Nicklaus News - September - Nicklaus Companies
International Licencees

Nicklaus News – September

Nicklaus Design Around The Globe
PGA TOUR selects Samanah Golf Club in Marrakesh, Morocco, to host golf’s legends

Samanah Golf Club

Another first for Nicklaus Design: The Morocco Champions will debut at Samanah Golf Club in Marrakesh the week of January 27 – February 1, 2020, with a special Saturday finish for the final round of play. The 66-player field will compete for a purse of $2 million and is the first PGA TOUR-sanctioned stroke-play event to be contested on the continent of Africa

PGA TOUR Champions and the Association Trophee Hassan II (ATH) signed a five-year partnership to hold the event on this Nicklaus Design golf course that was built in 2008 and boasts beautiful views of the majestic Atlas Mountains. The property sits just 15 minutes from downtown Marrakesh providing easy access for players and spectators.

International Nicklaus Courses Selected to Top 100 by Golf World UK
Golf World UK recently released its list of the Top 100 courses in Continental Europe and not only did the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Monte Rei (North) move up nine places to the overall 4th place (and remains number 1 in Portugal), but Nicklaus Design also added five new courses to the list, including Raevo (Russia) debuting in 18th place, the highest position ever for a newcomer. The other new courses in the Top 100 include Great Northern (Denmark), Tseleevo (Moscow), Ullna (Sweden), and Penati (Slovakia).

Monte Rei Country Club
Monte Rei Hole 1

Golf Inc. – Nicklaus Design at Top of the Class
Nicklaus Design was recently recognized among the most influential architects in the game in an article that appeared in Golf Inc. The selection, which was based on the Top100GolfCourses.com ranking of the best courses in the world and the U.S., factored in the number of courses listed—new, remodeled, and renovated. According to Golf Inc.,“Nicklaus Design’s productivity is a credit to the power of a name.”
 
18 Golf Resorts with Nicklaus Designs Featured on GOLF Magazine’s TOP 100 List
GOLF Magazine’s inaugural list of North America’s top golf resorts—which is divided into the categories of Luxury, General Excellence, Buddies, and Families— shined the spotlight on eighteen destinations with Nicklaus courses as the centerpiece.  The resorts are Big Cedar Lodge and Hammock Beach in the Families category and Pinehurst Resort in the Buddies category. Properties represented in the General Excellence category include Baha Mar Resort, Cabo del Sol Beach & Golf Resort, Cap Cana Resort, La Quinta Resort & Club, Pronghorn, Sea Pines Resort, and The Greenbrier.
The GOLF Magazine editorial team considered 243 resorts across North America, then conducted an online poll of 3,700 golfers to rate each resort based on golf experiences, accommodations, service, food, and ambience. The results are featured in the October 2019 issue.
Nicklaus Design courses fared very well in the Luxury category, including such prestigious resorts as Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Resort, Montage Palmetto Bluff, One & Only Palmilla, Punta Mita, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, and The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain.

Pronghorn

“Nicklaus Design is honored to have 18  golf courses in this year’s top 100 resorts ranking,” said Paul Stringer, Executive Vice President, Nicklaus Design. “These domestic and international courses are—for the most part—affiliated with a luxury resort or are in dramatic regions of the world. All of the golf courses have unique landscapes and are a focal point of the resort setting. Many of these Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses have hosted PGA TOUR events or special tournaments. They are visually beautiful golf courses in gorgeous settings offering golfers a great golf experience.”
 
 
Video Spotlight: John Reese, CEO of Nicklaus Companies, discusses the global reach and breadth of the Nicklaus brand.


Nicklaus Brands Around the Globe
The Asian Swing
Andy O’Brien, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Licensing & Communication at the Nicklaus Companies, recently returned from meetings with Nicklaus licensees in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, all thriving markets for the Nicklaus brands. The meetings were highlighted by new agreements to long-standing relationships in Indonesia (25 years) with Trisula International and the Philippines (20 years) with Rustan as well as the launch of the newest Asian licensee in Vietnam. Strategies to expand the Jack Nicklaus brand in each market were reviewed and implementation plans are underway.

“The longevity of Nicklaus licensing programs is a strong testament to the consumer appeal of the brand on a global basis,” commented O’Brien, a 28-year Nicklaus veteran. “In addition, we have added two new countries this year alone, another hallmark of brand relevance in emerging markets.  It is extremely rare that an athlete’s name translates to a successful brand and then transcends a playing career for future generations — Jack Nicklaus has done just that.”
 
Where to Watch?
Jack Nicklaus’ original Rolex Day-Date Reference 1803 watch is “on the move” for the next few months before the December 10 auction by Phillips in New York. The global tour of Jack’s iconic Rolex has planned stops in U.S. top cities along with London, Geneva, Singapore and Hong Kong.  The watch is being offered for auction at Phillips’ New York on December 10, 2019, with all proceeds raised benefitting Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.

“The global interest in Jack’s watch has been remarkable to say the very least,” said Paul Boutros, Senior Vice President at Phillips. “The fact that Jack is going to part with the Rolex he has worn for 50 years and had with him through so many tournaments, all for the selfless motivation to raise money to help children, makes this truly special – and an honor for us to support.”

Jack received this watch as a gift from Rolex in 1967 and it was present when he won 12 of his record 18 professional major championship titles.
 
Partner Spotlight: a Bright Future for KOLON Industries, the long-term licensee of Jack Nicklaus Apparel

South Korea’s KOLON Industries is a powerhouse, with interests in four business sectors, including fashion and apparel.  Jack Nicklaus Apparel has been a key component to this division since 1985.  And just this summer, KOLON and the Nicklaus Companies extended its successful partnership to reach a remarkable 40 years together building the Jack Nicklaus brand.

This year KOLON is revitalizing the Nicklaus brand in Korea through major investments in product design, renovation of the 80+ Nicklaus shops around the country, and a keen focus on e-commerce.

Jack Nicklaus Shop Korea

Among the countless innovations is the new premium lifestyle product launch, the “Honors” line, that may be worn on and off the course by women who enjoy golf along with pieces like the lightweight smart jacket “Pathfinder.” The distinct product offerings also allow men to go from course to the office without missing a beat.
Hee Sook Moon, KOLON Industries’ Vice President who manages the golf division, is a veteran of top golf and sport apparel brands in Korea and has overseen these emerging initiatives. During the past year, she has been working to make the Jack Nicklaus brand even stronger and more sustainable in Korea.
“Mrs. Moon is doing a tremendous job with the Jack Nicklaus Brand and we are delighted to have her as a part of the KOLON leadership team,” said Nicklaus CEO John Reese. “We are looking forward to growing the Nicklaus brand to new heights in a very important market and under Mrs. Moon’s and the Jack Nicklaus team’s direction we know there are endless possibilities.”

Additionally, KOLON is sponsoring the most popular golf lesson television program in the country, Jin Han Lim’s Turning Point. Lim is one of the world’s top 50 golf instructors and a Nicklaus brand ambassador. All students and participants in the program wear Jack Nicklaus and Golden Bear branded apparel, bringing great exposure of the wonderful partnership between KOLON and the Nicklaus Companies.
 

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