\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEach year, thousands of fans, players, and media members arrive at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, for one of golf\u2019s most respected tournaments: the Arnold Palmer Invitational. >> Video above: WESH 2’s Daren Stoltzfus at the Arnold Palmer Invitational for Akshay Bhatia’s victoryWhile the world\u2019s top golfers compete on the challenging course, a dedicated group of volunteers works behind the scenes to ensure the tournament runs smoothly.Among them is Susan Reeves, who has spent more than two decades helping bring the event to life.\u201cTwenty-two years,\u201d Reeves said when asked how long she has volunteered at the tournament.Reeves, originally from Merritt Island, now lives in South Carolina and has been traveling to work in the tournament\u2019s media center since 2019. Inside the media center, she helps answer media questions, solve logistical problems, and make sure the story of the tournament is told accurately.The work can be demanding.\u201cIt\u2019s a 90-hour work week,\u201d Reeves said.But for Reeves and hundreds of others, the commitment is about honoring the legacy of the tournament\u2019s namesake, golf legend Arnold Palmer.\u201cHe just lived right over behind here and would come out and walk every night,\u201d Reeves recalled. \u201cHe would stop in to see us and enjoy ice cream.\u201dThose moments left a lasting impression on the volunteers who worked alongside him.\u201cHe was such a genuine, kind soul,\u201d she said. \u201cHe knew everyone.\u201dWhen asked what Palmer means to the community, Reeves didn\u2019t hesitate.\u201cThe hospital, the foundation, it’s just amazing,” Reeves said. A Tournament Built on LegacyThe Arnold Palmer Invitational is far more than a PGA Tour stop. It is a celebration of Palmer\u2019s legacy of excellence, community involvement, and philanthropy.The tournament began in 1966 as the Florida Citrus Open Invitational at Rio Pinar Country Club. Lionel Hebert won the inaugural event, finishing two shots ahead of a field that included golf icon Jack Nicklaus.In 1979, the tournament moved to Bay Hill, the course Palmer purchased in 1974 and transformed into one of the most recognizable venues in professional golf. Palmer hosted the tournament every year until his passing in 2016. The event had already been renamed in his honor in 2007.Today, the Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of the PGA Tour\u2019s premier Signature Events. The tournament features a 72-player invitational field competing for a $20 million purse, with the winner earning $4 million and 700 FedExCup points.The course itself presents a formidable challenge. The par-72 layout stretches to 7,466 yards and is known for its difficulty, with water hazards on half the holes and thick rough that demands precision from the world\u2019s best golfers.The Volunteers Who Make It PossibleDespite the global spotlight on players and prize money, tournament organizers say the real engine behind the event is its volunteers.\u201cAll the 1,500 volunteers are incredibly valuable to our event,\u201d said Drew Donovan, tournament director of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. \u201cThey make it happen year after year and we are eternally grateful for their dedication and service.\u201dMore than 1,500 volunteers contribute over 56,000 hours annually, organized into 31 committees responsible for everything from marshaling and scoring to security, parking, hospitality, and media operations.Their work doesn\u2019t just support the tournament \u2014 it fuels its charitable mission.Proceeds from the event are distributed through the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, supporting programs focused on children\u2019s health, youth development, and wellness. The tournament also donates more than $400,000 each year to community groups that provide volunteer support.Carrying Palmer\u2019s Spirit ForwardFor volunteers like Reeves, the long hours are about more than golf. They\u2019re about preserving the spirit Palmer brought to Bay Hill.Through their dedication, they help ensure that every year the Arnold Palmer Invitational remains not only a world-class tournament, but also a reflection of the values its founder championed: generosity, community and kindness.And for those who knew him, the memories still linger \u2014 sometimes as simple as a friendly stop for ice cream and a conversation that made everyone feel known.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Each year, thousands of fans, players, and media members arrive at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, for one of golf\u2019s most respected tournaments: the Arnold Palmer Invitational. <\/p>\n
>> Video above: WESH 2’s Daren Stoltzfus at the Arnold Palmer Invitational for Akshay Bhatia’s victory<\/p>\n
While the world\u2019s top golfers compete on the challenging course, a dedicated group of volunteers works behind the scenes to ensure the tournament runs smoothly.<\/p>\n
