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College golfer gets letter from Palmer after legend's death

@CarlsonNickJ/ Twitter

Arnold Palmer was a man of class right up until his final days.

West Michigan golf team sophomore Nick Carlson received the letter of a lifetime Oct. 7 when he arrived at work at the Ravines Golf Club - a course designed by Palmer - in Saugatuck, Mich., to find a letter addressed to him from The King.

"Utter shock, really," Carlson said, according to Tony Paul of the Detroit News. "Like, I never expected it.

"It's just something really cool and almost a priceless moment, in my opinion."

Carlson had played in the U.S. Amateur in August, scoring a top-four finish, and Palmer sent a letter to congratulate the 20-year-old.

"I understand that you are a serious student of our great game of golf, as well as a good student and player at the University of Michigan," Palmer's letter reads.

"Keep up the good playing. I wish you the very best in whatever pursuit you choose to follow."

Palmer sent the letter Sept. 8, nearly two weeks before he died. It was only due to a busy schedule that the letter took so long to finally get to Carlson, but nevertheless it is a memento he will cherish forever.

"I've never been able to say that I knew Mr. Palmer or met him in any fashion, and to get that 10 days (after his death) was pretty special," Carlson said.

"It's framed and above my desk in my room. I get to look at it every day."

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