Chance of a Lifetime

Sam Arnold has a saying about finding ways to keep his dream of playing on the Champions Tour alive. 

"I'll do anything as long as I don't have to get naked," Arnold said with a laugh. 

On Friday, the 53-year-old club pro from Cincinnati will tee it up in his first-ever Champions Tour event after getting through a Monday qualifier for the Mitsubishi Classic outside Atlanta. 

Illustrating his "I'll do anything" mantra, Arnold will be sleeping in his 11-year-old nephew's Spider-Man-themed bunk bed for the week. His sister, luckily, lives about 40 minutes from TPC Sugarloaf, the host of this week's event. "He is letting me have his room for the week. The bed is too small, but at least it's a mattress," Arnold told me as he waited for the weather to clear so he could play a practice round.   

The excitement had not worn off when I spoke with Arnold on Wednesday. Finally, he had made it into an event after countless misses at pre-qualifiers, close calls at a few Monday Qs, and a heartbreaker at Champions Tour Q-school. He gushed about his wife Amy, his three boys, all in college now, and all the members from the muni where he has worked for 28 years who have helped him keep the dream alive. 

Arnold grew up around Cincinnati and stayed in the area for college, playing golf at Wright State University just north of the city. He was a solid player there, and after graduating with a degree in psychology, he headed to Florida to chase his pro golf dreams. 

Despite small successes, Arnold soon returned to the Cincy area looking for work. "I didn't do things necessary to be successful," Arnold said, recalling his time in Florida. 

Arnold wanted to stay in golf, however. Instead of looking for a job in psychology, he was hired as the assistant pro at The Vineyard, a municipal course run by the Cincinnati Park District. 28 years later, Arnold is still at The Vineyard, now as the General Manager. Arnold had opportunities to go to private clubs in the area, but as a county employee the retirement pension and accrued time off were just too good. His dream of playing professionally drove a large part of the decision to stay at the muni. 

During his 28 years at The Vineyard, Arnold always found time to compete in as many Southern Ohio PGA Section events as possible. And he played well, winning over 35 events and being named Cincinnati player of the year 14 times. Amy is a school teacher in the area, and with three boys, the small profit from section wins was an important bonus for the Arnolds. 

Arnold was quick to point out that he loved his job, but his dream of playing professionally for a living never died. As he neared the magic age of 50, he looked for ways to chase his dream. 

But like almost any pro, money is always an issue. 

That is where the members of the Vineyard have stepped in. One member gifted Arnold $10,000; others have thrown in a few thousand, but most have given him a few hundred here and there. 

And Arnold has spent every dime chasing Monday qualifiers across the country and going to Q-school each year since he turned 50. He often drives his 2022 Ram Truck and pinches pennies as much as he can. 

There were some bad rounds and some near misses. In one Monday Q, Arnold found himself near the number with a few other players as the last few groups were completing their rounds. Arnold and the other players headed to the range to get ready for a potential playoff. A player in one of the last groups knocked Arnold and the others out. "We didn't really say anything to each other. We just all put our heads down and headed to our cars. That was a tough one." 

Finally, on Monday, it happened. Although Arnold bogeyed the last hole, his five-under 67 was good enough to grab the last spot in the field. The first phone call was toAmy, who had stood by his side as he chased his dream. The call was emotional. 

The successful Monday Q couldn't have come at a better time. 

Arnold keeps a credit card dedicated to his golf expenses and it is due on Friday, the same day he tees off in his first Champions Tour event. "$3500," Arnold said when I asked how much he owed on it. He hopes to make much more than that this week. 

"Retirement is just a few years away, and I have a lot of vacation time. I used most of it to play," Arnold said. He plans to chase professional golf full-time once he retires. 

The dream is alive. And he didn't even have to get naked. 

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