A Golden Annivesary
July 23, 1960. It was a hot, humid, typical Ohio summer day, and the day Barbara and I chose for our wedding. I was definitely nervous. Barbara looked beautiful as always. I did my best to measure up.
The reception was a lot of fun. It was very hot, and we stood in the reception line for quite a while greeting folks. The caterer kept filling glasses of champagne punch behind me and although for most of my life, I have never been much of drinking alcohol, that night I ended up enjoying my share of it. I was out like a light as soon as my head hit the pillow.
“We have some wonderful pictures of the two of us holding trophies, and I think those are the most appropriate we have, because we've really achieved victories as a team.”
— Jack Nicklaus about his wife Barbara in Memories and Mementos From Golf's Golden Bear
My life has never been the same since the first week of my freshman year at Ohio State University in September 1957, and I thank God for that every day. That was the week I met a tall, slim, beautiful, and sweet girl named Barbara Bash. It didn't take me long to figure out that our chance meeting was a stroke of good fortune.
We were both seventeen at the time, just kids, and I think we clicked because we shared similar values and priorities, like the importance of family. All these years later, with all the good things that have happened to me, I still believe that Barbara has been the most precious gift in my life. We were married 50 years ago, and we have grown up together, really. She has been my foundation, my voice of reason, my sounding board, my biggest supporter, my best friend, and the love of my life.
The most selfless person I've ever known, Barbara assimilated her life to fit what I was trying to achieve in the game, even at the beginning when she didn't understand golf and its nuances as well as she does now. Barbara's support over the years allowed me to concentrate on the things I needed to do to be successful. She has been a bigger contributor to my golf career than the world will ever know.