Jack and Jack II Officially Opened the Peninsula Course with Press Conference, Exhibition, and Course Review.
Puerto Penasco, MX, March 27, 2009: Jack Nicklaus and son Jack II opened the spectacular Peninsula de Cortes course at Mayan Palace last Friday with a tour, press conference for 125 attendees, and an exhibition that left all impressed and entertained.
Uncle Buck, AzGolf @ KFNX AM 1100 on Thursday afternoons, was the emcee along with partners Dan Schott and PGA Tour’s Dan Pohl. In the 90-minute conversation, the Nicklaus’ discussed the unique opportunity for outstanding golf the dunes presented them, the course aspects they enjoyed, their philosophy and interest in the average golfer with special attention to the varying experience players would have, the support Mayan Palace has provided them during the design, and much more. The highlight for all was when both Nicklaus’ recounted the 1986 final day at the Masters, where Jack played with Jack II as his caddie. Everyone was mesmerized with the emotion of the day, and most remembered the finish, though not to the level of Jack, who remembered exact yardages for each shot, or Jackie’s word-for-word recounting of their conversations and reactions to others’ play.
In the end, Ballesteros, Norman and Kite could only join the rest of us in admiring that special day of golf…now remembered for those at Mayan Palace last Friday (see clipping attached).
Mayan Palace General Manager Manuel Alcocer and Director of Golf Andrew Gilchrist hosted the day along with the next day’s “First Annual Opening Tournament” with 90 players. The opening day offered $250,000 in gifts and prizes with trophies for gross and net play. Although the Nicklaus’ admitted the course was very young, and more grassing and attention to detail would follow this year, the players found the course fair, playable, and challenging.
Mayan Palace and Peninsula de Cortes are Arizona Golf Partners, they have hosted two AGA events as well as the acclaimed University of Arizona Women’s Invitational held in late February. It will also be home for the 2009 Southwest Team Matches with Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Arkansas, Arizona, and Southern California currently committed the first of November.
Special Golf packages for AGA members are available through the website at AzGolf.org or by calling 800-458-8484.
