SCGA’s Bill Danko recalls matches against The King

October 19, 2016

By Mary Goodwin

Not many can say they played four consecutive seasons against the late, great Arnold Palmer, but SCGA member and loyal volunteer, Bill Danko, had the pleasure of playing against the King in his home state of Pennsylvania growing up. In fact, they competed against each other a total of eight times, in competitive high school matches to be precise.

Danko was raised in Jeanette, a small Pennsylvania town neighboring Palmer’s home town and both held the No. 1 seats on their respective high school golf teams from 1944 to 1947.

Each year, the two would face-off twice in the season for three-point matches, one point for each side won and an additional point to the overall low score.

“I was No. 1 on my high school team and thought I was pretty good,” said Danko, recalling his first match against Palmer. “When I was scheduled to play a skinny 14 year old from a rival high school who had never played competitive golf before, I was brimming with confidence.”

After Palmer’s first drive, Danko was even more assured the match was his as Palmer topped it – that’s right, Arnold Palmer topped his first ever completive golf shot in high school.

But it didn’t take long for Danko to realize he was in trouble, and that this kid from down the road was one incredible golfer.

Later in life, Palmer was quoted in Sports Illustrated recalling this match. “In my first high school match as a freshman in 1944 I shot a 71 and defeated a lefthander from the town of Jeanette. His name was Bill Danko and that match with him gave me almost as much thrill as winning my first Masters.”

Over the course of those four years Palmer swept Danko, winning all eight matches – and numerous Pennsylvania State Championships – but Danko did manage to sneak in a point sophomore year, shooting a 35 on the back side to lose the match 2-1, rather than allowing Palmer to secure his usual 3-0 victory.

“I didn’t mind the defeats,” said Danko, “Like most high school players today, I was sort of average. But all of us knew Palmer was destined for a long career in golf, that he would make it pro.”

Over the years, and following their respective high school graduations, Danko and Palmer kept in touch, occasionally seeing one another when Palmer was playing local TOUR events.

“After about seven or eight years had passed I went to a tournament Palmer was playing in as a spectator,” said Danko. “I approached him and reintroduced myself.”

More time passed and Danko attended another TOUR event to see Palmer, again saying hello and introducing himself.

Palmer replied, “Bill, I know who you are,” and they both had a good laugh about it.

“Arnie was just a real people person,” said Danko, fondly remembering all those cherished high school matches the two shared so early in life. “Those are memories I’ll never forget.”

Danko, a resident of Santa Ana, currently serves as a rules official for the SCGA.