The Jack Nicklaus Museum

Try to confine a legend to 24,000 square feet…no mater the size of the structure, there will never be enough room to create a den befitting the Golden Bear. Legends have a way of growing past their boundaries.

This is the Jack Nicklaus Museum, a living memorial to an exceptional athlete. It’s a showplace for golf and its greatest practitioner, told through an unparalleled collection of artifacts and memorabilia collected over a lifetime of achievement. Powerful interactive exhibits and media presentations with vintage footage lead your journey through the life and career of a man who transcended generations and inspired millions to take interest in the game of golf.

The museum presents the story of Jack Nicklaus as a family man, golfer, golf course designer, author, humanitarian and sportsman. Featured are his 100 worldwide victories (71 of which are official TOUR victories) including six Masters, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens, three British Opens and two U.S.G.A. Amateur Championships.

After its opening in May 2002, The Jack Nicklaus Museum has welcomed visitors from 43 of the 50 states and 13 countries worldwide. Nestled on the campus of The Ohio State University, the museum has truly become one of Ohio’s travel treasures.

When museum guests are asked to name features of the museum they are most impressed by, the overwhelming response has been Mr. Nicklaus’ dedication to family and golf course design. The Nicklaus Family Room is true to the original model with replica brown wood paneling and similar furnishings. With cases filled with family mementos and achievements and a video hosted by Jack Nicklaus II this warm and inviting room makes guests feel as though they have entered the Nicklaus’ home. The touching video presentation makes light of the fact that Nicklaus, although considered to be mentally tough during his days on TOUR, fainted at each of his five children’s births. It goes on to point out that no matter what was happening in his life, Mr. Nicklaus was never separated from his family for more than two weeks.

The Nicklaus Design Gallery is an awesome sight featuring a world map complete with fiber optics illustrating the more than 270 worldwide courses designed by Nicklaus Design. The room is complete with an interactive kiosk of all design courses with beautiful images and yardage statistics. It also features a display of building a course from its planning stages to its completion.

The Memorial Tournament Gallery features one of Nicklaus’ most impressive legacies Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. A glass case bears witness to the shovel from Muirfield’s groundbreaking in 1976, a program from the 2001 tournament that honored Payne Stewart after his untimely passing and Greg Norman’s muddy golf shoes from his second Memorial Tournament victory in 1995. Just a few other items in this gallery include plaques with all past Memorial Tournament winners and honorees and an image of The Ohio State University’s marching band on the 18th fairway at Muirfield Village during the 1987 Ryder Cup played there.

When it comes to the Jack Nicklaus Museum, many people think “they know Jack,” but are surprised to learn about Jack Nicklaus the family man and are amazed when they discover all that Jack Nicklaus the golf course designer has accomplished. Tour the Jack Nicklaus Museum today and discover the many facets of this truly remarkable man.

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Admission for adults is $9, $7 for seniors (62 and above), $6 for students with valid ID; children five and under are free. Please call to inquire about group rates.

For more information, call the museum at (614) 247-5959 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Your can also visit their newly redesigned Web site complete with virtual tour at www.nicklausmuseum.org.