NICKLAUS DESIGN AROUND THE GLOBE
Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee Re-Opens — A New Era Begins
Following an 18-month total renovation, Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee reopened this month. The completely renovated and reconditioned version of the 1992 original Jack Nicklaus Signature course is a visually breathtaking 18 holes of championship golf along Georgia’s beautiful Lake Oconee shoreline.
“’Spectacular’ is a good word for the golf course,” Jack remarked, after devoting considerable time and attention to taking Great Waters back to the future. Working within the guidelines of the original routing and strategy, the Nicklaus Design team lead by Chad Goetz, rebuilt Great Waters from beneath the ground up, including new drainage and state-of-the-art TORO irrigation systems, as well as updated bunker designs that are a major part of the modern infrastructure.
“Things wear out and things change and evolve a lot in 30 years,” said Goetz. “It was important to Jack to preserve the ‘good bones’ that made the course so special. Technically, we rebuilt the golf course. It is the same golf course, but now it is really updated and polished.”
The “wow factor” is stronger than ever with the opening of lake views on the 9th, 11th, and 13th holes. For all that, the par-3 8th is the only completely remodeled hole: it now plays over or along bunkers to a more receptive green.
New back tees were added to modernize the course without moving many fairway bunkers: As a result, Great Waters now plays to 7,400 yards. A new set of forward tees—at about 4,500 yards— increases playability, improves pace of play, and encourages all players to move forward to the appropriate tee for the individual’s game. Great Waters has been a favorite course of both members and visitors to Reynolds Lake Oconee since it opened in 1992.
Bayside Wins Community of the Year Award
Bayside in Fenwick Island, Delaware, was recognized as the “Community of the Year” and also named “Best in Innovative Land Planning” at October’s Great American Living Awards, the most prestigious residential design, sales, and marketing competition in the metropolitan Washington market.
Owned by the Carl M. Freeman Companies, Bayside is thoughtfully designed to enhance the land’s beauty, while providing plentiful amenities and residential choices. A Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, miles of trails, and conservation area maintain abundant open space. Bayside offers unique amenities, including community pools, fitness, tennis, kayaking, paddleboarding, stocked ponds, a dog park, poolside bars, life enrichment classes, kids’ programming, community events, and an integrated retail and entertainment venue.
In June, Bayside Resort Golf Club, which opened in 2005, was rated as the No. 1 golf course in Delaware by Golfweek. The stunning course meanders along the Assawoman Bay coastline and winds through magnificent pine forests. Golfers enjoy three distinctly different golf experiences as some holes are richly tree-lined, others wind through marshland, and some boast wide-open fairways.
Whispering Pines to Host Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship
Whispering Pines in Trinity, Texas, is set to host the 2019 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship, November 4-10. This Nicklaus Design will host champions from 20 different countries with each player being selected by the county’s golf federation. The course, which opened 20 years ago, is consistently ranked among the best golf courses in Texas as well as the United States. For additional information about this prestigious amateur event, access the web site at: www.spiritgolfassociation.org.
Video Spotlight: Paul Stringer, President of Nicklaus Design Asia-Pacific, on the Design Team
Paul discusses Nicklaus Design, strength of team and the legacy that Jack wants to leave on the game.
NICKLAUS BRANDS AROUND THE WORLD
Jack’s Rolex at The Bear’s Club | An International Tour Begins
Expected to raise millions of dollars for the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, the Golden Bear’s iconic Rolex Day-Date watch has been “on the move” this month, with stops at The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida, at a JP Morgan/Aston Martin event in Miami and most recently in London. Prior to being auctioned in New York by Phillips on December 10 for the Foundation, the watch continues its international tour with future exhibitions in Singapore, Geneva, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Hong Kong.
“While I will certainly miss the opportunity of wearing the watch and having it serve as a constant reminder of some of my life’s most memorable moments, I know that parting with it will help countless children and families impacted through the work of the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation,” commented Jack.
Jack received this watch as a gift from Rolex in 1967 and it was on his wrist when he won 12 of his record 18 professional major championship titles.
2020 Nicklaus Golf Calendar Now Available
The spectacular 2020 Nicklaus Golf Calendar, featuring top photographs of Nicklaus Designs from around the world, showcases unique perspectives from many talented photographers, led by the Nicklaus Companies’s veteran shooter, Jim Mandeville, who has dramatically captured courses around the world. The calendar has been released just in time for holiday gift giving.
The 2020 edition delivers golf course imagery from Denmark, Bahamas, Portugal, Mexico, China, and the United States. Each month also includes a golf tip from Jack suitable for golfers of any skill level.
The 13-month calendar retails for $16.95 and is available to order online at www.JackNicklausCalendar.com or by phone at 877-803-7798.
Strategic Marketing Alliance with Atlas Turf
The Nicklaus Companies have signed a strategic golf marketing relationship with Atlas Turf International. To date, Nicklaus Companies and Atlas Turf have collaborated on more than a dozen golf projects in 11 countries for grassing the top golf courses in the world.
John Reese, CEO of Nicklaus Companies, said the preferred partnership with Atlas Turf International is a natural extension of the two companies and their work together.
“For Nicklaus Design, it is all about providing the best services and products to our clients,” said Reese. “Long before this agreement, we have enjoyed many years of a positive working relationship with Atlas, which is the foundation of our relationship. The selection of natural turf products Atlas offers Nicklaus Design clients provides a distinct advantage. Grasses must be able to perform at the highest levels and our partner is able to provide support services around the world, which is very important to us. Our work with John and the entire Atlas Turf team has been exceptional, and we are looking forward to future collaborations.”
Atlas Turf is recognized as a leading supplier of turfgrass around the world. Hundreds of projects in over 50 countries feature Atlas Turf products. While the company’s major focus is golf, Atlas Turf also provides turfgrass for sports fields, landscaping, and infrastructure.
According to John Holmes, President of Georgia-based Atlas Turf, his company’s knowledge of worldwide distribution channels, relationships with the leading turf experts, and alliances with the world’s premier golf associations are key components of its identity since its founding in 2011.
“We are proud to have earned the trust and confidence of the Nicklaus team. Around the world, a Nicklaus project is synonymous with excellence in design and stringent construction standards,” said Holmes, who leads the international committee of the Golf Course Builders Association of America. “Our goal is to match this level of design quality with the world’s most advanced and innovative turfgrasses, bringing even further value to Nicklaus Design clients.”
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