Nicklaus Plays 1st Round on Redesigned Scarlet Course – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 20, 2006
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jack Nicklaus, who, along with his Nicklaus Design firm, is responsible for the renovations to The Ohio State University Scarlet Course, played the ceremonial first round on the storied course Saturday. Nicklaus played all 18 holes with his son, Gary, who also is a former Buckeye and a member of the redesign team. Former Ohio State Director of Athletics Andy Geiger and two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin also played the opening nine holes.
The rededication program included several figures responsible for the year-long redesign and construction of the original 1938 Alister MacKenzie design. Prior to the rounds, current AD Eugene Smith, Jim Brown, Ohio State men’s golf coach, Therese Hession, head coach of the OSU women’s team, and E. Lang D’Arti, a representative of the Al and Martha Phipps Family, joined Jack and Gary Nicklaus, Geiger and Griffin in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the first tee.
Brown, Hession, D’Arti, Smith, Geiger and Jack Nicklaus also spoke at the Al and Martha Phipps Wall Dedication, featuring the names of all the men’s and women’s golfers in the history of Ohio State. Gifts approaching $12 million made to the Ohio State golf programs by the Phipps Family are being used to finance the renovation. Annual interest from the endowed gift will be applied to the cost of the renovation.
“My experience as a student at Ohio State was wonderful,” Jack Nicklaus said. “The opportunity to come back so many years later and to give back was a real pleasure and something I wanted to do. It was very meaningful to me and was a lot of fun. It was a real thrill for me to be involved. I hope that everyone enjoys it and that it’s not too difficult for the members.”
The first opportunity for Ohio State to showcase the renovated Scarlet Course starts Sunday. The 2006 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships will be contested May 23-26 with practice rounds scheduled for May 21-22. Teams from 24 of the top NCAA institutions sponsoring women’s golf along with an additional six individuals will participate in the event.
Smith said the Phipps Family gift will allow the Scarlet Course the opportunity to showcase The Ohio State University and its golf club.
“The gift by the Phipps Family afforded OSU the opportunity to undergo an extensive renovation and redesign of the Scarlet Course and it was a bonus for us to be able to involve the outstanding services of one of our own, Jack Nicklaus and his firm, Nicklaus Design,” Smith said. “Through Jack’s passion and the expertise of his company, the Scarlet Course will reposition itself as the premier collegiate course in the country.”
Geiger said providing student-athletes, alumni, club members, staff and the Ohio State community with the best possible facility will be the legacy of the Phipps Family, whose goal was to help make the OSU Scarlet Course the top collegiate course in the nation.
“What a thrill it is to see the long-awaited and anticipated renovation to the Scarlet Course come to fruition,” Geiger said. “Our gratitude to the Phipps Family for their generous donation to the Ohio State golf programs and facilities will be remembered forever.”
Nicklaus said he utilized a member of his family when planning for the Scarlet Course redesign.
“From the outset, I got my son Gary involved,” Nicklaus said. “Gary has not only been involved in our design business and is very active in our company now, but like me (1960-61), Gary was fortunate to play his golf at Ohio State (1988-91). He has the same emotional attachment to the university and the Scarlet that I do. Gary also is not that far removed from his playing days on the PGA Tour, so he understands the current demands and needs as it relates to today’s young players.”
Brown, who has coached 33 years, hosted numerous tournaments and has spent countless hours teaching golf on the Scarlet Course, said he appreciates the Phipps Family and Nicklaus’ contribution to the golf teams at Ohio State.
“This is a dream come true for me,” Brown said. “I have so much passion and love for the Scarlet Course that I am elated to see what Jack Nicklaus has done to the course. We truly have a MacKenzie course, complete with the greens and bunkering. This was all made possible by the donation of my very good friends Mr. and Mrs. Al Phipps. Without their kindness to The Ohio State University, the golf course and golf teams, this project would not have gotten done.”
Hession said honoring those responsible for renovating the Scarlet Course is a great way to kick off the week of the 2006 NCAA Championships at the OSU Golf Club.
