NEWS

Jack Nicklaus checks into Bernards

William Westhoven
@WWesthoven

BERNARDS – Less than 20 miles from where he won two of his record 18 major championships, Jack Nicklaus finally got an address in New Jersey.

The Hall of Fame golfer, considered by many to be the best to ever play the sport, was typically humble as more than 500 people gathered for the dedication of a room honoring his career at the United States Golf Association Headquarters and Museum.

"I don't think I ever was dominant," said Nicklaus, known around the world as "The Golden Bear." "You can win 10 or 15 percent of the time and be the dominant player, as they say. But the game of golf teaches you to be humble, because you're always going to get beat. I look at coming down the stretch with (Tom) Watson at Turnberry, Watson at Pebble Beach, (Lee) Trevino at Merion. I try to forget all those. You don't really dominate the game of golf. The competition is with yourself, and how you keep focused."

Nicklaus' accomplishments and gentlemanly manner have made him a dominant figure in sports as both a global ambassador of golf and designer of courses in 41 nations.

"He has a unique record in the fact that he began his career in 1957, and then concluded playing alongside Tiger Woods in 2000," said master of ceremonies and Fox Sports golf host Shane O'Donoghue, who flew in from Ireland with his father — a Nicklaus fan — just for the ceremony. "It's amazing, really, to think of what we have seen, and we've all lived vicariously through those dramatic moments. So I'm thrilled to be here to share in that, and this magnificent opening of only the fifth dedicated room at the United States Golf Association's museum. And something that I did not know until this morning, the USGA museum is the oldest sports museum in the country, tracing its roots to New York in 1935, and then it moved, appropriately I think, in 1972 to Far Hills."

The USGA, which is located in Bernards but has a Far Hills mailing address, also runs the annual major-championship U.S. Open, which Nicklaus won twice at Baltusol in Springfield in 1967 and 1980.

On Wednesday, Nicklaus was back in the Garden State to be welcomed among golfing greats Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Mickey Wright as former champions who have had full-room exhibits established at the museum. The Nicklaus room features photos, artworks, trophies, newspaper clips and interactive exhibits.

"Above all, we are proud to serve the game in a special way, as we honor not only incredible achievement, but the men and women that personify the game's values — honesty, integrity, sportsmanship and character," said USGA Executive Director Tom O'Toole. "Each of these individuals embodied these important values, and have provided significant support for our association throughout the years. Jack W. Nicholas can be associated with all these. However, his passion for the game and contributions to it are balanced by by an even greater pursuit — his dedication to family."

Nicklaus, who received a standing ovation from an audience that included Donald Trump, thanked the many members of his family who joined him in Bernards. He jokingly added thanks to his wife and mother for saving much of the memorabilia from his career.

"Man, am I glad my wife and mother are pack rats," he said. "Barbara and my mother saved everything. Without them saving all that, we wouldn't have half that stuff in there."

Nicklaus, who in March accepted a Congressional Gold Medal, said he compared his room to a recent visit to the New York Stock Exchange, where he was surprised to find such a small space filled with so much activity.

"You've done this so nicely, so tastefully," he said, "It is a small room, but there's so much in it. I was particularly impressed with the interactive exhibits. It's an honor to have the USGA honor the Nicklaus family with this room. It's pretty special company."

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.