Toro Helps Sponsor Key Initiatives at the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, is one of many premier courses around the world that utilizes Toro equipment to prepare the grounds for elite tournaments, including the annual Arnold Palmer Invitational held at Bay Hill on March 4 – 10.

In addition to providing turf equipment on the course, Toro played a special role alongside the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation to sponsor several initiatives off the course.

Here’s a brief recap from the weekend:

Remembering Arnold Palmer’s Legacy

Toro partnered with the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation to support the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation Activation Area, an off-the-course installment that celebrates the history and legacy of Arnold Palmer and the foundation’s charitable efforts, including children’s health, nature preservation and character development through golf.

A Piece of Golf History

Toro worked with the foundation to put Arnold Palmer’s famous Toro tractor on display at the activation area. The tractor — which was manufactured in 1947 — belonged to Palmer’s father, who used it for course maintenance duties at Latrobe Country Club in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Palmer’s hometown.

Later, the tractor gained national notoriety after appearing alongside Palmer in a series of Pennzoil ads throughout the 1980s. Today, the tractor not only still runs, but is still in use at Latrobe Country Club.

Preparing future superintendents

Toro, as a Founding Partner of Golfit! in Glasgow, sponsors two apprentices, Lucy Millar and Anton Shields. Thanks to the Arnold Palmer Foundation, the pair traveled to the Bay Hill Invitational to assist the maintenance crew before and during the tournament. Throughout their time at Bay Hill, they provided general support across the course and had the valuable opportunity to shadow senior crew members to learn what their jobs entail.

For more information on Toro’s equipment and initiatives, go to toro.com.