THE DAY THE GOLDEN BEAR PROWLED THE LINKS AT ROYAL DORNOCH
TEN years ago, Jack Nicklaus followed in the footsteps of contemporaries Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw in making the pilgrimage to Royal Dornoch.
The Golden Bear had taken in the tennis at Wimbledon and ventured to the Highlands en route to cast his eyes over a new golf course project in Eastern Europe.
It was a low-key visit but, as with the arrival of Watson and Crenshaw in previous years, word quickly spread that one of the all-time golfing greats was in town.
By the end of his round, with professional Andrew Skinner and Gary Dingwall, now the club’s head teaching pro, among the lucky group enjoying Jack’s company on the Championship Course, an appreciative gallery was accompanying the fourball for the closing stretch.
General manager Neil Hampton has fond memories of the July, 2014 visit, with his son Max also having the opportunity to meet the legendary American, then 74, who amassed 18 Majors in a glittering career.
“Jack was a lovely man and very down to earth,” recalled Neil.
“I have several stand out memories of his visit, and there are many because he accepted an invitation after his round to linger and have a beer in the clubhouse.
“Jack entertained us with some stories of life on Tour but when he arrived at the golf club, I remember him getting out of the Range Rover, offering me his hand and saying “Hi, I’m Jack Nickalus,” to which I replied, ‘thanks, yes, I know!’
“With the introductions made, Jack immediately inquired, in a very genuine way, where he paid his green fees?
“I explained that wouldn’t be necessary as we were delighted he had wanted to see Royal Dornoch for himself. But I am confident that he would have paid had we asked him to.
“I remember apologising to Jack’s wife Barbara when so many people began following the group.
“She assured me it was fine because Jack didn’t get many crowds watching him play these days!”
In the wake of Jack’s visit, the club received a letter of thanks, saying how pleased he was to have had the opportunity to play “such a renowned golf course.”
It was duly framed and can still be viewed in the clubhouse.