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Sports

Golf Icon Visits Wynstone Country Club

Jack Nicklaus consults on the future of the North Barrington course he developed and attends luncheon.

Almost 24 years ago, when golf icon, Jack Nicklaus first viewed what would become The  in North Barrington, it was a beautiful plot of land with dirt roads. He would be a consultant in its development as he has been at more than 350 courses around the world, most recently in South Africa. 

On Wednesday, Aug. 17, he toured the course to evaluate how well the grounds have held up and to make recommendations for future development. He noted that the last time he had toured the course, “we had wood drivers, steal shafts, and round balls.”

At that time, there also were much less mature burr oaks, along with more shrubbery and sand to give the course an immediate, complete project feel early on. “A lot of the trees have grown up and some of the sand has been removed,” he observed.

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According to Nicklaus, the diminishing amount of sand is partly due to the price increase over the last two and a half decades; from $7 a ton to $80.

However, a golf course is meant to change with the times, according to Nicklaus, and his visit to  was partly scheduled to consult on a plan for the future of the course.

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“What we try to do is stay ahead of the curve. Everything’s in place and everything’s set up to reduce maintenance and enhance golfability, to bring the course up to 2011,” he said. “To modernize without reinventing the wheel ... My objectives are: Does this work? Does this fit? Will this work for the next 24 years?”

Nicklaus is, without a doubt, the right man for the job. He and his company, Nicklaus Design, have crafted more than 350 golf courses, in 34 countries and 39 states. is the only Illinois course created by Nicklaus Design. It was ranked 20th of private courses in Illinois by Golf Digest and is well-thought-of in the golf community, according to Nicklaus. 

“It has great variety,” he said. “The greens are a good size and it’s longer than most courses I do today.”

However, Nicklaus also said he rarely, if ever, plays golf. 

“I’ve played my game,” he said. “My golf game and $5 will get you a good cup of coffee just about anywhere.” On a roll, he added, “Most people wish they could golf like me. Now they can.”

The approximately 200 people who came to to share lunch and meet with Nicklaus were unconcerned that the golf legend considers his best games to be behind him. Young, old, men, women and kids lined up at the buffet at the Club House before sitting down for the meal with the man fans know as The Golden Bear.

“He made this great course and he’s a legend,” said 15-year-old Nick Tyndorf of North Barrington.

Mick McCabe, an older fan, also of North Barrington, first met Nicklaus when the course was still under construction.

“Isn’t it wonderful? It’s the best-kept secret in golf," McCabe said as he stood out on the balcony looking over the course. "It's challenging," he added. "Especially for old guys." 

Nicklaus agrees, and listed other courses that he favors outside of his own. “To play: Pebble Beach. Place to play: Augusta. Design: Pinehurst."

“I never played with anyone I didn’t like,” he continued. “There were a lot of guys who knew how to win.”

These days, however, Nicklaus is much less likely to be found on the links and more likely to be found fly fishing.

“A golf course can tell how old I am when I hit the ball,” he said. “A fish never knows.”

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