Unexpected tragedy : Golf family loses two legends at once, while official GM John Page and golf star Jack Nicklaus were said to be arriving within minutes…. All the details are here
Jack Nicklaus will be able to design golf courses again after winning arbitration against the company that runs his business
A Florida arbitrator has resolved a dispute between Jack W. Nicklaus and Nicklaus Companies LLC, ruling that Nicklaus is no longer restricted by his employment contract with the company, which included a non-compete clause that expired on June 1, 2022. The move would free Mr. Golden Bear, 84, to design golf courses and attract clients and company employees. The affair lasted six months. “The arbitration process has been a difficult learning experience for me, but I am grateful for how it went,” Nicklaus said in a statement.
Later in 2022, Nicklaus began offering golf course design services through a new entity, 1-JN. The Nicklaus Companies had sought to extend the non-compete terms.
“I get to keep doing one of the things that makes me happy bringing new golf courses to life and making old ones new again,” he said. “… I am involved in some great projects at the moment and look forward to a lot more of the same now that the effort to keep me on the sidelines has failed.”
Winner of 18 professional major titles and host of the Memorial Tournament, a PGA Tour event in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, Nicklaus has more than 300 course design credits to his name. He became embroiled in a legal battle with New York businessman Howard Milstein several years after he sold a minority interest in Nicklaus Companies in 2007. Milstein finally took control and ownership of Nichraus companies and expanded to include other companies related to golf.
NickLaus broke his work in a company in June 2017, but was subject to non -competition for five years ending in 2022. For the last five years, he continued to provide design services to The Nicklaus Companies until his professional relationship with the company ended in May 2022.
Joel Page has been appointed General Manager of Lansdowne Resort & Spa. Paige has more than 25 years of experience leading iconic golf resorts such as PGA National and Doral Golf Resort & Spa. Lansdowne is located in the heart of Virginia’s wine country, 30 minutes from Washington, D.C. The resort features more than 55,000 square feet of meeting space, a luxury spa and 45 championship holes.
In a statement released Wednesday, Nicklaus Companies LLC said the arbitrator’s decision only applied to the employment contract and that the arbitrator rejected Nicklaus Companies’ request for rights to the social media account @JackNicklaus created after Jack Nicklaus sold his interest.
In a statement, the companies cited a preliminary injunction issued by the New York Supreme Court in a separate lawsuit and said, “Nicklaus’ intellectual property, including commercial rights in Jack’s name, image and likeness, remains the property of Nicklaus Companies LLC.”… Indeed, while the Florida arbitration case has been settled, the Nicklaus Companies’ lawsuit against Jack Nicklaus in New York is ongoing and poses similar challenges to Nicklaus’ ability to operate independently and use his name and image in his activities. A trial date has not yet been set in that case. “We are waiting for the final solution of these questions in the case of the New York Supreme Court in the New York Supreme Court,” said the Nikraus company’s statement.
Ricklaus said, “We continue to consider golf golf and marketing opportunities.” We respect that it is Jack’s decision whether he wants to work on a project. We are currently working with Jack on design projects and look forward to providing him with more golf experiences in the future.