Golf legend to donate services to help launch fundraising efforts for renovation of historic public course in North St. Louis County
St. LOUIS, Missouri (April 19, 2021) – Jack Nicklaus, the greatest champion in the history of golf, and his renowned Nicklaus Design firm have agreed to join the philanthropic effort to renovate Normandie Golf Course (Normandie), the Metropolitan Golf Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association (MAGA), with its partner Beyond Housing (BH), the famed community development organization, announced today.
Nicklaus Design will lead the project and Nicklaus will donate his services for the renovation of Normandie, which was built in 1901 and is one of the oldest public golf courses west of the Mississippi.
Nicklaus will not only lead the design effort, but he will support the group’s fundraising efforts to purchase the property from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, as well as the necessary funding for facility construction of the project. Upon completion of the project, Normandie will become a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.
“The appeal of this project to me was to be involved in an effort that could serve as a catalyst to change needed in our country today, beginning with parts of St. Louis County,” Nicklaus said. “Restoring Normandie for a community in need will have a long-lasting positive impact on the lives of youth in St. Louis.”
Nicklaus was introduced to the Normandie project in late 2020 by friend Tom O’Toole, Jr., past USGA President and MAGA Founder. He was quick to lend his support to the revitalization effort.
“To have Jack agree to be involved in this project immeasurably changes its viability,” O’Toole said. “Now, this is an effort that a metropolitan area and the businesses who thrive here can get behind to forever change the lives of youth in our region.”
This project is so much more than the renovation of a historic public golf course. It is about retaining a community asset for the benefit of a region by being a catalyst for socio-economic change in an under-served community.
“Once a community loses an asset of this magnitude, seldom is it regained,” said Chris Krehmeyer, CEO of Beyond Housing. “This project expands and complements the successful projects BH has developed in this region.”
Once funding is secured for Normandie, construction could begin by year’s end. It is important to note, the golf course will remain open and continue to be operated by Walters Golf Management through the 2021 golf season.
Nicklaus has other philanthropic ties to St. Louis through his involvement with the Ascension Charity Classic presented by Emerson, a PGA TOUR Champions event, which also supports north St. Louis County communities and will be held September 6-12, 2021 at Norwood Hills Country Club.
