Sport: The Course That Jack Built

Trying to beat Jack Nicklaus on his own golf course is like trying to beat Howard Hughes in a Nevada real estate deal. Yet that was the prospect faced by 143 P.G.A. players in the recent $100,000 Heritage Golf Classic at Hilton Head, S.C. The course was designed by Architect Pete Dye in constant consultation with Nicklaus, who, at 29, has been playing some of the best golf of his career. In three outings on the tour this fall, he won the Sahara Invitational and the Kaiser International tournament and finished second in the Hawaiian Open. He figured to be unbeatable on his own layout.

But the grand opening of the course that Jack built was spoiled by a gaffer named Arnold Palmer. For two years rumors have been circulating that a chronic hip ailment was going to force Palmer out of golf for good. His last victory came in September 1968; this year his game was so discouraging that he dropped off the tour in August for some rest and recuperation. “I’ve been doing 100 sit-ups a day,” says Arnie. “Every so often I get a twinge in my hip, but it’s not enough to affect my swing. I’m hitting the ball as well as I ever have, even to the point where I can now drive head to head with Jack.”

Palmer did just that in the Heritage. With “Arnie’s Army” cheering him on, he jumped off to a three-stroke lead over Nicklaus in the opening round and maintained that edge during the next two days. Although Palmer slipped to a 74 in the final round, Nicklaus did even worse—four bogeys on the last nine to run up a 75 for the round and give Palmer his 69th professional victory.