One day after watching President Barack Obama authorize awarding him The Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, and one hour after having a decaying molar yanked, Arnold Palmer sat down with Kingdom correspondent Chris Rodell at his Latrobe office

Every great structure needs renovating from time to time, and this is also true of even the finest and most famous golf courses. And so it was that the 18-hole Championship layout at Bay Hill, Arnold Palmer’s pride and joy, underwent a major facelift during the summer of 2009. Photography: Evan Schiller

The editor spends more than a few nights standing outside alone in the cold staring at the sky and waiting for something he wouldn’t see. It wasn’t a waste of time. Trust me

Whether it’s troops playing on an improvised course in Iraq or WWII POWs who played between the Stalag barracks, golf has a history in uniform. For this issue of kingdom, John Strege, noted golf writer and author of the book When War Played Through, looks at the game’s role on the front lines of the World Wars

Visitors to London are spoiled for choice when it comes to playing and staying at top-class golf resorts. North, south, east or west, the UK capital offers plenty of options to the discerning golfer on vacation. Paul Trow acts as your guide

In broad terms, 1919 was a good year for England. The Great War was over, a British dirigible crossed the Atlantic—becoming the first airship to do so—and the British House of Commons welcomed its first female MP, the American-born Lady Astor.

Arnold Palmer’s 80th birthday was marked by a fanfare of events and celebrations that reflected many different dimensions of his fabled life. Kingdom was close at hand to record some of the more memorable moments as the King passed his milestone

Bermuda has more golf courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Paul Trow and Jon Edwards marvel at how this delectable quart has been squeezed into such a delicate pint pot

“Anything you want to add?”
I ask, preparing to put my notepad and recorder away. Relaxing backstage before a gig in Santa Ynez, California, country music star Vince Gill thinks for a second, then lights up and enthusiastically offers, “Long live the King!”
Famous as a musician and humanitarian, Vince Gill is also a killer on the golf course. This October, he spared us a few minutes for a pre-show chat about golf, life, music and his favorite celebrity golf partner.
Long live the King, indeed

A 36-hour train trip in the U.S. leaves the editor pondering how something so seemingly overpriced and uncomfortable can provide such a compelling and wonderful experience