IAGTO Honors Jack Nicklaus as "The World's Greatest Golfer"

The highlight of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators Awards 2004 was Jack Nicklaus' acceptance of a special honorary award from IAGTO's President, Peter Walton, for being the "World's Greatest Golfer." The presentation and the Golden Bear's video acceptance took place Wednesday night at the Barcelo Convention Center in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, during the International Golf Travel Market and very near the site of Cap Cana, the future site of three Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses.

In accepting the award, Jack Nicklaus said: "It's a wonderful honor to be recognised by the golf tourism industry which is responsible for enabling people from all corners of the globe to enjoy great golf courses all over the world."

Jack accepted the honorary award from IAGTO President Peter Walton. (Photo by Jim Mandeville)

Presenting the award, Peter Walton explained: "Golf and golf travel would not be where they are today without thrilling tournament finishes, great champions and fantastic golf courses for us all to enjoy. Your legacy is already truly immense and your contribution continuing. Therefore it is a great pleasure for me, on behalf of the golf tourism industry, to present you with the IAGTO Honorary Award for being the World's Greatest Golfer..."

Seve Ballesteros, last year's IAGTO Honorary Award recipient, had this message for Jack: "Congratulations Jack. If there is one person on this earth that deserves to receive this Award it is you, because what you have done in your career is really incredible. I have to say that you have been the inspiration not only for myself but for so many people around the world, and your achievement as a professional is truly remarkable. Also the way you conduct yourself both on and off the golf course I have nothing but admiration for. So I think it will really take one thousand years or even more before we have another Jack Nicklaus. So enjoy the Trophy and congratulations once again. Thank you for all that you have done for me and everyone around the world. Thank you Jack."

Jack Nicklaus has designed courses all around the world, and Peter Walton was quick to point out the importance of great course designs for travelling golfers: "The magic of a course is, I believe, the sum of the memories that it engenders, both of those who play it and of those who spectate great tournaments upon it. And there is no greater canvass on which such memories can unfold than on a course designed by the creative, artistic and dedicated hand of Jack William Nicklaus.

The IAGTO Awards are the official annual awards of the golf tourism industry. IAGTO is the global trade association of the golf tourism industry, with 750 member companies and organisations in 64 countries, including 150 of the world's leading specialist golf tour operators in 30 countries. IAGTO also runs the Golf Travel Writers Association and the Global Golf Tourism Survey.

Introducing the Honorary Award, Peter Walton provided the following synopsis of Jack's career: "Back in 1950, a 10 year-old boy from Columbus, Ohio, inspired by one of golf's greatest champions, Bob Jones, and encouraged by an incredibly supportive family, spent every single day of his summer vacation hitting hundreds of balls down the driving range and playing at least two full rounds of golf between dawn and dusk. He first broke 70 on a golf course aged 13 and at 19 he won the first of two US Amateur Championships.

"Turning pro in 1962 he went on to win a staggering 20 Major Championship titles, including 6 Masters, 5 PGA Championships, 4 US and 3 British Opens. All in all he has chalked up exactly 100 professional tournament victories around the world, played in 6 Ryder Cups and captained the US team on two further occasions.

"In fact, it has been said that he dominated golf for a longer period of time, and with greater certainty, than anyone in the game's history.

"Not only is he the greatest golfer of his generation but he has also been blessed with enough vision, creativity and determination to become one of the world's leading golf course architects, building a legacy of value and permanence within the game.

"The electrifying finishes. The sheer will to win. His performances have become legendary. The recipient of this year's IAGTO Honorary Award is, of course, none other than: 'The Brute'... 'The Golden Bear'... Jack Nicklaus."