Among them is Susan Reeves, who has spent more than two decades helping bring the event to life.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwenty-two years,\u201d Reeves said when asked how long she has volunteered at the tournament.<\/p>\n
Reeves, originally from Merritt Island, now lives in South Carolina and has been traveling to work in the tournament\u2019s media center since 2019. <\/p>\n
Inside the media center, she helps answer media questions, solve logistical problems, and make sure the story of the tournament is told accurately.<\/p>\n
The work can be demanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a 90-hour work week,\u201d Reeves said.<\/p>\n
But for Reeves and hundreds of others, the commitment is about honoring the legacy of the tournament\u2019s namesake, golf legend Arnold Palmer.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just lived right over behind here and would come out and walk every night,\u201d Reeves recalled. \u201cHe would stop in to see us and enjoy ice cream.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those moments left a lasting impression on the volunteers who worked alongside him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was such a genuine, kind soul,\u201d she said. \u201cHe knew everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked what Palmer means to the community, Reeves didn\u2019t hesitate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hospital, the foundation, it’s just amazing,” Reeves said. <\/p>\n
A Tournament Built on Legacy<\/p>\n
The Arnold Palmer Invitational is far more than a PGA Tour stop. It is a celebration of Palmer\u2019s legacy of excellence, community involvement, and philanthropy.<\/p>\n
The tournament began in 1966 as the Florida Citrus Open Invitational at Rio Pinar Country Club. Lionel Hebert won the inaugural event, finishing two shots ahead of a field that included golf icon Jack Nicklaus.<\/p>\n
In 1979, the tournament moved to Bay Hill, the course Palmer purchased in 1974 and transformed into one of the most recognizable venues in professional golf. Palmer hosted the tournament every year until his passing in 2016. The event had already been renamed in his honor in 2007.<\/p>\n
Today, the Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of the PGA Tour\u2019s premier Signature Events. The tournament features a 72-player invitational field competing for a $20 million purse, with the winner earning $4 million and 700 FedExCup points.<\/p>\n
The course itself presents a formidable challenge. The par-72 layout stretches to 7,466 yards and is known for its difficulty, with water hazards on half the holes and thick rough that demands precision from the world\u2019s best golfers.<\/p>\n
The Volunteers Who Make It Possible<\/p>\n
Despite the global spotlight on players and prize money, tournament organizers say the real engine behind the event is its volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the 1,500 volunteers are incredibly valuable to our event,\u201d said Drew Donovan, tournament director of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. \u201cThey make it happen year after year and we are eternally grateful for their dedication and service.\u201d<\/p>\n
More than 1,500 volunteers contribute over 56,000 hours annually, organized into 31 committees responsible for everything from marshaling and scoring to security, parking, hospitality, and media operations.<\/p>\n
Their work doesn\u2019t just support the tournament \u2014 it fuels its charitable mission.<\/p>\n
Proceeds from the event are distributed through the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, supporting programs focused on children\u2019s health, youth development, and wellness. The tournament also donates more than $400,000 each year to community groups that provide volunteer support.<\/p>\n
Carrying Palmer\u2019s Spirit Forward<\/p>\n
For volunteers like Reeves, the long hours are about more than golf. They\u2019re about preserving the spirit Palmer brought to Bay Hill.<\/p>\n
Through their dedication, they help ensure that every year the Arnold Palmer Invitational remains not only a world-class tournament, but also a reflection of the values its founder championed: generosity, community and kindness.<\/p>\n
And for those who knew him, the memories still linger \u2014 sometimes as simple as a friendly stop for ice cream and a conversation that made everyone feel known.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Each year, thousands of fans, players, and media members arrive at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13772,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[1750,1348,1403,55,768,44,5879,3919,1754,1410,5876,5877,4150,5878,1082,282],"class_list":["post-13771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arnold-palmer-invitational","tag-arnold-palmer","tag-arnold-palmer-invitational","tag-bay-hill-club","tag-community","tag-event","tag-golf","tag-ice-cream","tag-legacy","tag-orlando","tag-player","tag-respected-tournament","tag-susan-reeves","tag-volunteer","tag-work","tag-world","tag-year"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13771\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}