Bear Facts: Notes on Nicklaus Design
Jack and Nicklaus Design among Golf Inc.
Development Newsmakers of the Year
Jack Nicklaus, for his leadership and role in creating the world's largest golf course design firm, was recognized by Golf Inc. magazine as one of its 10 Development Newsmakers of the Years. The Golden Bear was featured in the March issue of the magazine, and is being recognized Monday evening at the Golf Inc. Conference in La Quinta, Calif.
As the magazine said about Nicklaus, "The golfing icon may e the biggest name driving golf course community development in the nation and the world."
Others recognized include: Bobby Ginn, who lists among his active projects The Reunion in Orlando, which will include among its 54 holes a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course to open later this year; Tolby Strahan, general manager at Nicklaus-designed Grand Bear, for leading the Mississippi course's recovery from Hurricane Katrina; Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest for collaborating with GE Real Estate to find financing for golf course projects; Kevin Hammock, Vice President of Development for Marriott Golf; Mike Keiser, owner, Bandon Dunes Resort: Paul Fireman, former CEO of Reebok and now leading Willowbend Development, which built Liberty National--1,000 yards from Statue of Liberty (Kite and Cupp design); Jeff Hinkle, Vice President for Community Development, Shea Homes; Jan Stephenson and her development company JSI Golf; and Donald Trump.
Jack named one of NCAA's 100 Most Influential Student-Athletes
Jack Nicklaus, who was a Big Ten and NCAA Champion in 1961 at The Ohio State University before embarking on a record-setting, unparalleled professional career, has been named one of the NCAA's 100 Most Influential Student-Athletes. The Golden Bear actually was voted No. 8 on a list that was topped by such groundbreaking athletes as Jackie Robinson (No. 1), Arthur Ashe (No. 2) and Jesse Owens (No. 3), who also attended OSU.
As part of the NCAA's Centennial Celebration, the 100 student-athletes were chosen by a panel consisting of college and university presidents, athletic directors, NCAA committee members, conference office representatives, SAAC representatives and NCAA staff.
Jack was the highest finisher among the five golfers to make the list. Others selected were: Tiger Woods (#13), Arnold Palmer (#25), Patty Berg (#37), and Annika Sorenstam (#58).
For the entire list, you can visit http://web1.ncaa.org/cent/mostInfluential.jsp.
Golf writers honor Golden Bear on eve of Masters
On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the most historic Masters Tournament in history, the 1000-member Golf Writers Association of America honored the author of that victory. Jack Nicklaus, who has for decades been lauded for his accessibility, quotability and his career-long relationship with the media, was presented the ASAP Sports/Jim Murray Award. The award recognizes a player for cooperation, quotability and for accommodation to the media and for reflecting the most positive aspects of the working relationship between athlete and journalists.
The Golden Bear has been lauded for years for his ever-candid and accommodating relationship with the media, and is credited with inventing the reporter's "scrum" because of his willingness to entertain media and questions well after press conferences end. Jack was never more impressive than in the past year, refusing to reschedule a press conference just days after the accidental death of his grandson. In addition, he was accommodating and engaging as he played his final competitive rounds at St. Andrews and when he captained the U.S. to a win at The Presidents Cup. If there was ever a more appropriate show of the respect the media has for Nicklaus, it was when he was given a standing ovation from the golf writers last April after he completed what is likely to be his final round at the Masters.
Nicklaus was honored at the Annual GWAA Awards Dinner Wednesday night in Augusta, Ga., along with GWAA Players of the Year Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam and Dana Quigley. In addition, 2005 Memorial Tournament winner Bart Bryant received the 2005 Ben Hogan Award, given annually to an individual who has continued to be active in golf despite a physical handicap or serious illness, and former USGA President Sandy Tatum received the William D. Richardson Award, which recognizes an individual who has consistently made an outstanding contribution to golf.
Pronghorn and May River Golf Club make Top-100 debut
as Nicklaus places nine in Golfweek's 100 Best Modern Courses
Highlighted by the debuts of The Club at Pronghorn (71st), the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Oregon, and the May River Golf Club (100th) in South Carolina's Palmetto Bluff, nine Nicklaus Design courses made Golfweek's 2006 list of America's 100 Best Modern Courses. Topping the Nicklaus entries among the top 100 courses to open since 1960 was Muirfield Village Golf Club, which moved up from No. 8 to 6 in a year.
Other Nicklaus Design courses to make the list were: Harbour Town (No. 27); Castle Pines (No. 29); Mayacama (No. 38), Shoal Creek (No. 66); Valhalla (No. 77); and Lake Las Vegas-SouthShore (No. 88).
In addition to the Top 100 ranking, Golfweek does a state-by-state ranking of the top public-access courses, and again Nicklaus Design set the pace with 23 courses. Included among those were four that took top honors in their respective state: Jack Nicklaus II-designed Pinehills in Plymouth, Mass., Grand Bear in Saucier, Miss., Old Works in Anaconda, Mont.; and the Bear Trace at Ross Creek in Clifton, Tenn. Nineteen of the 23 were listed in their state's top 5, including newly opened Bayside, which took runner-up honors in Delaware.
Pronghorn, May River roll on with Best New Community honors,
as Desert Mountain is named Best In The U.S. by GOLF Magazine
The Club at Pronghorn, the first "desert-style" golf experience in the Northwest, and the May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff, which is tucked among 300-year-old live oaks and brushes the banks of the South Carolina river for which it is named, continue to receive rave reviews, this time with Best New Community honors in GOLF Magazine Living, a special publication by GOLF Magazine. Pronghorn took Best New Community In The West, while Palmetto Bluff snatched Best New Community In The East. The accolades were part of a special issue that featured a cover story on the 50 Best Places To Live, with The Best Place in the U.S going to Desert Mountain, the Scottsdale club anchored by six Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses.
Reynolds Plantation, which was first put on the map in 1992 with the Nicklaus-designed Great Waters course, was named Best Golf. Overall, 13 communities in the top 50 Best Golf Communities in America featured at least one Nicklaus Design course. The others were: Colleton River Plantation; Reunion Resort & Club; The Cliffs at Keowee; Carlton Woods; Hualalai; Lake Las Vegas; Las Campanas; Promontory; and Superstition Mountain. The Cliffs at Walnut Cove and The Reserve at Lake Keowee made the Ten to Watch list.
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