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Feature: Golf hero Nicklaus to build new championship course near Liverpool

Xinhua, July 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Golfing icon Jack Nicklaus was Monday chosen to develop a multi-million dollar world-class golf resort near Liverpool.

The American legend is to develop an 18-hole championship course adjacent to the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, one of the hosts of the famous British Open.

The decision came as a fellow American was winning this year's British Open at St Andrew's in Scotland, a venue where Nicklaus twice lifted the trophy in the 1970s.

The development in the Liverpool City Region will also include a luxury five star hotel, with health club and spa, as well as a golf clubhouse and a golfing academy.

The project on a 122 hectare site will add to the growing reputation of North West Britain as England's "Golf Coast", with major courses in Liverpool, Birkdale and Lytham.

The decision to select Nicklaus was taken by the local Wirral Council who own the land overlooking the Irish Sea at Hoylake.

Politicians at the council were told Monday that Nicklaus would himself design the new course.

Council leader Phil Davies described it as an "exciting time" for Wirral, with the development set to make the borough the "golf capital of England".

He told local media: "The golf resort represents an opportunity to make Wirral the capital of England's golf coast, attracting visitors from all over the world using Hoylake as the base for their golfing holidays."

Wirral Council economy spokesman Pat Hackett said: "This has long been an aspiration of the council. Hoylake has a special place in the history of golf."

He said the new Nicklaus golf resort would play a key role in developing the area's role in the "Golf Coast" which includes British Open championship courses, Royal Liverpool at Hoylake, as well as Royal Lytham and St Annes and Royal Birkdale, well as other highly regarded courses in the region.

During his golfing career Nicklaus, known as the "Golden Bear", won 18 professional major championships. He has been described as the greatest professional golfer of all time. Since retiring from professional golf the 75 years old has designed courses in 36 countries.

The new project has been given a two to three year timescale, with work expected to start when planning procedures have been completed. No costs have yet been revealed but it is expected to run into "tens of millions of U.S. dollars". Endit