JACK NICKLAUS WON THE OPEN TWICE IN ST ANDREWS © BOB THOMAS/ROLEX/GETTY IMAGES
AN EXCLUSIVE REPORT FROM MICHAEL ALEXANDER IN THE COURIER HAS CONFIRMED THAT JACK NICKLAUS HAS BEEN OFFERED AND ACCEPTED HONORARY CITIZENSHIP OF ST ANDREWS BY THE ST ANDREWS BURGH COMMUNITY COUNCIL.
MICHAEL SAYS IN HIS REPORT THAT IT IS EXPECTED NICKLAUS WILL BE UNVEILED AS AN HONORARY CITIZEN OF THE TOWN AT A CIVIC CEREMONY AROUND THE TIME OF THE 150TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, IN ST ANDREWS IN JULY. THE OFFER HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE ST ANDREWS COMMUNITY COUNCIL, THE R&A, LOCAL GOLF CLUBS, FIFE COUNCIL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS.
IT IS EXPECTED THE CIVIC CEREMONY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A PROCESSION THROUGH THE TOWN, ACCOMPANIED BY PIPES AND DRUMS, FOLLOWED BY A RECEPTION.
NICKLAUS IS SAID TO BE DELIGHTED BY THE APPROACH AND HAS ACCEPTED. NICKLAUS FOLLOWS BOBBY JONES AS SUCCESSFUL AMERICAN GOLFERS TO BE GIVEN SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS HONOUR BY THE TOWN, WITH JONES RECEIVING THE FREEDOM OF THE BURGH BACK IN 1958.
JACK NICKLAUS WON THE 1970 AND 1978 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS ON THE OLD COURSE, AND RETIRED FROM TOP-FLIGHT PROFESSIONAL GOLF AT THE 2005 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WHERE HE WAS GIVEN A 10-MINUTE ROUND OF APPLAUSE BY RECORD CROWDS ON A SUN-BAKED FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
IN 2005 HE WAS ALSO HONOURED BY THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE AS HE WAS PICTURED ON A ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND £5 NOTE, WHICH BECAME SOMEWHAT OF A COLLECTORS ITEM.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS HONOUR FOR ST ANDREWS TO BE GIVING TO A FOREIGN-BORN PERSON, BUT IS ALSO A SIGN OF HOW IMPORTANT GOLF IS TO THE TOWN, AND WILL ADD TO WHAT I AM SURE WILL BE A FANTASTIC WEEK DURING THE 150TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP THIS JULY.
NICKLAUS IS ALREADY AN HONORARY MEMBER OF THE ST ANDREWS GOLF CLUB, WITH ARNOLD PALMER AND TOM WATSON BOTH HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE NEW GOLF CLUB TOO.
MICHAEL SAYS IN HIS REPORT THAT IT IS EXPECTED NICKLAUS WILL BE UNVEILED AS AN HONORARY CITIZEN OF THE TOWN AT A CIVIC CEREMONY AROUND THE TIME OF THE 150TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, IN ST ANDREWS IN JULY. THE OFFER HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE ST ANDREWS COMMUNITY COUNCIL, THE R&A, LOCAL GOLF CLUBS, FIFE COUNCIL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS.
IT IS EXPECTED THE CIVIC CEREMONY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A PROCESSION THROUGH THE TOWN, ACCOMPANIED BY PIPES AND DRUMS, FOLLOWED BY A RECEPTION.
NICKLAUS IS SAID TO BE DELIGHTED BY THE APPROACH AND HAS ACCEPTED. NICKLAUS FOLLOWS BOBBY JONES AS SUCCESSFUL AMERICAN GOLFERS TO BE GIVEN SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS HONOUR BY THE TOWN, WITH JONES RECEIVING THE FREEDOM OF THE BURGH BACK IN 1958.
JACK NICKLAUS WON THE 1970 AND 1978 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS ON THE OLD COURSE, AND RETIRED FROM TOP-FLIGHT PROFESSIONAL GOLF AT THE 2005 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WHERE HE WAS GIVEN A 10-MINUTE ROUND OF APPLAUSE BY RECORD CROWDS ON A SUN-BAKED FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
IN 2005 HE WAS ALSO HONOURED BY THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE AS HE WAS PICTURED ON A ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND £5 NOTE, WHICH BECAME SOMEWHAT OF A COLLECTORS ITEM.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS HONOUR FOR ST ANDREWS TO BE GIVING TO A FOREIGN-BORN PERSON, BUT IS ALSO A SIGN OF HOW IMPORTANT GOLF IS TO THE TOWN, AND WILL ADD TO WHAT I AM SURE WILL BE A FANTASTIC WEEK DURING THE 150TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP THIS JULY.
NICKLAUS IS ALREADY AN HONORARY MEMBER OF THE ST ANDREWS GOLF CLUB, WITH ARNOLD PALMER AND TOM WATSON BOTH HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE NEW GOLF CLUB TOO.
