Golden Bear may help replace Glen Abbey

Continued from B1

Its owner, ClubLink Corp., said in 2015 that it wants to close the course and turn it into housing.

ClubLink is a long way from obtaining clearance for that — there are multiple ongoing attempts at the local and provincial level aimed at keeping bulldozers away from the Abbey — but, asked about the prospect of seeing one of his courses be replaced by ever-more-valuable housing, Nicklaus is frank.

“It is what it is,” he says. “Glen Abbey is under pressure from that standpoint.”

Then Nicklaus makes a sound that is close to a loud sigh.

“I’d hate to see it torn down, but progress moves on. But, you know, we did this golf course 41 years ago, and I think we could do something better today.”

This was not Nicklaus chaining himself to the trees.

But, was the golf legend acknowledging he has been part of the discussions on possibly building a new permanent home for the national men’s open, somewhere else in the Toronto area? Nicklaus said he would leave that answer to “the RCGA,” a sign of his history here, since Golf Canada hasn’t been called the RCGA for some time. Over to them, then. “He has been a very valued and trusted sounding board for us,” says Laurence Applebaum, Golf Canada’s chief executive, who has been on the job for less than two weeks.

Applebaum acknowledges that part of Nicklaus’ visit this week has been to scout possible sites and talk to potential partners.

“We don’t have a formal arrangement with him, to be frank, but I like the conversations we’ve had in the last few weeks,” Applebaum says. “It would be wonderful to have his guiding hand through the process. It could only be a real asset.”

Embarking on the development of a high-end course that could host a tournament the size of the RBC Canadian Open would be a tough sell in today’s climate. But having Nicklaus lend it some shine would help open some doors, at the least.

“I would continue to say ‘Watch this space,’” Applebaum says.

The Golf Canada boss also makes a point of noting Glen Abbey has been an excellent partner and he could see the tournament being the host for at least the short term.

As for Nicklaus, asked if any of his designs had been replaced by residences, he says: “Probably. But I’m not sure where.”

He never did win the Canadian Open, although he was runner-up seven times. What did he remember about playing here, and coming up the 18th hole, with the pond on one side and the natural amphitheatre on the other?

“Just don’t hook it,” Nicklaus said. “And don’t hit it fat.”

Good advice for this week, and probably a few more.