Now that golf legend Jack Nicklaus is retired, he has a little more time to travel the country and dedicate time to the many charities and causes he supports.
Today, The Golden Bear's focus was on Bozeman, Montana.
Nicklaus was in town to support Warriors and Quiet Waters, a foundation that provides wounded veterans a means of rehabilitation through fly fishing.
"The things that they've done, the sacrifices they've made for our country, and for allowing people like me to live our lives in America," Nicklaus said. "That's pretty special."
Nicklaus performed a golfing clinic Friday morning, with veteran and Bozeman resident Saul Martinez as his main pupil. Martinez lost both his legs while stationed in Iraq, but now uses golf as a way to rehab, using two prosthetic legs.
"Being able to hit a few balls with Jack Nicklaus, it's beyond words in itself," Martinez said. "And then him giving me a lesson, it's even more unbelievable."
"It's great recreation, great rehabilitation for these guys," Nicklaus said. "If you were to meet some of these guys and hear their stories, and see how they're dealing with life and moving on, it's absolutely unbelievable."
Nicklaus is 71 years old now, far removed from his last major win at the 1986 Masters. He says he doesn't spend much time on the golf course anymore, rather preferring to spend as much time as possible supporting causes around the country.
But that doesn't mean the 18-time major champion is done with golf. In front of nearly 100 people for about an hour, Nicklaus got down to business, dishing out tips to Martinez and the gallery.
"He said let the club do the work, and when you do that, you're going to have more fun," Martinez said, in regards to the advice Nicklaus had given him. "And that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"[Martinez] said, 'for me not to have to overpower it, it's just going to increase how much more golf I can play'," Nicklaus said. "It was very rewarding for me to get that type of reaction from Saul."
"For him to make that effort, to come out to little Bozeman, Montana amongst his crazy schedule," Martinez said, "it just says a lot about his commitment to our wounded and our servicemen in general."
Today, The Golden Bear's focus was on Bozeman, Montana.
Nicklaus was in town to support Warriors and Quiet Waters, a foundation that provides wounded veterans a means of rehabilitation through fly fishing.
"The things that they've done, the sacrifices they've made for our country, and for allowing people like me to live our lives in America," Nicklaus said. "That's pretty special."
Nicklaus performed a golfing clinic Friday morning, with veteran and Bozeman resident Saul Martinez as his main pupil. Martinez lost both his legs while stationed in Iraq, but now uses golf as a way to rehab, using two prosthetic legs.
"Being able to hit a few balls with Jack Nicklaus, it's beyond words in itself," Martinez said. "And then him giving me a lesson, it's even more unbelievable."
"It's great recreation, great rehabilitation for these guys," Nicklaus said. "If you were to meet some of these guys and hear their stories, and see how they're dealing with life and moving on, it's absolutely unbelievable."
But that doesn't mean the 18-time major champion is done with golf. In front of nearly 100 people for about an hour, Nicklaus got down to business, dishing out tips to Martinez and the gallery.
"He said let the club do the work, and when you do that, you're going to have more fun," Martinez said, in regards to the advice Nicklaus had given him. "And that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"[Martinez] said, 'for me not to have to overpower it, it's just going to increase how much more golf I can play'," Nicklaus said. "It was very rewarding for me to get that type of reaction from Saul."
"For him to make that effort, to come out to little Bozeman, Montana amongst his crazy schedule," Martinez said, "it just says a lot about his commitment to our wounded and our servicemen in general."
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