Arnold Palmer Gifted AP Irons #U9L7R3 & Wood Set with Bag to Assistant Patty Aikens

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/6/2022

Arnold Palmer Gifted AP Irons #U9L7R3 & Wood Set with Bag to Assistant Patty Aikens

Arnold Palmer hand-picked fellow Latrobean and family friend Patty Aikens in 1963 when he began getting more attention, requests and offers than anyone anticipated as the "Elvis of golf." Patty would be gifted this set of Arnold Palmer Company bag and matching clubs in appreciation by her Rockstar boss Arnie. These were gifted after Palmer left Wilson Co., going on to use his namesake. Patty however wasn't a golfer herself, so this set was used sparingly if at all and remains in very good condition as shown in the accompanying lot photos. Included in this grouping is a full set of irons and a gooseneck putter.

~Patty Aikens Collection~

Modest. Accomplished. Quick-witted. Three adjectives to describe Patty Aikens, Arnold Palmer's first secretary. The year was 1963 and Arnold was becoming the Elvis of golf - one of the most marketable athletes in all of sport. Patty was Palmer's neighbor and family friend and the easy choice for Arnie to fill the suddenly much-needed role. After all, he saw the same three traits. Patty recounts that she was posed with the unique job opportunity by Arnold Palmer in his own Latrobe, PA driveway. The concrete strip was only a 9-iron away from Patty's residence, as she was there to pick up her mother from Palmer's house after socializing with Arnie's folks. Patty would go on to be Arnold's right hand, spending meaningful time with Winnie, the Palmer family and rubbing shoulders with notables such as General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Patty Aikens went to school at Robert Morris in Pittsburgh and then worked for Arnie from '63 until 1972, when she then went to work for the Atlanta Braves baseball team. Aikens received letters of recommendation from not only Arnold, but the man she worked side-by-side with for many years - Donald 'Doc' Giffin. Not bad references. Patty can still be described by those three adjectives - a big smile on her face when the word "Penzoil" is mentioned to her.