Nicklaus Plays Inaugural Exhibition Round
At The Bear Trace At Ross Creek Landing

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CLIFTON, Tenn. - Legendary golfer and course designer Jack Nicklaus played an inaugural exhibition round of golf before a crowd of more than 300 at The Bear Trace at Ross Creek Landing on September 10. The exhibition round, which also featured country star Vince Gill, highlighted the official grand opening celebration of the latest course in Nicklaus' statewide golf trail.

Located in the countryside along the banks of the Tennessee River, The Bear Trace at Ross Creek Landing is the fifth in a series of Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses which make up The Bear Trace trail in Tennessee.

"While The Bear Trace courses are linked by name and state, we like to think they all have their own unique look, characteristics and feel," Nicklaus said. "That is certainly the case with Ross Creek Landing."

The 18-hole course is a par-72 layout that measures more than 7,200 yards from the back tees, and has five sets of tees on every hole to accommodate players of all skill levels. The quality standards associated with all Nicklaus Design courses are seen and felt throughout Ross Creek Landing, as is Nicklaus' attention to incorporating and enhancing the surrounding natural environment. The end result is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course that is both challenging and enjoyable, and creates a memorable golf experience for all visitors.

In fact, Nicklaus shortened two of the par-5 holes to allow long hitters the opportunity to reach the green in two shots, and designed the fourth hole to be a "drivable" par 4 that offers plenty of options off the tee. The course features a variety of wooded and meadow golf holes, with oak, hickory, hackberry, cedar and some cypress trees. New grades for the golf course were carefully tied into existing features such as stream corridors, woods and meadows so that the newest member of the collection appears as though it has always been a part of the environment.

"As with each of the other four courses in The Bear Trace trail, Ross Creek Landing provides a beautiful and challenging round of golf for players of every skill," Nicklaus said.

Upon its opening, Golf Magazine named The Bear Trace at Ross Creek Landing among its "Top 10 Places you can Play" for 2002. It was just one of several design accolades bestowed upon Nicklaus last year. He also earned the Donald Ross Award, the International Network's Golf Achievement in Golf Course Design and the Don Rossi Award.

The Bear Trace at Ross Creek Landing is located at 110 Hassell Road in Clifton, Tennessee. For more information, call 866/214-2327 or visit The Bear Trace website at www.beartrace.com.

The current collection includes The Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain, Crossville; The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, Chattanooga; The Bear Trace at Tims Ford, Winchester; The Bear Trace at Chickasaw, Henderson; and The Bear Trace at Ross Creek Landing, Clifton. The courses are constructed and managed by Tennessee Golf LLC, an affiliate of Redstone Golf Management (www.redstonegolfmanagement.com).