Justice for the U.S. Open Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino have all been recruited to collaborate on a new course design in West Virginia owned by Jim Justice—who also owns The Greenbrier— which Justice hopes will one day host the U.S. Open
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ometimes the best things in life happen when someone stands up and refuses to accept ‘No’ for an answer. “No” is what Jack Nicklaus first said to Jim Justice when the owner of The Greenbrier told Nicklaus he wanted the ‘Golden Bear’ to collaborate with Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino to design a golf course of such undeniable quality and striking beauty that the USGA could not resist sending the U.S. Open there, and thereby to West Virginia for the first time. “There is no way it can be done,” said Nicklaus, a man who has forged a career out of going about his business in his own inimitable way. He is also the man who designed The Greenbrier’s championship course which staged the 1979 Ryder Cup. So Justice directed his pitch to Palmer, Player and Trevino. He was clearly more convincing the second, third and fourth times around, and with everyone else on board, Nicklaus was persuaded to join ranks. “Why not have the U.S. Open in West Virginia?” demands Justice, who is also trying to utilize his
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persuasiveness in running to become state governor. “How could the USGA turn their back on these four icons and their golf course? We can do these things in West Virginia.” Coal-mining baron Justice bought The Greenbrier out of bankruptcy in 2009, gave the 10,000-acre property a comprehensive facelift, built an underground casino and has plans for ski slopes. The expansive resort already boasts five distinct golf courses too, including The Old White TPC, which stages The Greenbrier Classic on the PGA TOUR. “Collaborations work better than one might think,” Palmer tells Kingdom. “We have different styles [but] there is respect for other opinions and it will be very co-operative. It’s a very enjoyable process and I’m looking forward to what will be an enduring and memorable contribution to golf. Jim wants the course to be a U.S. Open venue by 2023 and that’s our goal too.” Ground on the new golf course, which is located near the existing Greenbrier property in the Allegheny Mountains, is scheduled to be broken this summer, with course opening planned for Fall 2016.