CASTLE ROCK — When Jack Nicklaus talks golf, all seems right in the world. After a breathtaking flyover christened the BMW Championship, Nicklaus took a seat in a golf cart and opened up about Castle Pines Golf Club, the course he designed in 1981 and renovated over the last decade. I was on the driving range reliving old times with former Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins when the PR staff asked if I wanted a few minutes with Nicklaus.
Other than my wedding, I have never said “I do” faster. Discussing golf with Nicklaus is like going over sonnets with Shakespeare or lyrics with McCartney. In a sport known for Ben Hogan’s ball-striking, Arnold Palmer’s recklessness and Tiger Woods’ brilliance, no one has ever done it better than The Golden Bear.
He owns the record with 18 major championships, 16 more than current World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who carded a 1-under 71 on Thursday. Nicklaus is as much a part of this course as the pine trees.
His passion, however, comes from his blueprints more than the greens. At the height of his powers, Nicklaus dominated the 1960s and 1970s and one glorious day at The Masters in 1986. Nicklaus, it was often said, thought he was going to birdie every hole.
“But, honestly I never played that well here. I didn’t win. I don’t know why I didn’t play the course well, but there are really a lot of golf courses I didn’t play well,” Nicklaus said of Castle Pines.
“But I didn’t design this golf course for me. I designed .