Today's anecdote doesn't have much to do with golf per se, but it's importance can't be discounted. On this day in 1954, Arnold Palmer married Winifred (Winnie) Walzer, who he had only met in September of that year, one month after winning the U.S. Amateur. They were engaged in September, but weren't going to get married for several months. But when Arnie seemed distracted about the whole waiting game, his father said to just get hitched and get on with his golf, which is what he did. He played his first full tour season in 1955 and had his first tour win that year at the Canadian Open. 

Today is a chance to cite a winning Senior PGA Tour team in the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge, which ended on this date in 1999. The event, which ran from 1992 to 2013, had three-person teams from the PGA, LPGA and senior tours playing against each other over 36 holes. The seniors of Hale Irwin, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson won in '99 at Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas, Henderson, Nev.

On this date in 1994, the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge ended with the PGA Tour team of Greg Norman, Fred Couples and Paul Azinger winning the two-round event at PGA West's Jack Nicklaus Resort Course in LaQuinta, Calif. at 10 under par.

On this date in 1989, the Mazda Champions, a three-round, mixed-team event at the Hyatt Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, was won by Patti Rizzo and Mike Hill at 25 under par.

The PNC Father/Son Challenge begins today in Orlando. Now in its 20th playing, it began strictly as what the title says, a father and his son. But exceptions have been made over the years, including allowing daughters to play, and one big exception was made in order to get Arnold Palmer in the field starting in 2003: grandsons. Arnie played six times with grandson Sam Saunders, but on this date in 2012, he and another grandson, Will Wears, finished the event in 18th. It was the only event Palmer played in 2012, and it was essentially the last time he played a tour-related event in his career.

The contemporary golf fan likely does not realize there is an entire universe of tour golf they know nothing about. The PGA Tour that slowly came together roughly 80 years ago was a far cry from what we see today, mainly in terms of money, course condition/yardage, and tournament location. There were some very obscure places compared to today. In Arnold Palmer’s first full tour season, 1955, he demonstrated an attitude of even going to offbeat locales to play golf. One such event was the Mayfair Inn Open, in Sanford, Fla., designed to showcase the inn’s 155-room resort hotel on Lake Monroe. The event was played at Mayfair Country Club from 1955 to 1958 and Arnie played all four years. On Dec. 15, 1955, he shot a 72 in Round 1 and withdrew. On Dec. 15, 1957, he shot a third-straight 69, in Round 4, to tie for 22nd. He also tied for 7th in 1956 and for 17th in 1958. The event didn’t help too much; the hotel closed in the 1960s.

On this date in 1975, Jane Blalock won the 36-hole Colgate Triple Crown at Mission Hills CC in Palm Springs and top prize of $15,000, beating a field of nine players. Blalock, of Highland Beach, Fla., sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff with JoAnne Carner and Judy Rankin. All three had finished with scores of 142.

Rickie Fowler turns 29 years old today. The California native has four PGA Tour victories, including two in 2015, after which observers thought his first major victory was just a matter of time. But he has eight top-10s in majors, including two in 2017, so it's still a waiting game. His win at the Hero World Challenge earlier this month indicates he's on the right track. 

As every golfer knows, it's the littlest things that can make a big difference. One of the littlest things is the golf tee. On this date in 1899, the patent for a wooden golf tee was issued to Boston dentist George Franklin Grant, the first African-American professor at Harvard. Originally from Oswego, N.Y., Grant had submitted his patent on July 1, 1899, and received patent No. 638,920 when issued. Up to that point, golfers had elevated their golf ball on a cone-shaped mound of sand that had to be formed prior to each tee shot.

