Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Las Vegas to be part of Nicklaus' greatest holes

BRIAN HILDERBRAND is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. His golf column appears Tuesdays. He can be reached on the Internet at [email protected]

Jack Nicklaus' name has been in the news quite frequently. But unfortunately for the Golden Bear, it hasn't all been good news.

First, there was the announcement that Nicklaus' streak of 142 consecutive major-championship appearances would end at last week's British Open.

Then, word of the continuing financial problems of Nicklaus' publicly traded Golden Bear Golf Inc., made headlines in several business publications.

On a more positive note, Nicklaus' privately-held Golden Bear International and Dallas-based Club Corporation of America last week announced a joint venture to build "The Bear's Best," a golf course featuring re-creations of Nicklaus-designed holes, in Las Vegas.

Scott Tolley, an official with Golden Bear International, said Monday that plans to build the Las Vegas golf course are in "the very early stages" and that his company and Club Corporation have not yet acquired the land and do not have a projected date to start the project.

But Dave Richey, senior vice president of development for CCA, said he hopes to have the course opened "sooner than later."

"We have identified some very key markets that we think this product matches very well with ... and Las Vegas is right at the top of that list," Richey said. "We would hope to have something opened there within three years.

"Las Vegas is obviously undergolfed and this 'Bear's Best' does cater to what Las Vegas is known for -- and that is something unique and different."

"The Bear's Best" course will consist of 18 holes hand-picked by Nicklaus from among the 160 courses worldwide he has designed.

"I personally will be involved in the selection of holes because nobody knows these courses like I do," Nicklaus said in a press release announcing the project.

Golden Bear Golf Inc., stock has lost two-thirds of its value since last September and was forced to sell 14 driving ranges it had owned to its main rival. Stock in Nicklaus' company opened at $16 a share in August 1996 and traded at $15 last September, but closed at $4 a share last week -- a new 52-week low.

Two weeks ago at the Ford Senior Players Championship, Nicklaus acknowledged the problems of Golden Bear Golf. "Sure we've had problems," he said. "I'm not worried about it anymore. When we have to make our report (to stockholders) for this quarter, we'll have everything behind us and we'll be full course ahead on the way we're going to go."

Nicklaus Design, which remains privately owned by Nicklaus and is operated under the Golden Bear International umbrella, has developed two courses in Southern Nevada -- the private SouthShore Country Club and the daily-fee Reflection Bay Golf Club, both at Lake Las Vegas.

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* TURNING PRO?: Georgia Tech sophomore and reigning U.S. Amateur champion Matt Kuchar, who charmed galleries with his solid play and youthful enthusiasm at The Masters, is hedging on his earlier statement that he will return to Georgia Tech in the fall. At the NCAA Championships in May, Kuchar said he "definitely" would return to college. But after playing in last week's British Open, Kuchar sounded as if he will give up his amateur status after playing in the Palmer Cup, Aug. 1-2. "I don't know what to do," Kuchar said. "Right now I am dead in the middle. There are so many positives about going back to school and so many positives about going pro. (Turning pro) is a chance for me to set myself up financially for a long period of time. This is the prime time for me ... the sponsors want me and it's a chance for me to go after my dream." Kuchar said he will take some time off after the Palmer Cup, go to a resort in New Hampshire and mull his future. He is expected to make an announcement before the U.S. Amateur in late August. Experts have estimated Kuchar can earn up to $10 million in endorsements if he turns pro while he still is a "hot' commodity.

* TURNING PRO, PART II: Justin Rose, the 17-year-old amateur who tied for fourth at the British Open, will forego college golf to turn professional. The South African-born Rose reportedly already has signed a contract to endorse Cobra golf clubs and has other companies lining up for his endorsement. Tiger Woods, who knows a thing or two about turning pro at an early age, had some advice for Rose. "It would have been very difficult for me to turn pro at that age because my game wasn't ready for it," Woods said. "Obviously, he has shown some skills and he can play. The key for him right now is to be consistent because the media is going to build him up to be something big."

* AMATEUR RANKINGS: UNLV senior Chris Berry is rated 31st in the latest Golfweek/Titleist Amateur rankings. UNLV graduate Bill Lunde is 33rd in the men's rankings while Randy Creighton of Las Vegas is ranked 23rd among the boys. Robert Sul, an incoming freshman at UNLV, is ranked 29th in the boys poll.

* UPCOMING EVENTS: The PGA Tour is in Sutton, Mass., this week for the CVS Charity Classic at Pleasant Valley Country Club. Loren Roberts is the defending champion; The Golf Channel will televise all four rounds. ... The Senior PGA Tour is idle this week while the USGA conducts the 19th U.S. Senior Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Graham Marsh is the defending champion; ESPN will televise Thursday and Friday while NBC takes over Saturday and Sunday. ... The LPGA Tour is in Warren, Ohio, for the Giant Eagle Classic at Avalon Lakes Golf Club. Tammie Green won last year's tournament; ESPN2 will televise Friday through Sunday.

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