“I was excited to have Jack Nicklaus come back for the opening,” Hession said. “It was great recognizing the Phipps Family as well. Not only for their help toward the current athletes, but also the future student-athletes. It’s going to be neat to take a moment and recognize all of their help.”
Jim Brown, Ohio State men’s golf head coach, Rededication Emcee
Opening Statement
“I want to thank everyone for coming here today. It is a great time for Ohio State golfers, faculty, staff and our alumni to experience what has been happening for the past year at the golf course. I want to thank all of the members for their patience. I know there were a lot of letters back and forth regarding this issue, but when they (the members) get out there, they will see how fabulous it (the course) is. I go out there everyday and look around and I am so thankful that we have it.”
On the process of designing the Scarlet Course with Jack Nicklaus
“When we started this project, I think we interviewed three or four design companies for the course. But when all was said and done, we knew we had to go with Jack’s company. He visited the course eight times, which I don’t know if that is normal or not for designing a course. He won a lot of wars and I won one. We would go out and he would be at the hole planning and explaining. I would sit in the cart and think that I better go out there and defend myself. I would always come back, shaking my head. When it came to hole No. 4, though, I didn’t want to change that much. I liked the placement and the layout. One day, he called me and said `Brownie, we just have to do this.’ And I gave into him. I also would like to say, I may be responsible for the hole placement, but I am not responsible for the bunkers. In fact, we have some 60 degree wedges for sale in the pro shop, but I still don’t think that is going to be enough.”
On Jack Nicklaus
“We have a plaque around the corner that says he is the greatest golfer in the world. And it is great to have the greatest course in the world designed by the greatest golfer in the world. I know I have not seen a better course than this one, and I don’t know about Therese (Hession, Ohio State women’s golf head coach), but I don’t think there’s a better one out there.”
On Al and Martha Phipps’ contributions to the course redesign
“I remember when I met Al and Martha Phipps for the first time. They loved golf and they loved Ohio State golf because they were Buckeyes. They sat with us at the banquet because they were Buckeyes and wanted to support us. They wanted to help make this the No. 1 course in the nation. And, as I’m sure many will tell you, Al always wanted to win. I will miss the times I got to play and eat dinner with Al and the lunches I had with Martha.”
On the National Golf Company’s hard work on the redesign
“I want to thank National Golf for everything they have done. They were here from sun-up to sun-down, as I am sure the members noticed. Everyday when I was leaving work, they would still be out there working to complete the course. They were out throwing sod in January. This whole group put this course together and they have done a beautiful job. It will be a great test of golf. And thank the Lord, or maybe Al and Martha, for giving us a great winter.”
Therese Hession, Ohio State women’s golf head coach
On Al and Martha Phipps
“It is a great pleasure to stand before you today. I want to thank Al and Martha Phipps for their benefit. I had the privilege of knowing both Al and Martha and they loved each other very much. They loved golf and they especially loved Ohio State golf. They would come down and visit with us at the OSU Scholar-Athlete banquet because they felt academics were just as important as golf. Their love and their gift will benefit Ohio State and its golfers for years to come.”
On the new course
“I would like to thank Jack Nicklaus for this design. This course will challenge us everyday. The difficulty of shots will make us better. We will know that if we can compete on Scarlet, we will be able to compete anywhere in the country. I am most grateful for the beautiful short game area. I know that my team will be out their practicing on it everyday.”
On Jack Nicklaus’ dedication to the design
“A few months ago, I had the privilege of visiting Nicklaus Design. We went in and there were papers and design plans for courses everywhere. I said, `You must be working on about 100 courses.’ They replied, `Yes, we are, but the only course Jack is really interested in is Scarlet.’ I think that shows the dedication that Jack Nicklaus had to this project.
On the privilege of the course
“I want to say to all of the young ladies and gentlemen out there, and to my team: your opportunity for success is now greater than anyone who has come before you. Ladies and gentlemen who excel in their field’s worked on this course and you will directly benefit from it.”
