Remarkable Friendships

Last month, a renaissance man in the game, Charlie Mechem, published a book entitled “Arnie and Jack: Stories of my lifelong friendship with two remarkable men.” As the name implies, it is a breezy, conversational account of Mechem’s unique relationship with the game’s most dynamic duo. Few if any people were closer to both Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer than Mechem, a lawyer and entrepreneur who also served as the commissioner of the LPGA. Mechem had an office at Bay Hill across from Arnie’s, and he was a regular at the Nicklauses’ home.  

The following is an exclusive excerpt from Mechem’s book:
FOREWORD BY JACK NICKLAUS
Much like a four-leaf clover, a friend is hard to find and lucky to have. Truly great friends are difficult to leave and impossible to forget. There are two people among those who have been like four-leaf clovers to me – Arnold Palmer and Charlie Mechem. Arnold and I were fierce competitors, but more important, we were friends for 60 years. And then there is Charlie, who has been a dear friend of mine for over...