While covering this week’s Hero World Challenge we took the opportunity to visit the nearby Bay Hill Country Club course and venue each year for the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Invitational.

Joining us was renowned Indian-born golf correspondent Vishwanathan Krishnaswamy or ‘Swamy’ as he is more affectionately known.

‘Swamy’ is one of the most respected journalists in India having been among a select few to be present in February this year when Tiger Woods made his first visit to the world’s largest democratic country to compete in an exhibition match in New Delhi.

‘Swamy’ standing beside Robert Gamez plaque on Bay Hill’s 18th fairway.

‘Swamy’ also is the acclaimed author of ‘Steeped in History – A History of the Indian Open’ and ‘A Guide To Golf In India’.

It was bizarre that in nearing Bay Hill Drive, and roadway leading to the Bay Hill Club, Dow Fistenwald’s name came up in conversation and not because he has been one of Arnold Palmer’s long-time companions.

Robert Gamez plaque at Bay Hill’s 18th fairway.

Upon driving into the member’s car park we soon found our way onto the 18th fairway that, of course, looked very different to March when it annually posts the lucrative PGA Tour event.

I walked with ‘Swamy’ to the spot where there is a plaque on the 18th to commemorate Robert Gamez holing his 176-yard, 7-iron shot for eagle to win the 1990 Nestle (And not Bay Hill) Invitational to deny Australia’s Greg Norman victory.

‘Swamy’ and I then ventured across the road to the clubhouse.

One legend meets another legend – 1958 PGA Champion and 1977 USA Ryder Cup captain Dow Fistenwald meets ‘Swamy’.

“Hey Swamy?  That looks like Dow Fistenwald on the practice putting green,” I said.

And as ‘Swamy’ and I headed in the direction of the practice putting Fistenwald’s presence was confirmed given the golf bag on the golf cart parked beside the green carried the logo – 1977 USA Ryder Cup Captain.

I had met Fistenwald earlier this year at the 75th anniversary of the Wyndham Championship when he and Bob Goalby, as former champions, were brought into the Media Center.

‘Swamy’ inspecting Bay Hill clubhouse and a fitting tribute to Arnold Palmer.

Aside from leading USA Team, that included the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Ray Floyd, to victory in 1977 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, Fistenwald captured the only Major in winning the 1958 PGA Championship.  He was third on two occasions, 1960 and 1962, in the Masters while he secured a third place in the 1960 US Open.  He posted 13 victories in his pro career with his last in 1963.

Dow kindly autographed a Crail Golfing Society and Kingsbarns commemorative flags for me and signing his name just above that of Australian great, Kel Nagle, and in spotting Kel’s signature Dow began to tell me a few tales that I later passed onto to Kel regarding competing together in the ’60s on the PGA Tour.

I reminded Dow of this and he gave me another tale of he and Kel, who will turn 94 later this month and is still golf’s oldest Major winner, of driving Kel to an event in Milwaukee.

We wound up our short visit to Bay Hill with Dow kindly agreeing me to photograph he and ‘Swamy’.

Bay Hill’s 18th green as it looks for the other 51 weeks of the year.