On the course
“I want to thank Gene Smith and Andy Geiger for their visions in making this the best course in the country. After seeing the finished product, I know that this course is the best and by Friday, I am sure that 29 other head coaches will agree.”
E. Lang D’Arti, Phipps Family Representative
On Al and Martha Phipps
“Al and Martha would have been so proud here today. They met at Ohio State and experienced love at first sight. They spent the rest of their lives in love together. For them, their family includes all of you. They were dedicated to and loved Ohio State. They had no children and no heirs, so you became their family. It is my pleasure to be here. For everyone at Ohio State, this is a tribute for Al and Martha. They not only loved Ohio State and each other, but also the game of golf.”
Eugene Smith, Ohio State Director of Athletics
Opening statement
“On behalf of the Athletics Department, I would like to welcome you all here today and thank everyone for coming. We are all excited for this course. To have the opportunity to have a course designed by one of your own is wonderful. Thank you to Andy (Geiger) for his vision and Jack (Nicklaus) for his help and dedication. I would also like to thank the NCAA and the NCAA rules committee, we have a great course ready for you to play.”
On the course
“Both Andy (Geiger) and I feel the greatest things for our 900 student-athletes to have are great classrooms. This course is a great classroom for the young men and women who are currently competing here, as well as those who will follow them. This course will allow them to go across the nation and represent Ohio State with the highest of standards. I want to thank everyone who made this course possible and for helping to make Ohio State golfers the best in the nation.”
Andy Geiger, Former Ohio State Director of Athletics
On Al and Martha Phipps’ gift
“I am delighted to see the wonderful crowd that has come out today. Thank you for all of your support. The vision and gift of Al and Martha is a true treasure for Ohio State and a treasure for the land here. An endowment is a wonderful gift because it never will go away. It is a true gift that will help others for decades to come.”
On updating a course
“Managing change is a difficult task. My favorite bumper sticker reads `Change is good. You go first.’ Changing a golf course is hard because any change you make will be permanent for years to come, as anyone who has picked up a club knows.”
On the history of the golf course
“I had the privilege of driving around the course about a week ago to see what had happened with the final product. It was a thrill to see. It is a treasure. I cannot stand here today without thanking a man who might have been the best Athletic Director in history: L. W. St. John. I have a picture that I will carry with me for years to come of this land from when St. John was at Ohio State. In the picture, there are a few trees and pastures and in the middle of that is this golf course. It is an asset and a treasure.”
On Jack Nicklaus
“This course is being lovingly restored – and yes it is being restored. There will be changes because the game has changed, but to have it lovingly restored in the named of Alister MacKenzie by a former Ohio State golfer is a treasure. Last year, when Jack was in town for his Memorial Tournament, he spent as much time here as he did at Muirfield. That shows his sincere dedication to this project. I want to thank Jack for giving so much of his knowledge and vision back to Ohio State. I know you are going to love what you see today and will enjoy the course for years to come.”
Jack Nicklaus, Nicklaus Design and former Ohio State golfer
On the process of designing the course
“Thanks very much. So, here we are. I think it was about a year ago, maybe a little more, when we started talking about what we were going to do. We decided we wanted to restore an Alister MacKenzie golf course. Now, it is hard to restore a course that opened four years after the fellow died. So, I had to put on my hat and think like him (MacKenzie). I could not reach him, but I have played a lot of MacKenzie courses. His courses usually have a lot of flair, and unfortunately, that flair did not make it here (Scarlet). Now, the greens were very much a MacKenzie, but the bunkers did not have what a MacKenzie course has. So I tried to think what he would have done.”
On his hopes for the course
“My experience at Ohio State was wonderful. And it was great to have the opportunity to come back and give back to the university. There are a lot of things in life that are meaningful and this was meaningful to me. I hope everyone enjoys it and that it is not too hard for the members. I hope you enjoy it, have fun with it. It was a real thrill for me, so thanks.”
