Jack Nicklaus has unveiled his own line of golf balls with a color-coordinated marketing campaign the Golden Bear hopes will make it easier for players to pick the right golf ball for their games and swings.
Nicklaus told Jimmy Roberts on Golf Channel’s “Live From” coverage on Monday that the line will include three versions: a Nicklaus Black, Blue and White to match the skill levels of golfers using the black (back), blue (middle) and white (forward) teeing grounds as a guide.
“We have simplified this decision for golfers,” said Nicklaus, the host of this week’s Presidents Cup at Muirfield Village in Ohio. “All you need to know is the tee you play from to know the ball you should use. Once we know the tee you play from we have a good sense of your club head speed, and we’ve designed each of the three balls to maximize feel and distance for that player.”
The golf balls, which will begin shipping in November, will initially be sold exclusively at nicklaus.com and through pro shops at Nicklaus-designed golf courses in the United States, with a percentage of every golf ball sold in pro shops going to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.
A dozen Nicklaus balls purchased on nicklaus.com will retail for $26 to $30. Consumers will also be given an option to donate to Nicklaus’ foundation when they purchase golf balls online.
It is curious that Nicklaus – who has been an outspoken critic of the distance gains in golf over the past 15 years, largely through advancements in golf ball technology – would enter the golf ball market.
In April at the Masters, Nicklaus addressed those distance gains and Augusta National’s unique ability to keep up with technology.
“All the golf courses in the world that have had to deal with what happened to the golf ball, this is the only one that’s kept up with it,” Nicklaus said. “I don’t think another course in the world has kept up with this golf course. I don’t think another course in the world had enough money to do it, either.”
