The recently engaged 30-year-old, who hails from Auckland, has been employed full-time at The Hills since September as its golf professional.
It appears Palmer is following in his father, Alistair's, footsteps.
Alistair Palmer is a former Otago representative and was a golf professional in Manukau and Timaru.
Speaking to the Queenstown Times, Palmer said his father never pushed him to play golf - but the challenge of the sport hooked him when he was 12.
"I grew up in Auckland. When I was about 12 my family moved to Timaru.
"I played heaps of other sports growing up [but] I didn't really start [golf] until we moved down to Timaru.
"I like how complicated the game is. I like the places it's taken me.
"I've met some amazing people through golf."
Palmer said he had been working part-time at The Hills "when required" for more than a year before a full-time, permanent position became available.
"I'd always hoped it would get to the stage where it was busy enough for me to be out here full-time and now we've got about 80 members."
Palmer, who took up his position as The Hills golf professional on September 1, said the course was in "superb condition" ahead of the Open.
"We've had a lot of rain, so it's a lot lusher than it normally would be at this time of year.
"When the first Open was held the course was brand new, so it was hard and fast, firm and dry.
"The course over its first few years settles down a little bit.
"The greens will be a lot better. The roughs are really thick, but it's in superb condition."
As for who his money is on for the title this year, there are several names which spring to mind, including veteran Australians Craig Parry, Peter Lonard and Peter Senior, but Palmer hoped a New Zealander would be presented with the trophy on Sunday afternoon.
"It would be awesome to have a New Zealand winner."