Jacks to Open

The celebrity power of Jack Nicklaus was on full display when he visited Aliso Viejo Golf Club to take a look at the course he and his son, Jack II, designed.

The younger Nicklaus did a majority of the fieldwork on the project, and Saturday marked only the second time the elder Nicklaus had been on the site.

But there was no question who the 300 invited guests wanted to see.

From the moment Nicklaus pulled up in a van until he left, his every move, even when it was to eat lunch inside a trailer, was watched. No matter where he went, people stood close with all kinds of cameras or paper, waiting to ask the greatest golfer of all time for an autograph.

Even some members of the media were guilty of being overcome by Nicklaus.

The press conference was supposed to focus on the 27-hole course and what it took to turn the dusty hills into a lush layout, a project that required moving 2 1/2 million cubic yards of dirt.

Questions could have been asked about the course that gives golfers the option of being aggressive and trying to hit small landing areas with a driver or laying back in the wider parts of the fairways. But all that was dismissed early.

Nicklaus was asked to cover a wide range of topics, starting with the idea of working with his son.

“What we do with a co-design is that [Jack II] does most of the work,” Nicklaus said. “Which is fine. There is nothing wrong with that. When we do a co-design, that is generally what we do, I work in the office and he does the fieldwork.”

Then it was on to Nicklaus’ theory of designing golf courses.

“What I’m really interested in is producing good golf,” he said. “Whether I produce the good golf or it is [Tom] Fazio or [Arnold] Palmer or anybody else, I don’t really care.

“Maybe some guys produce a better product more times than the other guy or something, but the game of golf is one to have fun with and be enjoyed, and that’s really what we’re trying to do.”

Then there was the matter of his artificial hip. After hip-replacement surgery in January, Nicklaus played a limited competitive schedule. He played in the U.S. Open but missed the cut and had to pull out midway through his third round at the Senior Players Championship because of the hip.

“My hip is doing fine and I’m on an exercise program for strength and I feel a lot stronger,” he said. “Peel about 10 pounds off me and I will be ready to go play golf next year.”

And it’s an ambitious schedule.

“My goal is to play all the four majors and the four senior majors and a few other tournaments.”

He was also asked specifically about the British Open.

“It’s the last one I’ll probably play, but I’m not going to say it’s the last ever because if I win then I will have to go back and defend.”

Then it was time to warm up. As Nicklaus and his son blasted ball after ball to within a few yards of where they aimed, more questions about technique came from the crowd while others used cell phones to brag about where they were.

Finally, Nicklaus and his son and Aliso Viejo head pro Jeff Whitt moved to the first tee. The Nicklauses hit commemorative wooden drivers off the first tee of the Creek nine, which created an opening for Whitt, using a high-tech driver, to blast it long. Whitt will forever be able to tell his friends he out-drove Jack Nicklaus.

But Nicklaus got his revenge when they reached the fairway.

Whitt’s ball was in a drain and he reached down and flipped it to a better location without using the correct method of dropping the ball.

“Nice drop,” said Nicklaus, “right from the shoulder [as the rules of golf require].”

All three players made par on the first with Whitt making his on a five-footer after a chip from behind the green.

“I guess you can breathe again,” Nicklaus said.

Nicklaus was in fine playing form. He made the first of seven birdies on the 461-yard, par-four third hole. Jack II and Whitt quickly fell off Nicklaus’ pace. Jack II shot four-over 74; Whitt shot 72.

Nicklaus shot 65, taking great pleasure in breaking the course record of 66--which had been held by Whitt.

“It was pretty amazing to watch a guy at 59 still that competitive,” Whitt said. “It was probably the most competitive thing I have ever seen. You could tell he didn’t want to lose.

“He was receptive and friendly, but when it came time to hit a golf shot, he was dialed in.”

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* Course: Aliso Viejo Golf Club

* Address: 25002 Golf Dr., Aliso Viejo

* Phone: (949) 598-9200

* Web site: https://www.alisogolf.com

* Green fees, including cart (regular/twilight): Mon.-Thu.: $85/$70; Fri.-Sun: $125/$85

* Par/Yardage: Par 70 or 71 depending on which 18 of 27 holes are played. 6,277-6,435 championship, 6,131-6,251 middle, 5,749-5928 intermediate, 4,736-4,878 forward.

* Rating/Slope: 71.3/131 championship, 70.5/129 middle, 68.9/126 intermediate.

* Reservations: No fee for 0-6 days in advance, $15 fee for 7-15 days in advance, $20 for 16-30 days in advance.