State of The Bear In an interview conducted at his North Palm Beach, Fla. offices, Jack Nicklaus talks to national and local media about his upcoming 70th birthday and other topics related to the game and his enthusiasm over his global business. View exclusive video clips at Nicklaus.com Bronx Bear: Jack Nicklaus makes site visit to Ferry Point In December, Jack Nicklaus toured Ferry Point, the site of a new Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course under construction in the Bronx, NY, and in the shadows of the Whitestone Bridge. Scheduled to open early in 2012 and considered one of the most important golf projects under way in the U.S., Ferry Point is located on 222 acres of a former landfill. Ferry Point will be a nearly treeless, Irish links-style course, featuring tall, blowing native grasses and dunes with teeing grounds that rise as high as 60 feet above grade and provide splendid views of the East River and, eight miles away, the Manhattan skyline. "A course like this," Nicklaus said, "sends a message that the city of New York has made a huge effort to build something very special." View Photo Diary Procraft Heritage Creations announces relationship with Nicklaus Procraft Heritage Creations, Inc., the leading provider of quality products and services to the golf industry, announces that they have been selected as the Exclusive Licensee of the Nicklaus Companies for golf shop design and fixtures. Continue Coming soon: NicklausTravel.com The best way to appreciate Nicklaus Design is to play our golf courses, and thanks to the upcoming launch of NicklausTravel.com that luxury has never been easier, more affordable, or more fun. Designed to be the definitive insider’s guide to Nicklaus Design courses and golf travel worldwide, the website includes real-time lodging reservations and tee-time bookings, plus exclusive low rates and promotions that you won’t find anywhere else on the web. Watch for the upcoming website launch—and, to quote Jack, good golfing! Bear Hugs: Media celebrates Jack’s 70th Print, broadcast and online media worldwide have put together special tributes to Jack Nicklaus to celebrate his 70th birthday. Among the tributes planned: Golf Digest.com, as a complement to its 70th birthday retrospective in the January issue of its magazine, has an extensive package of stories and video to celebrate Jack’s birthday. Beginning Wednesday night, the web site will feature a menu of more than a dozen items of unique content dedicated to the Golden Bear. Included is an exclusive interview with Senior Writer Tim Rosaforte, Jack-bylined features, a fan poll on Jack’s most memorable victory, and photos chronicling his career milestones, his swing, and 45 years of cover images. In addition to programming dedicated to Jack, the Golf Channel and its web site, TheGolfChannel.com, plan a project called "You Don't Know Jack," which will include a list of 70 items people might not know about Jack or might have forgotten. The project also will include a Q&A with Jack that includes his favorite birthday and personal memories, a video clip with staffers Randall Mell and Rex Hoggard talking about Jack's impact on the game, and a Mell column with his favorite story about Jack. Golf Channel will promote the project on air. Continue... Most people go to Hawaii for the scenery. Jack Nicklaus went for the golf and the souvenirs—as in a Wendy's Champions Skins Game trophy. The Golden Bear celebrated his 70th birthday a few days early as he and partner Tom Watson held off defending champions Fuzzy Zoeller and Ben Crenshaw to win the Champions Skins Game last Sunday. Nicklaus, who will be 70 on Thursday, and the 60-year-old Watson birdied two holes to win three skins and $130,000 on the back nine. The Hall of Fame duo and the oldest team in the tournament finished with 10 skins and $350,000 for their second victory in the event in four years. ESPN will air the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game on Feb. 27 (4-6 p.m. ET), and Feb. 28, (2-4 p.m. ET). They will broadcast nine holes each day. It was an early birthday present for Nicklaus and a little redemption for the team after being blanked last year. The victory means Nicklaus will be back next year. "If Tom will put up with me, we'll be back," said Nicklaus, wearing a golden orchid lei. On a balmy day, Zoeller-Crenshaw took five straight skins for $230,000 to finish second in the alternate-shot, made-for-TV event. They were trying to become the first team to repeat after winning a record $530,000 last year. Continue... Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Red Ledges in Heber, Utah opened in July 2009 Red Ledges, a premier golf and four-season recreational community located near Park City, was recently named the No. 1 Best New Private Golf Course in 2009 by Golf Magazine. Golf Magazine recognized seven new private golf courses across the U.S., with Red Ledges ranking at the top of the list. Red Ledges opened its 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course on July 4, 2009, as it became the 200th U.S. course by Nicklaus Design. “I am very proud and pleased that Red Ledges has received this honor,” said Jack Nicklaus. “Red Ledges is a terrific golf course in a spectacular mountain setting, with dramatic sandstone ledges, beautiful trees, and some great vistas. The golf experience at Red Ledges is challenging, but is one that is very playable and a lot of fun. All mountain golf courses present a challenge to the design process, but I think with Red Ledges, we embraced that and the end result was something very nice and a golf course I hope members are as proud of as we are.” “We are honored to receive this recognition by one of the world’s leading golf publications,” said Todd Cates, Red Ledges vice president and project manager. “This has been an exciting year for Red Ledges, as we opened the only alpine course to blend a rocky mountain landscape with our famous sandstone ledges. It is truly one of the most special and diverse courses in the country.” The article describes Red Ledges with the following: “The 200th U.S. course from Jack Nicklaus (sic) is another winner. Meandering through Utah’s signature red rock landforms 45 minutes southeast of Salt Lake City, Red Ledges combines typical Nicklaus hallmarks (visual intimidation, supreme challenge) with atypical touches (jagged-edge bunkers, a blind shot here and there, carom-inducing contours and greens laced with false fronts). Toss in stunning views of Mt. Timpanogas and the Heber Valley – most memorably from the 203-yard par-3 9th – and you’ve got a ledge that’s worth the climb.” Continue... The Idaho Club and The Club at 12 Oaks named to the prestigious private course list for 2009 Although golf course design and Jack Nicklaus' design legacy have stretched to all corners of the globe, Nicklaus Design continues to dominate in its backyard of the United States. Golf Digest, the leading magazine in the golf industry, has recognized two Nicklaus Design layouts in its annual survey of "America's Best New Courses." The Idaho Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course located on Lake Pend Oreille, near Sandpoint, ID, along with The Club at 12 Oaks, a Nicklaus Design Course situated near Raleigh, NC, were named to the highly competitive list of the country's Top-10 Private Courses. Both courses have garnered several national awards in their early existence, with The Club at 12 Oaks and The Idaho Club being named to Golfweek's list of America's Best New Courses 2009 (No. 15 and No. 22 respectively). The Idaho Club was also a Top 10 Best New Private Course selection by GOLF Magazine, and was featured on the cover of GolfWorld. Continue... Korean and LPGA sensation Jiyai Shin was named the Golf Writers Association of America Player of the Year for 2009. Shin, the LPGA's Rookie of the Year, is part of the Jack Nicklaus team sponsored by FnC Kolon. Grand Bear Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in Saucier, MS, was named to Golfweek’s list of the 40 Best Casino Courses. The PGA of America, in conjunction with golf legend Jack Nicklaus, has awarded teaching grants totaling $30,000 to six Chapters of The First Tee representing five states. Included among them is the recently opened First Tee of The Palm Beaches.