Tony Jacklin had the stage to himself at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio on Tuesday 27th May when the Jack Nicklaus-hosted Memorial Tournament celebrates its 2008 honorees.
Credited with revitalizing the Ryder Cup as the European captain in 1983 – after he talked Seve Ballesteros into playing and flew the team to the United States on the Concorde – Tony Jacklin has been linked with Nicklaus since their famous Cup draw in 1969 at Royal Birkdale in England.
Nicklaus‘ decision to give the Englishman a 2-foot putt on the final hole was the inspiration for their joint venture, The Concession Golf Club in Florida. The Concession was named “Best New Private Course” of 2006 by Golf Digest magazine.
Although he is one of four Memorial honorees, the 63-year-old Jacklin is the only one still living. Being honoured posthumously are past Masters and U.S. Open champions Ralph Guldahl and Craig Wood and 1895 U.S. Amateur champion Charles Blair Macdonald, recognized by many as ‘the father of American golf course architecture’.
Jacklin travelled to Ohio with wife Astrid and their 16-year-old son Sean and plans to play in the Memorial pro-am.
“Obviously I‘m flattered to have been chosen, but it hasn‘t really gone beyond that,” said Jacklin, whose World Golf Hall of Fame accomplishments include victories in the 1969 British Open and the 1970 U.S. Open and successful turns as Ryder Cup captain in 1985, ‘87 and ‘89. “I‘m sure it will be time for a lot of reminiscing.”
And when he returns home, there will be plenty of reason to look ahead. This summer, Jacklin will receive the Spirit of Golf Award from the Golf Foundation of the United Kingdom at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. He will also host the British Par-3 Championship in August.
Through his company, Jacklin Design Group, Jacklin is designing golf courses in Cyprus, and is currently in discussion with clients about projects in Portugal, Spain, North Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Tony Jacklin has designed a number of golf courses around the world over the past 25 years, as is currently working on two projects in Cyprus, one of which is a 36 hole golf project at Secret Valley for clients Aristo Developers, a part of the Dolphin Capital Partners group.
Tony Jacklin Design is represented in Europe, the Middle East and Africa by Kanda Golf Marketing Services Ltd, a UK based golf consultancy headed by former PGA marketing manager Jerry Kilby.
Tony Jacklin Design www.jacklindesigngroup.com