Jack Nicklaus plays inaugural round Sept. 9

DALLAS-- ClubCorp, the world leader in delivering premier golf, private club, and resort experiences, announces the official opening of Bear's Best Atlanta, a unique, daily fee course concept featuring hole replications of designs by golf legend Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus played the inaugural round of golf at the club on Sept. 9 during an invitation-only opening event. The golf club is located in the Edinburgh community in Suwanee, Georgia, about 30 miles north of downtown Atlanta.

Bob Dedman, Jack, and Richard Ellis cut the ribbon. [more photos]

The course is the second such project resulting from a 1998 joint venture agreement between ClubCorp and the Nicklaus companies to develop properties together. Bear's Best Las Vegas opened in January. In 2001, the joint venture also resulted in two private clubs featuring Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses, the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate in Overland Park, Kansas, near Kansas City, and the Nicklaus Golf Club at Birch River in Dahlonega, Georgia, near Atlanta.

Bear's Best Atlanta features a collection of holes from renowned Nicklaus courses all over the world. Among the replicated holes are Nos. 3 and 18 from Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland; Nos. 3 and 12 from Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio; and No. 18 from Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Each group on the course is accompanied by a forecaddie who will assist with yardages and course information, repair ball marks, rake bunkers, clean clubs, and generally make the round more enjoyable.

The golf club, specifically designed for group play and corporate entertainment, features an expansive dining and banquet area as well as an outdoor entertainment area. The club also provides complete tournament organization including transportation arrangements, professional scoreboards, tournament awards and gift packages, and photography.

The clubhouse includes an extensive pro shop and Jack's Place, a lounge and grille decorated with photographs, plaques, and other memorabilia from the Golden Bear's legendary career.

Other ClubCorp golf and country clubs in the Atlanta area include two other Nicklaus-designed courses, Laurel Springs Golf Club (Suwanee) and Nicklaus Golf Club at Birch River (Dahlonega); and also Eagle's Landing Country Club (Stockbridge); Northwood Country Club (Lawrenceville); and Trophy Club of Gwinnett (Gwinnett).

ClubCorp business and sport clubs in the Atlanta area include Buckhead Club (Atlanta Financial Center); One Ninety One Club (Peachtree Tower); and Ravinia Club (Ravinia 2 Building).

About ClubCorp

Founded in 1957, Dallas-based ClubCorp has $1.6 billion in assets. Internationally, ClubCorp owns or operates 200 golf courses, country clubs, private business and sports clubs, and resorts. Among the company's nationally recognized golf properties are Pinehurst in the Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina (the world's largest golf resort, home to the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Opens); Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, (site of the 2002 Senior PGA Championship); Indian Wells Country Club in Indian Wells, California, (site of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic); The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, (America's first resort founded in 1766); and Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, (home of the Kraft Nabisco Championship). The company's 23,000 employees serve the more than 215,000 member households and approximately 200,000 guests who visit ClubCorp properties each year.

Visit www.clubcorp.com for additional company information.