Jack Nicklaus finds joy in playing with
sons in post-professional life
Gary Nicklaus listens as his dad, Jack, answers questions during the PNC Father/Son Challenge at The Ritz Carlton Golf Club.
(
Tracy Wilcox
)
ORLANDO – There's a banner near the entrance to the driving range at
the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club this week with a quote from Jack Nicklaus.
It says, "People ask me all the time what my dream foursome would be, and I tell them it would have to be a fivesome. So I could get all four of my sons in there. I don't play golf any more, but whenever one of my boys wants to play, I will be there. They enjoy playing and because of that, I do too. It's a special time each year when we can play a little golf together, but more important, we have a lot of fun together."
That is a perfect summation of why the PNC Father-Son Challenge continues to thrive. Nicklaus, making his 14th appearance in the event, and his son, Gary, headline a 20-man field of Hall of Famers (12), major champions (63 collective titles), and Ryder Cup captains (10). The 36-hole, scramble-format competition begins in earnest on Dec. 12.
Nicklaus, 75, said he hadn't prepped much but he played nine holes earlier this week with his son and shot a 39 to Gary's 32.
"I think we're going to ride you," Jack told Gary.
"Hopefully you can make some putts," Gary replied. "I’ll get it on the green and you make the putts."
When asked the best part of his game, Nicklaus pointed to the ground. "Right here, after it’s over telling you how good I used to be," he kidded. "Not much is good right now. I just don’t play."
Since hanging up the sticks at age 65, Jack has found other outlets to keep his competitive juices flowing, Gary said.
"I think whether he’s playing gin, tennis, golf, fishing, it’s competitive and it always has been," Gary said.
"That’s my life," Jack said. "My life has always been about competition and that’s what I’ve really enjoyed. I lost my vehicle to it through golf. That used to be my vehicle.
"I play a lot of tennis now, but my expectations at tennis are not real high. Fish don’t know how old I am and I throw a fly all right.
"Unfortunately, golf is the one thing that I don’t have the strength to be as competitive. This type of event is a good event for me to play...I swing as hard as I can and smash it out there about 220 yards, then we go play his ball and I pick mine up."
Team Nicklaus won this event 16 years ago, and Jack still wants to win, though he tempered his expectations. At this stage in his life, the camaraderie and chance for father-son time provides ample satisfaction.
When someone deigned to ask if the Father-Son should continue, Jack quickly shot down what he considered to be an inane question, but did so in such a way that he made clear he'd be coming back for years to come.
"Why wouldn’t it? Why would that even be a question? You have the smallest purse of the year with the best field of the year. Why? Because fathers are playing with their sons," he said.
"They don’t care what the purse is. They want to come out and play and be part of what we’re doing. This tournament will continue as long as fathers have sons who want to play golf with them."
Sounds like the perfect quote for next year's banner.
It says, "People ask me all the time what my dream foursome would be, and I tell them it would have to be a fivesome. So I could get all four of my sons in there. I don't play golf any more, but whenever one of my boys wants to play, I will be there. They enjoy playing and because of that, I do too. It's a special time each year when we can play a little golf together, but more important, we have a lot of fun together."
That is a perfect summation of why the PNC Father-Son Challenge continues to thrive. Nicklaus, making his 14th appearance in the event, and his son, Gary, headline a 20-man field of Hall of Famers (12), major champions (63 collective titles), and Ryder Cup captains (10). The 36-hole, scramble-format competition begins in earnest on Dec. 12.
Nicklaus, 75, said he hadn't prepped much but he played nine holes earlier this week with his son and shot a 39 to Gary's 32.
"I think we're going to ride you," Jack told Gary.
"Hopefully you can make some putts," Gary replied. "I’ll get it on the green and you make the putts."
When asked the best part of his game, Nicklaus pointed to the ground. "Right here, after it’s over telling you how good I used to be," he kidded. "Not much is good right now. I just don’t play."
Since hanging up the sticks at age 65, Jack has found other outlets to keep his competitive juices flowing, Gary said.
"I think whether he’s playing gin, tennis, golf, fishing, it’s competitive and it always has been," Gary said.
"That’s my life," Jack said. "My life has always been about competition and that’s what I’ve really enjoyed. I lost my vehicle to it through golf. That used to be my vehicle.
"I play a lot of tennis now, but my expectations at tennis are not real high. Fish don’t know how old I am and I throw a fly all right.
"Unfortunately, golf is the one thing that I don’t have the strength to be as competitive. This type of event is a good event for me to play...I swing as hard as I can and smash it out there about 220 yards, then we go play his ball and I pick mine up."
Team Nicklaus won this event 16 years ago, and Jack still wants to win, though he tempered his expectations. At this stage in his life, the camaraderie and chance for father-son time provides ample satisfaction.
When someone deigned to ask if the Father-Son should continue, Jack quickly shot down what he considered to be an inane question, but did so in such a way that he made clear he'd be coming back for years to come.
"Why wouldn’t it? Why would that even be a question? You have the smallest purse of the year with the best field of the year. Why? Because fathers are playing with their sons," he said.
"They don’t care what the purse is. They want to come out and play and be part of what we’re doing. This tournament will continue as long as fathers have sons who want to play golf with them."
Sounds like the perfect quote for next year's banner.
Labels: GOLF NEWS
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, December 12, 2015
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