‘Grow Up And Be A Wife’: Jack Nicklaus’ Wife Was Seemingly Slapped With Harsh Advice That Changed Their Marriage In 1962

Athletes lead a tough life, with rigorous training and constant traveling. This often takes a toll on their personal lives, hindering their relationships. It is especially hard on marriages, and often the difficult lifestyle causes athletes to split up with their spouses. That may as well have been the case for Barbara Bash, the wife of the golf legend, Jack Nicklaus, had it not been for the intervention of Lloyd Mangrum’s wife, Aleta.

Jack and Barbara began seeing each other in 1957, and within three years, the two tied the knot. The couple has undoubtedly seen many highs and lows and has survived them all. Just last year, they celebrated their 62nd anniversary, and they seem to be eagerly looking forward to many more to come.

Aleta’s words ring true in Barbara Nicklaus’ ears

Jack Nicklaus sat down with Golf Digest back in August 2010, where he revealed how his marriage changed because of the words Aleta once said to his wife. He said, “Lloyd’s wife, Aleta, might have had a greater influence on my wife, Barbara, than any other person.”

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It was 1962, and Nicklaus was playing the Masters while his wife watched from the veranda. Although Barbara was physically present, her mind was back home. The couple had left their then 7-month-old child Jackie there, and Barbara was “bemoaning that she missed her.”

Amid her worries, Aleta, who had been knitting next to her said, “Look here, little girl. You had Jack long before you had that baby, and you hope to have him long after that baby is gone.” She added, “Grow up and be a wife.” Since then, Barbara has lived by those words and claims they changed her marriage.

Jack Nicklaus claims that his wife never fails to pay the message forward

Ten years after the incident, Barbara met Lloyd Mangrum’s wife once again. It was then that she confessed to her that her words from back in 1962 had been life-changing. “You’ll never know what you did for my marriage,” she said.

Jack too understood the difficulties his wife had faced, especially during his career. The 18-time major winner said, “It isn’t easy being the wife of a professional athlete.” He went on to say that Barbara would spread the words that had changed her marriage at every opportunity. He said, “Barbara has told this story to other tour wives over the years.”

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Do you think their marriage would have taken a different turn had it not been for Aleta’s words? And if so would the couple not have been happily married till date? Let us know in the comments below.