Skies are blue
(and Golden)
over Skywater
in Texas
Jack Nicklaus visited his new Signature Golf Course, Summit Rock, last month, where over two days he held a press conference, hosted a lively Q&A and dinner for members and guests, and then spent several hours working with the Nicklaus and Skywater teams on the layout currently under construction. Summit Rock is located in Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay, a 1,618-acre upscale residential community outside of Austin and in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. The course is expected to open for play next spring.
“We had a fun two days at Skywater,” Jack said. “I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet and visit with some of the members and lot-buyers while I was there. I got the sense from everyone in the room and during the conversations we had throughout the time I was there that there is a shared excitement for what we are trying to create out of this natural, Texas Hill Country landscape. Even though I am updated on a continuous basis, tremendous progress has been made since I was last there and we made a lot of small as well as significant tweaks to the design that we feel the members and guests at Summit Rock will embrace.”
View press conference
View photo diary
Whispering Pines No. 1 golf course in Texas for fifth straight year
One is nestled in a peaceful setting, muffled by towering trees. It's cut off from golfing inhabitants for about half the year. Even its name evokes soothing images.
The other is hidden in a natural paradise within view of the Dallas skyline. It's secluded among massive trees, deep canyons and plateaus.
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Jack Nicklaus
and Tony Jacklin
reunite at
The Concession
More than 40 years ago, Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin walked up the 18th fairway of Royal Birkdale, with the Ryder Cup matches hanging in the balance and about to be decided by the outcome of this marquee singles match. Tony turned to Jack and said, "I'm bloody petrified." Just a few days ago, Nicklaus and Jacklin walked up the 18th fairway again, hardly petrified but certainly elated.
The Concession Golf Club, located near Sarasota, Fla., celebrates the historic act of sportsmanship from the 1969 Ryder Cup when Jack conceded Jacklin's 2-foot putt to leave the matches in a tie. The Concession, the Best New Private Course in America for 2006, just celebrated its fourth birthday and Jack helped by visiting the club and new owner Bruce Cassidy to see how the course has progressed. Jack joined Cassidy, Jacklin and Design Associate Chris Cochran in a friendly round that ended with Jack bettering his age (70) with a 68 on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course designed in association with Jacklin. Jack then hosted a press conference and member Q&A.
View photo diary...
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Special Programming Note
Beginning Monday night and running the entire week, DirecTV will air a Masters Tournament preview special highlighted by interviews with six-time champion Jack Nicklaus.
Hosted by CBS’ award-winning broadcaster Jim Nantz, along with Nick Faldo and Bill Macatee, the 30-minute show debuts Monday at 10:00 p.m. ET on DirecTV’s original programming channel of 101. The show will air again at 10:30 p.m. The preview special will be re-broadcast several times Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Please check your DirecTV guide for exact times.
ESPN will kick off its Masters coverage Wednesday at 3pm with the broadcast of the Par 3 Tournament featuring Jack and good friends and long-time competitors Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.
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Jack will join Palmer, Player
in Par 3 Contest and then step
on first tee and into history
as Thursday’s Honorary Starter
No Masters Tournament week passes without reliving special memories created in the career and life of Jack Nicklaus. During this Masters, however, the Golden Bear will create a few more scrapbook moments.
Jack will join good friends and long-time competitors Arnold Palmer and Gary Player as the highlight group of Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest. The Big Three will kick off ESPN’s 3:00 p.m. (ET) telecast of the wildly popular event. Jack will then step on the first tee at Augusta National on Thursday morning with Palmer in the Golden Bear’s first appearance as an Honorary Starter for the Masters Tournament.
“Every year I drive up Magnolia Lane, it’s a special experience,” Nicklaus said. “But this year will have a little different feeling and perhaps the most sentimental significance since my last tournament appearance in 2005.
“I always enjoy getting together with Arnold and Gary, especially at a place that means so much to all of us. We’ll have a good time, share some laughs and a few needles, but rest assured there will be some competitive juices flowing as well when we tee it up.”
