Jack Nicklaus interview
Said one designs a course for the best of conditions, and when there are extreme conditions players have to meet the challenges.
Said that while Pete Dye was the first to bring people to play here [Teeth of the Dog in Casa de Campo] with the opening of "other resorts, the Dominican Republic is obviously on teh way to be a big destination for golf."
"I am very proud that any of my golf courses receive recognition, or host a major event."
Admitted that the game of golf in the US is not growing statistically. But said that abroad it is growing. He said there are many countries, especially in the Eastern Block, where golf courses are being built for the first time. Mentioned that met with Mayor of Moscow, who is interested in building 15 public golf courses in Moscow "to do with golf what they did with tennis." He said that building in Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus (45 countries), all throughout areas where the game of golf had not been played.
Regarding the US, he explained that while statistically it is not growing in numbers of players, it is not declining either. He explained that one of the reasons is that golf has not attracted as many young players, and parents and grandparents are spending more time with their kids in soccer, baseball, tennis, and other sports rather than playing golf.
But he said they are building 60 golf courses in the US, "somebody is going to have to play them."
Commented that while all tennis courts are the same, there are no two golf courses the same, making it an attraction to play golf.
"We design around the average golfer, you accommodate senior players with shorter tees, ladies with forward tees, then you don't accommodate, throw them back 100 yards and let them go at it."
Commenting on Cap Cana courses he explained that the most costly development land is at the ocean, and Punta Espada has 8 holes on the golf course. The 2nd course, Las Iguanas will have 4 holes on the ocean, and the unnamed third will be back against the cliff. "It is the investment of land and property. The investment in the golf course is small, in relation to the totality of the project. The golf course is the leading amenity here, you must do it right, and then the return will come with the marinas, the hotels and the real estate and everything else."
He explained that at this time in his career, his leading motivation is to take the game to grow in new countries, in the DR, Anguilla, Tortola and St. Lucia in the Caribbean. "Frankly, as a motivation, I enjoy being able to create. It is fun. It is something when you go forward 50 years from now, and people may say, "Nicklaus was very prolific after he got done with playing golf, left a lot of nice facilities. I enjoy contributing to the game of golf, a game that gave me so much."
Nevertheless, he admitted that none of his 21 grand children play golf, despite several being very good athletes. He says he spends lots of time with his grandchildren.
His motivation is that "my legacy, my business or my name carries beyond my lifetime."
