‘Arnie and Me’ TV show will include Irmo woman’s moment with Palmer (+ video)

Greg Ervin loves his golf, and almost everyone who loves golf loves a guy named Arnold Palmer.

Not surprisingly, then, Ervin heeded the Golf Channel’s call for viewers to share their personal connections with the man who more than any other popularized the game. The best of the home videos would become part of “Arnie & Me” – a follow-up to the network’s three-part production “Arnie” that earned rave reviews a year ago.

But, Sherry Ervin, Greg’s wife of 26 years, says laughing, “I stole his moment.”

Sherry telling Greg’s story – rather than Greg telling Greg’s story – will be included in the hour-long “Arnie & Me” program that premieres on the Golf Channel at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

“The Palmer moment” for the Ervins, who live in Irmo, came about a year ago at Augusta National Golf Club on a practice-round day.

The scene was fitting.

Palmer’s most cherished triumphs came at Augusta National in the Masters.

The date is easy to remember. “April 8,” Sherry Ervin said. “Our daughter’s birthday.”

The Ervins’ day had mirrored that of most fans who attend practice rounds at Augusta – watch a little golf, drink in the scenery and take some pictures for the scrapbook.

“We were walking along near the Founders’ Circle, looked back and saw a van coming,” Sherry said. “We moved to let the van pass, then Greg looked back again and said, ‘Holy (bleep), that’s Arnold Palmer.’

“Arnold was sitting in the passenger’s seat and must have read his lips. He made eye contact, broke into that big smile of his grinning from ear to ear and gave Greg a thumbs up.”

Folks who know the game – and probably even those who don’t – understand that Palmer has a special charisma that touches everyone. He connects, and he connected with Greg Ervin.

Now, Greg Ervin wanted to reciprocate.

He saw the request for “Arnie Moments” on the Golf Channel – “Every TV in the house is the Golf Channel,” Sherry said, laughing – and planned to make his video.

“Finally, he said, ‘Let’s do it,’ ” Sherry remembered. “He did four or five takes to make sure he got it right. I thought, ‘Let me make one, too,’ and I did. I did only one take.”

They sent the videos to the Golf Channel for consideration and didn’t think much about it.

Then, the phone rang.

“The Golf Channel called and the man said they had selected my video,” Sherry said. “I was really surprised. Greg asked me, ‘Are you sure they got the right one?’

“I’m still taking a little flak about that.”

A sidelight: Sherry Ervin does not play golf.

“Greg’s the golfer,” she said. “He played all the time until he had shoulder surgery that has kept him from playing much recently. I’ve gone to the course with him a few times, and I’ll watch the big tournaments with him.”

Stories like the Ervins’ from golfers and from those who have never played the game – “Love Letters to Arnold Palmer,” the Golf Channel calls them – illustrate the mystique of the golfer called “The King.”

And with the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational set for next week in Orlando, the eyes of the golf world will be on him again.

In addition to its usual tournament coverage and analysis, the Golf Channel will rerun its 2014 special “Arnie” from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to lead into the “Arnie and Me” special.

“We’re anxious to see it,” Sherry said, “even if I stole Greg’s moment.”

WATCH: Sherry Ervin’s video submission to the ‘Arnie and Me’ program

(Note: Exclamation used that some may find objectionable)

This story was originally published March 13, 2015 at 7:47 PM with the headline "‘Arnie and Me’ TV show will include Irmo woman’s moment with Palmer (+ video)."