‘You’ll Never See’: Despite Being Widely Considered the GOAT, Jack Nicklaus Still Remembers His Father’s Harsh Lessons

The 82-year-old Jack Nicklaus may have stopped playing golf professionally right now. However, everybody can agree that he could give any best golfers tough competition when he was in his prime, making many consider him the greatest of all time. However, that doesn’t mean that Nicklaus has never made any mistakes. In fact, one such mistake even made his first coach ask him to quit the sport instead of turning pro. 

Charlie Nicklaus, Jack’s father, who played almost every sport, was the first to introduce golf to him. Ever since he injured his ankle, Nicklaus sr. had helped his son become the best golfer of the era by training him and carrying his bag. And according to a golf.com feature article from 2021, Charlie was not an easy coach for Nicklaus. 

The hardcore training from his father that still taunts the Tour veteran Jack Nicklaus

Decades passed by, but the 73-time PGA Tour champion still remembers the intense lessons his father gave him while training to become a professional golfer. 

According to Jack, the duo would go to Scioto C.C. to practice every day they get a chance after Jack helps his father at the pharmacy. And on one day, the young Nicklaus hit an 8-iron into a greenside bunker. Since it was part of the game, his father didn’t scold him. However, his son’s following actions couldn’t help him from his father’s rage. 

According to the golf.com article, as soon as his 8-iron made contact with the ball, it also went flying and fell almost as far as his ball. And this made Charlie furious. “Pick up your club. Pick your ball,” he said to Jack. “If that happens again,” the Tour veteran explained what his father said while taking a walk to the next hole. “You’ll never see another golf course.” 

How did the Nicklaus duo develop an interest in golf? 

From tennis to volleyball, Charlie Nicklaus used to play all kinds of sports. However, golf was not one that he frequently played. 

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Later, when Jack was about 7 years old, according to golfchannel.com, Charlie severely injured his ankle, and his doctor suggested he play golf as part of the exercise. Young Jack started going to the golf course as his father’s caddie and later got his hands-on experience, and the rest is history. 

Jack Nicklaus has won more than 100 titles worldwide, including 18 majors. Many new-generation golfers look up to him as a role model. And he still believes his father’s valuable lessons helped him get all these recognitions.

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