. So I could, you know, touch the ground. There were a lot of years wells in there that it, it's really hard. So even today, it's not that easy. So to get clubs that are flat enough.

Mike Gonzalez  10:58

I guess the other thing, Bruce, correct me if I'm wrong, but when they came out with the metal headed woods, everybody's hitting longer, of course, but the delta between the longest hitters and the shorter hitters must have expanded.

Palmer, Sandra  11:10

Probably setting the shafts to we're not that great. Yeah, you know, I wasn't strong enough to probably play steel shafts. But boy, they're good now. Yeah, that's the been the biggest thing too. Is the seat away that the game is going with the equipment.

Mike Gonzalez  11:27

So that decision to hang it up. Was that a tough one?

Palmer, Sandra  11:31

Yeah, yes. It's like going through a divorce, I guess. So yeah, it's very hard. But you know, even today, I just, I mean, I, I love golf, and I go out. I go out most every day and hit balls. It's my I mean, Golf has given me everything, my house everything.

Mike Gonzalez  11:52

Well, you've had some great out of this game. You've had some great finishes across the major championships course we talked about the Nabisco Dinah Shore, some of the history there. And the LPGA Championship, which was also one of two majors for a stretch of time. That's the other thing our listeners have failed to realize is there was a period of years where you ladies are only competing for the U.S. Open and the LPGA there were no other Exactly.

Palmer, Sandra  12:15

Yeah, there weren't that many major so the Western Open was at one time but that was in my early years. Yeah. Back in the early early years of talking about 60 board of whatever they played the course is so long. And the rough was high even here at Mission Hills. The they used to have the rough really really high so if you got into the rough you had to figure out I mean I we just made a commitment. I was gonna take my 8-iron no matter what and it out. But today there's it's just different. There's not not that much rough.

Mike Gonzalez  12:53

Well, you had to third place finishes in the LPGA Championship. Both at Pleasant Valley that was during the stretch when they were playing it there and 70 and 74. First one one by Shirley Engelhorn the next one, one by your buddy. Sandra Haynie.

Palmer, Sandra  13:07

Hey, yeah, he's good. I had another Well, I don't know if I had another chance. I had a bad last round at Cincinnati. I, I was playing really well. And the wind completely switched direction. And I remember I shot at that day, the year that I think Jan Stephenson won that particular so that was an a, you know, I remember those things. But yeah, well,

Mike Gonzalez  13:37

you had yet another good finish that the U.S. Open we didn't talk about in 1979. You were second at Brooklawn Country Club to Jerilyn Britz. We just visited with last week you were to back there. What do you remember about that one?

Palmer, Sandra  13:48

Yeah. Well, I just actually that was kind of a the tournament that that particular tournament actually probably should have gone to Debbie Massey. But she, you know, nobody gives you anything. Don't get me wrong. But Debbie was, I guess leading that tournament, and on the 18th hole, her ball was in a divot. And she made an hour's play playing with her. And anyway, she made a double bogey. So I was I just was lucky to finish tight seconds there. I think I talked with Debbie I

Mike Gonzalez  14:27

watched the replay of that final nine holes course she stole Debbie started poorly. And then and then got on a tear. Right, right. And then she was a good player. She drove up the left side on 18 into that divot, and probably just a little unsure as to how she wanted to play that shot. Hmm.

Palmer, Sandra  14:44

I guess so. You know, I was into my own game, but that's that's what you do. You know? You just sort of have to stick with what you do. That was a

Mike Gonzalez  14:54

fun tournament to watch.

Palmer, Sandra  14:55

So I was at a couple well, two years ago. When Kathy Whitworth was still alive, I was at the Marilyn Smith. You know, she always had that charity event. And I was sitting next to Susie. And they were talking about the 88 wins that Kathy had and Susie said, Well, you know, a couple of those wins I gave to you. Because I three putted that hole and Kathy said, well, thank you so much for doing that. For me, I really appreciate it's

Mike Gonzalez  15:32

also played in the final Western Open. That was a major from 1930 to 1967. So in 1967 and Pekin Country Club, which again is in central Illinois, just north of Springfield, you played in that final playing of the Western Open as a major which Kathy Whitworth won.

Palmer, Sandra  15:50

How about that? I don't remember anything about that. Well,

Mike Gonzalez  15:54

you don't need to you didn't win.

