First Amateur
Year after year, as his affair with golf increased, his car drives frequented the golf course. Fortunately there was a good golf course near his house. He joined the Scioto Country Club, which was 6,485 meters in length. His performance on this course made him known locally as a Bobby Jones. Jack was 15 when he got an opportunity to play at the big national tournament, the US Amateur. The local ‘Bobby Jones’ was not aware that he was being watched by Jones himself, who had heard of this prodigy and was anxious to see him play.
Unaware of the presence of his dream hero with a lead in the first match at the tenth hole, Jack was rattled when he knew that the legendary Bobby Jones was watching him. He botched the next three holes and lost his chance of winning the match. The great Jones met and consoled this little wonder by saying : "You’ll do better another time."
First Major
Jones was right. The next time, Jack Nicklaus was at the top. The Ohio Open win, was the first major tournament to his credit at the age of 16. He had completed his schooling and colleges by then. For promoting golf, offers of scholarship were pouring in, to enlist the young champion. He was considering the offers, but his father suggested him to get enrolled at the Ohio State University, his Alma Mater and forget the fun and money playing golf. "Get yourself education," his father chided him. "You can play golf anywhere."
Jack turned down the scholarships and got himself enrolled at Ohio State for the pre-pharmacy course. Then, he had no thoughts of becoming a professional golfer. Instead, he got himself a junior pharmacist’s license. His schedule during his college days was attending the lectures and then helping out at one of his father’s shops after the lectures. Besides, Jack started spending hours on the course and grabbed his first US Amateur title in 1959, the youngest player to do so in 50 years.
Meeting Barbara
On the second day at the Ohio, he fell in love. While fetching a form for the daughter of mathematics professor, he delivered his heart along. The girl was Barbara, and before the end of their finals in July 1960, they got married.
Their honeymoon was accompanied by his passionate hobby – golf. On the next day of their marriage, they went to Hershey, a place where Nicklaus always wanted to play. Barbara accompanied her husband for 18 holes. The next day was at Winged Foot, New York. It was raining and no one was there on the course except Nicklaus playing and Barbara walking along. The next on the itinerary was Atlantic City, a place where Barbara wanted to go.
Pine Valley was on the way and Nicklaus didn’t want to miss it. On the way to the Atlantic City they went to Pine Valley. But, as per the rule of the club, Barbara could not accompany him on the course. She drove around the Pine Valley while Jack played on the course. At times, she drove near the course and exchanged glances with her hubby playing there. Later, at Atlantic City, they had a one-day stay and from there, they returned to Ohio. The two had great days and an envious devotion to each other. The couple had had five kids – Jack, Steve, Nancy, Gary and Michael.
The Great Turn
In 1961, he repeated his 1959 win of US Amateur. It was after this win that he was asked to give up his job and turn professional. Till then no player had taken golf as a full time profession and so Nicklaus was not very receptive to the idea. The main reason was that his idol Bobby Jones had never given up his amateur status. Soon, he realized that golfing had changed and it was no more a weekend pastime but a big-time sport. Nicklaus knew that if he wanted to play against the professionals, he needed to devote his full time to the game. To realize his dream, he finally made up his mind to quit his job and turned a pro. |
