Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus will perform the ceremonial puck drop tomorrow (Frid) prior to the opening season match for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The game against the Calgary Flames marks the start of the Blue Jackets 13th season in the National Hockey League (NHL) and Nicklaus will travel to the Ohio capital after being on hand to watch the action unfold on day two of the Presidents Cup at his own Muirfield Village course in Dublin, Ohio.
Jack Nicklaus introduces his line of ‘Three tees, Three golf balls’.
And golf’s greatest champion, ambassador and philanthropist is combining his passions into one industry-shaping business with the announcement that Jack Nicklaus will be introducing a line of golf balls, with an emphasis on simplifying the game, as well as giving back to the game and to charity.
Nicklaus is introducing three golf balls—Nicklaus Black, Nicklaus Blue, and Nicklaus White—to accommodate three skill levels of player, using the traditional tees from which they typically play.
The balls, which are going into production this month and will begin shipping in November, will initially be sold exclusively online atwww.nicklaus.com and through golf/pro shops at the more than 200 Nicklaus Design courses nationwide. A percentage from every golf ball sold in those shops will be donated directly back to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation to support pediatric programs and hospitals nationwide, while visitors to Nicklaus.com will have the ability to support the Foundation with voluntary contributions.
“We all know that the game of golf can be challenging enough, so we are trying to simplify the decision-making process of selecting the right golf ball and at the same time provide consumers the highest-quality golf balls and at a price that encourages charitable support,” Jack Nicklaus said.
“By buying these balls, players will get the added benefit of supporting these wonderful charities that help children in need as well as the families that dearly love them.
“The idea of creating three balls corresponds to the teeing areas golfers typically play. The Nicklaus White ball is designed for the players who might typically play the forward or white tees. Nicklaus Blue is designed for players who would typically play the middle or blue tees. And, finally, Nicklaus Black is designed for the single-digit or better golfer who generally plays from the back tees.”
Nicklaus added, “For more than three years, we have contemplated entering the golf ball business, so over that time, I have been researching and testing golf balls. There are a lot of very good balls on the market, but I was not able to find a ball that fully met my expectations and hopes—not just for me or other professionals, but more important, for the everyday golfer. So I simply decided not to enter the business until I found that ball. Well, I found that ball. Actually, I found three.
“These golf balls are designed for every level of play, from the everyday or recreational golfer—be it men, women, children, or seniors—to the tour professional. No matter the age or ability, there is a golf ball to fit your game. Our strategy is based on a simple principle: skill level is an extremely important factor when selecting the right golf ball. From the tees you play, we know your swing speed; this is paramount when choosing a golf ball. But no matter the percentage of players who know their swing speed, 100 percent of them know the tees they play.”
Strangely, Nicklaus’ biggest complaint about the modern game has been the golf ball and calling on golf’s ruling bodies to ‘reel in’ the distances the modern ball flies through the air.