Palmer, Sandra  15:57

Well, no. But I'm glad I was there. Sometimes it's good to be history,

Mike Gonzalez  16:04

played a little bit of senior golf. You are, as I understand one of the founding members of the legends of the LPGA as it's now known investors,

Palmer, Sandra  16:12

yes. They've always somebody else has always done the work. Janie Janie did a great job with that. And yes, the original idea probably came up with Judy Dickinson with Gardner. You know, trying to start that and then nothing ever came with that end of it. But and then we put this group together. Yeah, first of all, a lot of fun. That's a big disappointment to even today, the legends, the women. Well, there are so many great fun gals out there that can still play. I just don't understand why we they can't say we because I'm my playing days are are kind of behind as far as being competitive, but there's so many of them that can still play. And it's just a shame that nothing has come a bit more.

Mike Gonzalez  17:08

You've played in that first event, which was the Marilyn Smith Founders Classic. Probably a lot of great memories from that event.

Palmer, Sandra  17:14

Yes, there was some older players there that I had not played with actually, Beverly Hansen would have probably been there but you know, I won like five years in a row that tournament, but it's such a makes such a difference if you're still playing Yeah. Yeah. You know, it's like if once you kind of get out of playing, you kind of forget how to play shots or you just whatever, but it was just a big advantage me to still be on tour. Still playing. I won quite a bit of money with those. Yeah. And those tournaments. So it was

Mike Gonzalez  17:49

one thing I want to ask you about Bruce, I don't know if you ever saw this. This was a classic golf video that this lady made with Bob Hope.

Palmer, Sandra  17:59

Perry Como special.

Mike Gonzalez  18:01

Tell us about that?

Palmer, Sandra  18:04

Well, the Perry Como special was it would have happened in I guess, 76 or the end of 75. And it was in Lake Tahoe. And they brought in the past it was for sports. And I know Billie Jean King was there. And that's where I met my good friend and Marie. And anyway, she she sang through the whole show. But anyway, I did this little skit with Bob Hope. And they had me dressed up in the garb from the from back in those days with the wooden clubs. You could hit on gloves, you could hardly you couldn't even hold on to the shaft. It was so slick. But my famous line is I hit it, wherever did it go. But if you haven't seen it, it's kind of fun. Then there's another little skit with Perry Como that idea.

Mike Gonzalez  19:07

Our listeners thought it was funny. They gotta go on YouTube and find this video with. It's a classic. Quite a few honors for this young lady Bruce over the years

Devlin, Bruce  19:21

for a Hall of Fame, the LPGA legends Hall of Fame. The we also had the Collegiate Hall of Fame, Texas Golf Hall of Fame. And next June, this young lady will go to the World Golf Hall of Fame. What a thrill.

Palmer, Sandra  19:45

I can't believe it. I'm still in shock. I really am in shock. It's I've been so fortunate to have heard from so many people and it just means the world to me

Devlin, Bruce  19:59

It's a very deserving honor? Thank you.

Mike Gonzalez  20:01

What we're doing here with you is probably pretty good prep for you putting together your speech, don't you think?

Palmer, Sandra  20:08

Well, I have to I don't know that people want to hear all that. But it's it's more than anything. I'm hoping it'll give me an opportunity to thank two people along the way. You know, you don't do this by yourself. Yeah.

Mike Gonzalez  20:23

Well, we hope that whoever you reference in the speech you have talked about somewhere in our time together, right?

Palmer, Sandra  20:32

For sure. Mike for sure. You and Bruce.

Mike Gonzalez  20:35

Well, what an honor of course you're still active aren't you. Tell us a little bit about what you're doing these days.

Palmer, Sandra  20:42

Well, this this past season, I didn't want to just not have any goals or anything or not do anything but I I went over to this Golf Course called Shadow Hills. It's it's managed by Troon, Troon Golf, and there's a pearl there named Terry Ferraro, he used to play on the on the tour back in his day, we're probably around the same age. And he played with Moe Norman and George Knudson. So he's got lots of good stories, but no, I just, I, I'm in the shop a couple days a week, and still trying to learn the computer. They have a very difficult accounting thing on there. And just a few hours, maybe eight to 12 or two, depending on if they need me during the season. It's very, very crowded. Yeah, I mean, they have a lot of play there. And then I ran some clinics with my good friend that I became good friends with called her name is Dixie Eckus. And we had I had a blast. I don't know something in the golf business. That's kind of not easy, but they could have 20 men at a club. And if they have their one woman, they've got their one woman. I don't know how that how that plays out. But it's you hardly ever see more than one woman in a club. So anyway, Dixie has been there nine years, and there's no jealousy between us. And we have a blast. You know, it's fun to learn from someone else. Manuel de la Torre was her, her teacher and so it's fun to you know, hear different different ways to express yourself. And it's we've we've just had great attendance, especially from the Nine Holers give a shout out to the classy Niners. And it's just a thrill to have people that want to learn to play better golf. Yeah, yeah. So we give them you know, we make it fun and give them some different things to, to drills and things to work on. And so that's what I've been doing.

