Nicklaus remains a class act

I saw my old friend Jack last Friday morning.

It was at least the 20th or perhaps the 25th time Jack Nicklaus and I have talked over the years. Yep, Jack and I go back nearly 30 years.

I had spoken to Jack in one-on-one interviews in each of the previous two years at nearly the same spot on the new Red Ledges Golf Course near Heber City. This time at the grand opening of the scenic new course, there were a half dozen or so of us asking Jack questions in a formal press conference. Afterward I was asked if I wanted a one-on-one with the Golden Bear, but I declined.

Been there, done that.

No, I'm not buddies with Jack by any means, and while he might recognize my face, I'm sure he doesn't know my name or who I work for.

However, Nicklaus has been such a regular visitor to Utah throughout my sportswriting career that I feel I know the guy.

Nicklaus has made visits to Utah on nearly an annual basis over the past couple of decades going back to the opening of Park Meadows in 1982, either because of his course design business (besides Red Ledges and Park Meadows, he designed a course at Promontory that has yet to open) or his participation in the Champions Tour event at Park Meadows or at Johnny Miller's Champions Challenge tournament at Thanksgiving Point.

When I asked Nicklaus Friday if he felt any special connection to Utah, he smiled and said, "Every time I turn around, it seems like there's something fun to do here. I do come back here quite a bit."

Nicklaus mentioned friends such as Miller and Tony Burns, the owner of the new Red Ledges course, how he likes to hunt and fish here and talked about his admiration for Utah's emphasis on family values. The latter has always been a theme with Nicklaus.

I still remember an interview I had with him about a decade ago when I asked what the highlight of career was. Instead of mentioning his 1986 Masters victory or winning the British Open at St. Andrews twice, he said, "That my kids all know their father."

Nicklaus was most proud of the fact that he had been a good father and was close to each of his children, despite his worldwide success.

"Utah is, in my opinion, as good a place in the country to raise a family," he said Friday. "You see the family values in Utah. You see the people here and the things they do. The family is very strong here. I enjoy that when I come out here, because that's been a big part of my life."