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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, November 5, 2015 | 6 Spotlight by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff "Connected to your Community" Plan to develop Glen Abbey Golf Club `saddens' Nicklaus The golf legend who designed Glen Abbey says it saddens him to think of the course being developed. Jack Nicklaus, who designed the course in 1976 as a permanent home for the Canadian Open, said while he understands the decision to pursue development, it would still be unfortunate to see the iconic course disappear under a subdivision. "While it saddens me, personally, to think that the site of my rst solo golf course design might be re-purposed, we understand and respect the business decisions being made," Nicklaus said in a statement provided when asked for comment. Nicklaus, 75, said he has been in touch with ClubLink, which purchased the 230-acre property in 1998 for $40 million, and company executives explained the steps taken so far. ClubLink submitted a pre-consultation request to the Town of Oakville Oct. 23, detailing a plan that would see it build 3,000-3,200 homes as well as of ce and retail properties. The valley portion of the course, which is home to its most-recognizable holes, would not be developed, but would become parkland under the proposal. A golf course, the Upper Canada Country Club, was rst built on the site in 1965. It was purchased by developer Rod McIsaac in 1974. He teamed up with the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA, now Golf Canada), hiring Nicklaus to overhaul the course. The gol ng legend had worked with course designers on other projects, most notably Muir eld Village in Dublin, Ohio. However, the newly-dubbed Glen Abbey Golf Club was his rst solo design. It took two years and cost $2 million to build the course, which bore no resemblance to the previous layout. "I sort of came up with the idea of putting the clubhouse in the centre of the property and then having like spokes of a wheel going out, playing holes out and having the gallery go out on those spokes," Nicklaus said during a 2013 conference call prior to the Canadian Open. "It's one that's obviously very dear to my heart." It was designed with spectators in mind, with large mounds surrounding many of the greens Jack Nicklaus, left, and Tom Weiskopf nish up the rst round of golf ever played at Glen Abbey Golf Club on the 18th green as spectators look on. | Canadian Golf Hall of Fame to improve sightlines for large galleries. Glen Abbey has hosted 27 Canadian Opens since the tournament was rst played in Oakville in 1977 and won by Lee Trevino. Greg Norman, Curtis Strange, Nick Price, Mark O'Meara and Tiger Woods are among the players who have also been victorious at Glen Abbey. Nicklaus himself wasn't so fortunate on the course he created. He recorded three of his seven Canadian Open runner-up nishes in Oakville. In 1984, he was battling Norman for the lead when the Australian sailed his approach over the 17th green into a temporary parking lot, normally out-of-bounds, but with the stakes moved to accommodate parking, Norman was awarded a free drop. He made a bogey and held on for a one-stroke victory over Nicklaus. Glen Abbey has also been the site of other memorable moments, including Tiger Woods' shot from a fairway bunker on the 18th hole. Woods, needing a birdie to join Trevino as the only player to hold the Canadian, British and U.S. Open titles at the same time, hit his second shot on the par-5 213 yards over the pond that guards the green. He chipped from the fringe and went on to make his birdie to seal the victory. Now, the GPS on Glen Abbey carts clearly label the `Tiger bunker' and players nishing up their rounds routinely drop a ball in it to try to replicate Woods' shot. In 2004, Mike Weir lost to Vijay Singh on the third playoff hole at Glen Abbey, ending his bid to become the rst Canadian to win the tournament since 1954. Nicklaus, who won a record 18 majors, was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1995 as a builder for his work on Glen Abbey and his support of Canadian golf. "Nicklaus took on the challenge of designing Glen Abbey as a permanent site for the Canadian Open," his Hall of Fame pro le reads. "His rst solo design, Nicklaus brought years of on-course experience at tough golf courses and designed a layout that was tough on the professionals, yet enjoyable for the average golfer. The success of the course and his support of the Canadian Open have assured the strength of golf in Canada for years to come." Though development wouldn't start for ve years at the earliest if the plan is approved, the most well-known course in Canada may have little time to add to its history. It will host the 2016 Canadian Open, but its future remains uncertain after that. "(ClubLink) fully recognizes the importance of Glen Abbey's place in the history of Canadian golf and my own personal design legacy," Nicklaus said in the statement, "and because of that, we have vowed to remain in close contact." ClubLink CEO K. Rai Sahi told the Oakville Beaver last week that a new Glen Abbey could be built to host the Canadian Open if the current course is developed. "We've had some conversations with certain properties (to see) if they are available," he said. "We mentioned that to the mayor and I think it will be his preference as well to have it in Oakville. That will be the rst effort we will make. In case we don't get it, we have had conversations with Golf Canada so we will de nitely have other opportunities to do that. So one way or the other, it will take place." 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