Mike Gonzalez  22:45

Well, as you may know, Bruce, and I have three questions we like to always ask our guests. I don't know if you've done your homework already. But I'm gonna let Bruce I'm gonna let Bruce asked the first one.

Devlin, Bruce  23:00

This is a very interesting question. And I have a sneaking suspicion where Sandra may go with the answer to this question. So the question is, if you knew what you know, now, when you first started on the tour, what would you have done differently?

Palmer, Sandra  23:22

Oh, my gosh. If I know what I knew now that's a tough one, Bruce. Well, I think what just my learning experience of being able to control my emotions better. Then, you know, you don't know what goes inside someone. So I guess I'd say learn to control my emotions. I've got good control now. I'm not afraid of anything.

Devlin, Bruce  23:55

Okay, good.

Mike Gonzalez  23:57

The real answer is I would have won the 1976 U.S. Women's Open.

Palmer, Sandra  24:01

Well, that would work. That's where it played into. That's where it would have played into the into it.

Mike Gonzalez  24:09

Yeah. So this this may be related. I don't know. But the next question we give you one career Mulligan, where do you take it?

Palmer, Sandra  24:17

Well, I'm definitely going to take it on that second shot at Rolling Green.

Mike Gonzalez  24:23

Okay. Yeah. into 18. Yeah. Stay out

Devlin, Bruce  24:27

of that bunker and all

Palmer, Sandra  24:29

that was on the 17 hole. Sorry.

Mike Gonzalez  24:31

Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I

Palmer, Sandra  24:34

have a few others that I would like take back a short putt on. I lost in a playoff at Deer Creek. I was in a playoff and I missed a real short putt there like a foot or something.

Mike Gonzalez  24:48

You know how Jack Nicklaus answered this question by referencing shots other people hit

Palmer, Sandra  24:56

is that right? Well, that's probably good. Well, you know that It's probably true.

Devlin, Bruce  25:01

All right. The last the last question may be the sometimes it's easier sometimes it's the most difficult. How would you like to be remembered?

Palmer, Sandra  25:13

Well, I, I believe I'd like to be remembered as a good person that had the opportunity to play the game. Like there's no other. And I played it to the best of my ability.

Devlin, Bruce  25:43

My opinion is, that's exactly what you did Sandra Palmer and we, I'm telling you, we really appreciate you spending your dear time with us today. Mark alive.

Palmer, Sandra  25:55

Thank you so much.

Devlin, Bruce  25:56

We really look forward to it. And we can't thank you enough.

Palmer, Sandra  26:00

Well, thank you so much, was a real honor to be with you. And meet Mike and meet Mike.

Mike Gonzalez  26:06

Yeah, well, good luck with your induction next day next year.

Palmer, Sandra  26:11

I'll see you hope you'll be there.

Mike Gonzalez  26:13

We hope we are there. And I'm sure among others, you would be so proud. If Ed and Vida Warren would have been around to see you do this.

Palmer, Sandra  26:23

Yes. They gave me ever opportunity. And there's there's a few I mean, I've had so many people Well, I wish the ones that. You know Johnny Revolta, Harvey Penick and his lovely wife, Helen that were like family to me. So yeah, I miss them.

Mike Gonzalez  26:42

They'd be quite proud.

Devlin, Bruce  26:44

Thanks again, Sandra.

Palmer, Sandra  26:46

Thanks, Bruce. You're looking good. Thanks, Mike.

Mike Gonzalez  26:51

Thank you for listening to another episode of for the good of the game. Please, wherever you listen to your podcast on Apple and Spotify. If you like what you hear, please subscribe. Spread the word. Tell your friends down until we tee it up again. For the good of the game. So long everybody

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