Jack Nicklaus Reminisces About Designing St Mellion

In this recent interview, Jack Nicklaus recalls the time he designed the golf course at St Mellion, which was his first UK project.

ST MELLION: What do you feel that you accomplished, here at St Mellion?

JACK NICKLAUS: “First, it helps to understand some of the history of the St. Mellion project. Originally, I twice – maybe three times – turned down the Bond brothers, Herman and Martin, when they asked me to design the golf course.

“I did so only because of the challenge of the property. Essentially, they wanted me to put a golf course on the sides of this hill. I asked them if we could find a little bit better piece of property that was more conducive to building a golf course. They said no, and it was because of the existing golf course, and the location of the clubhouse and everything else. So I reluctantly turned it down.

“They came back and said, “Please, Jack, do this golf course. It just makes sense for us. We just can’t do anything else.” I said, “Ok, but understand it’s going to be a unique golf course.” where we have had to design and build the course into the side of the mountain, with a stair-step approach to fit the holes in there.

“I was told at the time that it was the largest civil contract in Great Britain that year, because of the amount of Earth we had to move to make the golf course work.

“In the end, it’s a golf course where, actually, each individual hole is pretty darn good. They might be in a unique location, but I thought the golf course, as such, turned out to be a really good golf course from a playability standpoint.”

ST MELLION: But is it a good golf course?

JACK NICKLAUS: “I think it is a very good golf course. It plays really well. It was a strong golf course when it first opened. I have always been very proud of taking the site given to us and turning into something that has now hosted at least a dozen professional or significant events. I think the golf course, hole for hole, turned out to be a very good golf course.

“I haven’t been there for a while, but it was always a good strong golf course, a strong test of golf.

“I learned recently that the St. Mellion International Resort was nominated for England’s Leading Golf Resort, and I am hopeful that the experience we created there is chief among the reasons for that.

“From where we began to the fact we are here today celebrating the 25th anniversary of an English success story gives me a great deal of pride.”

ST MELLION: Where would it rate in all the courses you have created worldwide?

JACK NICKLAUS: “Let me ask you a question, “Who is your favourite child?” You can’t answer that. Well, asking me to rate this course compared to others, is like asking me to rate my children. I would never do that.

“I will only say that I believe St. Mellion—as a test of golf, as a design, and looking at each individual hole and its beauty—would rank the golf course very high.”

ST MELLION: When was the last time you were here, and did you get to play the course?

JACK NICKLAUS: “Although I am unable to get back there often, I know that the team at St. Mellion has nurtured the course and taken great care of it, and because of that they have been able to maintain its position as one of the most recognized and popular courses in the UK.

“St. Mellion was my first design opportunity in the UK, and because of that and the success of our collaborative effort, it holds a special place in my heart.”