Some time between 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Thursday, a sea of patrons will surround the first tee when Jack joins Palmer in his first appearance as an Honorary Starter and only the eighth in the storied history of the Masters Tournament.
The custom of having Honorary Starters began in 1963 with Jock Hutchison (1963-1973) and Fred McLeod (1963-1976) performing the duties. Byron Nelson (1981-2001, non-consecutive), Gene Sarazen (1981-99), Ken Venturi (1983), Sam Snead (1984-2002) and then Palmer (2007-present) continued the practice. The Golden Bear was invited last year by Chairman Billy Payne to join this legendary group.
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Additonal Masters Tournament Information
View Wednesday's photo diary from the Masters...
Read Jack's Masters Tournament press conference interview...
Special television programming
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 As a guest of the Royal Family, Jack Nicklaus visited Morocco recently to help promote and grow the game of golf throughout Morocco. The Golden Bear’s visit was timed with the Hassan II Golf Trophy, which was being played at Dar Es Salam golf course in the capital city of Rabat and for the first time as a European Tour-sanctioned event. The Golden Bear returned the invitation and hospitality when he hosted His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid for a day at The Bear’s Club.
His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid's father, the late King Hassan II, who passed away in 1999, is credited for bringing golf to Morocco, and the Hassan II Golf Trophy has been played for more than 37 years, with some of the biggest names in the history of the sport being attracted to the event. His Royal Highness, who shares his late father’s love for the game, extended an invitation to the Golden Bear to visit his country, the tournament, and to discuss ways in which golf can not only grow throughout the country but contribute to the nation’s growing tourism. Nicklaus not only spent parts of two days with His Royal Highness, he visited area courses and potential sites, and met with representatives of some of the top developers in Morocco.
“His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid could not have been kinder or more hospitable during our visit,” Nicklaus said. “He has such enthusiasm and a passion for the game of golf. The only thing he was more passionate about was his country and his people, and what he could do to benefit them. He envisions golf as a key driver to help both.
“Morocco has all the ingredients to be a very successful golf market. It has fantastic weather, wonderful access from major international cities, and beautiful land, including close to 2,000 kilometers of coastline. Most important, it has an abundance of people who already have a deep-rooted affection for the game. While we were there, we witnessed their collective energy to see golf grow at all levels and in the right way.”
View photo diary...
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 It’s been around for just over three years, but St. Francis Links has managed to crack Golf Digest’s Top 10 ranking of courses in South Africa in its first attempt. The announcement was made at a banquet held in Johannesburg in March. This was the first year that St. Francis Links was eligible to be rated since opening in December 2006 and the estate entered the rating at No 9.
The announcement is should have a positive effect on the development and Eastern Cape Tourism, as the ranking will bring awareness to the area and attract even more enthusiastic golfers to one of the most challenging and spectacular courses in South Africa.
St Francis Links has also just recently been recognised by Compleat Golfer magazine as a recipient of the “5-Star Golf Experience Award” for the fourth consecutive year.
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Jack Nicklaus makes site
visit
to Campeche Playa
Jack Nicklaus made a visit to Mexico in March to work with the owners and developers of Campeche Playa. Julio Noval Garcia Sr., Grupo Mall Chairman, and Project General Manager, Julio Noval Arias reviewed the progress on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. While there, they focused their time on the first nine holes with Jack providing the key strategy elements to the Campeche Playa golf course. During a press conference that followed the site visit, the development team for Grupo Mall and the Minister of Tourism for Campeche were on hand to discuss the progress of the project and its positive impact to the tourism industry.
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Nicklaus Golf Equipment
becomes AGCP sponsor
Roy Nix, Executive Director of the Association of Golf Clubfitting Professionals (AGCP), a leader in the advancement of custom clubfitting and clubmaking, proudly announces Nicklaus Golf Equipment as a preferred vendor with the AGCP. Nicklaus Golf has become a Sponsor of the AGCP, which has over 120 Clubfitting Professionals worldwide. AGCP is proud to support the golf equipment company owned by golf legend Jack Nicklaus and recognized by one leading publication as “The Most Powerful Person in Golf” for six straight years.
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