UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State's Scarlet Course, for years listed among the top few collegiate golf layouts in the country, has slipped a few notches in recent years.
While the university was sinking hundreds of millions of dollars into updating its football, basketball, track and swimming facilities, the six-time host of the NCAA Championships was bypassed by new courses and updated ones.
That slide from the national spotlight is over, thanks to Jack Nicklaus' $4.2 million facelift of the layout, originally designed by the legendary Alister MacKenzie, who designed Augusta National where the Masters is played. Ohio State's course opened in 1938.
"Our objective was to accomplish what Ohio State asked of us, which was try to give the Scarlet course an Alister MacKenzie flair. I think it turned out beautiful," Nicklaus said.
Nicklaus design fee? One dollar. It was his way of giving back to the course that had meant so much to him and his incredible career.
"It might be difficult to find a better collegiate golf course in the country," Nicklaus said.
The renovation was originally supposed to cost $2.8 million, but Nicklaus felt more work was needed. He resurfaced all the greens, changed the par-5 14th to a par 4, completely changed a handful of other holes and added mammoth, ball-swallowing bunkers all over the layout. He also expanded the driving range and short-game areas.
The dramatic makeover was underwritten by a $10 million golf endowment from Al and Martha Phipps, Ohio State graduates from Canton.
To maintain the course, Ohio State has raised guest and membership fees to match those of an elite country club. Alumni will pay $70 for a round, not counting the cart fee. Students who used to walk 18 holes for $18 now must ante up $30.
"At some point in time the course has to pay for itself and be able to maintain itself," said Athletic Director Gene Smith.
Ohio State Men's Golf Coach Jim Brown believes the Scarlet Course will resume its former spot as the No. 1 college golf course in the land according to golf publications.
"I'd be disappointed if they didn't rate it that," he said.
Nicklaus built nine new tees and added nearly 200 yards to the course to bring it to 7,444 yards from the tips. He also pinched fairways and extended the bunkers so that long hitters cannot just fly them off the tee.
PGA Tour player Joey Sindelar, another former Buckeye golfer, said the Scarlet has grown teeth.
"The new Scarlet is a new animal," Sindelar said.
The first test of the new course is this week, when the women's NCAA golf championships come to the Scarlet -- the 10th time it has hosted a men's or women's collegiate title.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
