Imagine meeting golfing legend Jack Nicklaus on the Wolfe Island ferry. Now that would be the ultimate definition of doing a ‘double-take’. In the 1960’s Nicklaus joined his uncle, Dr. Frank Nicklaus, on several duck hunting trips to Wolfe Island, near Kingston ON. Frank was a well-known dentist from the Finger Lakes region of west-central New York, the long-serving Mayor of the small town of Bath, NY (near Elmira), and later President of the American Dental Association. Dr. Nicklaus organized these excursions to Wolfe Island each year, often with his more famous nephew tagging along. They would enjoy a few days of duck hunting at Mud Island camp – off Wolfe Island.

‘Mud Island’ was a private camp catering primarily to Americans and located on Bayfield Island – a 40-acre island off the south shore of Wolfe Island – facing Carleton Island and the U.S. side of the river. The late Harold MacLaren owned the Mud Island Camp. With help from a local guide, Vern MacDonald, they hosted and organized hunts every fall in what was thought to be one of the best areas in Canada for duck hunting.

Longtime islander, Scott MacLaren, ran the Mud Island camp for over 20 years and is the grandson of Harold MacLaren. Scott remembers his grandfather’s stories about Nicklaus. “My grandfather Harold said when Nicklaus first arrived he had never fired a shotgun. Harold took him out behind the barn to practice shooting some clay birds. He missed the first few, and then after that he turned those clay birds into dust. Nicklaus was a natural.”

Nicklaus made several trips to Mud Island in the 1960s; however, one year, he had a friend flying up to Canada from the U.S. to join the hunt – piloting his own private plane, his friend crashed and perished. Nicklaus never returned after the tragic loss.

In the early 1980’s, Nicklaus was competing in the popular ‘Skins Game’ on NBC television – the PGA’s biggest stars playing for big prize money in a made-for-TV show. Nicklaus was playing against Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. NBC had the golfers mic’d up on the course and Vin Scully interviewed them between holes – asking what they enjoyed doing outside of golf. “I wasn’t watching,” MacLaren said, “but next thing I know, my phone is ringing off the hook. Nicklaus said during the Skins Game, he used to love to come to Canada to a place called Wolfe Island and go duck hunting every year.”

In 1962, Max Jackson, the iconic Kingston sportscaster at CKWS TV & Radio, got word that Nicklaus would be on the Wolfe Island ferry heading home. Max with his tape recorder in tow – was joined on the ferry by CKWS photographer Peter Owen. In recounting the story, Max told me years later when he first approached Nicklaus – he was startled when Nicklaus said, “Max, I knew you would track me down.” Nicklaus apparently had seen Max on TV during his stay.

Maurie Jackson, Max’s son, who at one time also worked with his father at CKWS-TV, recalls when Max retired to Florida following his long career at CKWS, “Dad had the photo of him interviewing Nicklaus proudly displayed in his home, a great memory from his broadcasting career.” Max, an avid golfer himself, always regarded his interview with a young Nicklaus as one of the great highlights of his career.

In 1962, the 22-year-old Nicklaus had defeated Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open held at Oakmont, PA. Nicklaus was a PGA Tour rookie and his first major win landed him a cheque for $17,500. He would go on to win a record 18 majors during his illustrious career.

Whig Standard sports editor Doug McConnell also interviewed Nicklaus on the same ferry ride, while he was sitting in his uncle’s Cadillac. “I guess I am not much of a duck hunter,” he told McConnell. “I only bagged one duck in two days of hunting.”

Asked what were his ambitions for the next PGA Tour season, Nicklaus said, “work towards winning the Grand Slam – and next time bag a few more ducks.”

Mark Potter is a longtime Kingston broadcaster & honoured member of the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame

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