Yesterday's entry focused on how Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer teamed to great success in several events, including the PGA National Team Championship. They won the 1966 event on Dec. 10 after rounds of 63-66-63-64—256. They tied for 15th in 1968, then won again in 1970 and 1971. Their very first pairing in the event was in 1965, which ended on today's date. They tied for seventh, seven shots behind winners Gay Brewer and Butch Baird, who were 29 under at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer teamed to great success in several events, namely the World Cup (Canada Cup), Ryder Cup, and for today's purposes, the PGA National Team Championship. They won the 1966 event on this date after rounds of 63-66-63-64—256. They tied for 15th in 1968, then won again in 1970 and 1971. Their very first pairing in the event will be highlighted for the Dec. 11 entry.

In a centuries-old sport such as golf, there are many landmark moments when the equipment was upgraded with new technologies and new rules. Today's date in 1926 is recognized in many historical sources as the day the U.S. Golf Association legalized the use of steel shafts in golf clubs. Up to that point, wood (hickory, mainly) was the primary shaft material. 

It's always special to mention golf legend Mickey Wright's name in an anecdote. On this date in 1963, she and Dave Ragan won the Haig & Haig Scotch Mixed Foursome Invitational at Pinecrest Lakes Club in Avon Park, Fla. They edged Kathy Whitworth and Mason Rudolph by one shot.

On a day that means so much regarding America's armed forces, this spot today makes note of golf's equivalent "military" leader, the late Arnold Palmer, leader of Arnie's Army. On this date in 1980, Palmer won his first PGA Seniors title; he won a second in 1984. In 1980, at age 51, he won in Miami at Turnberry Isle.

The JCPenney Classic concluded on this date in 1981 with Beth Daniel and Tom Kite combining to win the mixed-team event at Bardmoor C.C. in Largo, Fla. They shot 18 under and won by two over Cathy Morse and Vance Heafner.

One of golf's boldest and most fiery competitors was born on this date in 1949. Lanny Wadkins was a quick-paced, take-dead-aim type player who won the 1977 PGA in a playoff with Gene Littler, the 1979 Players Championship, 19 other PGA Tour titles, and the 1970 U.S. Amateur. He also memorably struck a gutsy wedge shot in his singles match in the 1983 Ryder Cup that helped ensure a team victory. In recent years Wadkins has been a commentator on Golf Channel.

One of the quaint formats in pro tour history is the combination of male and female pros in a mixed-team event. It was primarily popular in the 1970s, but after Arnold Palmer's prime years on tour. His best finish in a mixed-team event was on this date in 1977 when he and Sandra Palmer (no relation) tied for third in the 1977 Pepsi-Cola Mixed Team Championship behind Jerry Pate and Hollis Stacy. The two Palmers had tied for seventh in 1976, and later, Arnie paired with sensation Laura Baugh in 1980 and 1983 in the Rolex World Mixed Classic in Japan; they were seventh in 1980 and tied for sixth in '83.

The prestige of the World Cup, originally known as the Canada Cup, was at its strongest during the early days. Star players took it as a "duty" to represent their country. On this date in 1964, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus represented the U.S. as the first round was played at Royal Kaanapali Golf Course, Maui, Hawaii. The course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., was recently opened and was being showcased with the World Cup, including TV coverage. The two Americans didn't disappoint: they teamed to win the title on December 6, with Nicklaus first and Palmer second in the individual standings.

Say a quip, or think of a witticism: On this date, Dan Jenkins was born in 1929. You can also try to cut through all the BS that can infiltrate golf's bureaucracy, which was one of the traits of Jenkins' writing. He wrote in both the golf fiction and nonfiction realms, earning enshrinement in the World Golf Hall of Fame. The 88-year-old Fort Worth legend has been to more than 210 majors dating back to the Hogan years.

It's a doubly good day for recalling golf dates. On the day after the PGA Tour's career money leader Tiger Woods makes a return to competitive golf, the man he's still trying to catch in majors recognizes a milestone. On Dec. 1, 1973, Jack Nicklaus won the Walt Disney Classic to become the first player to reach $2 million in career money. And also on this day, six-time major champion Lee Trevino celebrates his 78th birthday.