Castle Rock – With the rain falling and the memories flowing, golfing legend Jack Nicklaus sat down with The International founder Jack Vickers on Thursday afternoon to swap stories.
Nicklaus, who designed Castle Pines Golf Club, was in town to honor Vickers on the week of his 20th International and 80th birthday. Asked why he had Nicklaus design his course, Vickers said: “I chose Jack because first of all I thought he was maybe the best golfer to ever play and I still think that. And I think that means something to the prestige of the club.”
Asked why he accepted Vickers’ offer, Nicklaus said: “He wanted to do something right, and I love to do something right. … Jack didn’t limit us to any degree on spending an extra dollar to do it right.”
When Vickers brought Nicklaus to Colorado to scout out what would become Castle Pines, Nicklaus was surprised to see the hilly terrain he would be asked to work around.
“I’m a flatlander,” Nicklaus said. “I remember grabbing scrub oak after scrub oak, walking uphill. … Today, I would say there’s no way in the world that I’d be able to walk up these hills.”
The two had their disagreements during the design, including where the clubhouse should sit. Nicklaus said he originally had it planned to be built between what are now the eighth and ninth holes.
“Jack (Vickers) said: ‘Nope, that’s Pikes Peak over there and I can’t see it from there, but I can from here.’ That’s why the clubhouse is here. … Plus, it’s his course.”
Vickers recalled Nicklaus redesigning the tough, 209-yard par-3 16th hole on the fly as they walked the hole.
“He sat right down on the dirt, and he (drew) a different hole and that’s the hole today,” Vickers said. “It’s a controversial hole. I had a couple brothers threaten several times to take a plow to it when I was out of town. I said nobody is going to touch that green.”
Vickers remembered Nicklaus hitting tee shots when the hole was being finished.
“The pin was in the left position over the back of a collection bunker,” Vickers said. “I always remember he hit a 3-iron, he was putting it sky high and they were all circling the hole. He turned around and said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with the hole.”‘
Jack on First Tee
Nicklaus hit one of the few shots that mattered on a soggy Thursday. Nicklaus, Vickers, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and Gov. Bill Owens were at Green Valley Ranch to dedicate the state’s newest First Tee facility.
The First Tee program is designed to introduce golf to children who otherwise might not have a chance to play, and teach values. Nicklaus, Vickers and Owens hit ceremonial first shots from the cover of a tent at the Mike McGetrick Golf Academy near DIA.
Waiting for naught
Thursday’s showers disappointed hopes of fans who ventured out to Castle Pines. The 7 a.m. tee times kept getting pushed back until the round was postponed at 1:12 p.m.
“It’s a little disappointing, but I guess that’s how it is in Colorado. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow and hope for the best,” California native John Schindler said.
The International will honor all general tickets purchased Thursday for today’s round.
Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-820-5446 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
Bryan Chu can be reached at 303-820-1979 or bchu@denverpost.com.
