Fans of Jack Nicklaus will have to wait a little longer to obtain tickets for the golfing legend’s Sept. 19 lecture at Sandhills Community College.

Those who want to attend the event are understandably curious to know when and where tickets may be obtained, but organizers say that the locations for the public to obtain tickets have not yet been determined.

Nicklaus is scheduled to speak at Owens Auditorium as part of the Ruth Pauley Lecture Series at Sandhills, where he will share the stage with Jaime Diaz, senior writer for Golf Digest magazine. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Pauley committee chairwoman Sandra Wright said that information on obtaining tickets to the free event will be forthcoming late this summer.

“The Ruth Pauley Lecture Series committee handling the publicity and logistics for Jack Nicklaus has not yet finalized these (ticket) arrangements and will continue to meet through the summer,” Wright said. “I expect they will be in a position to announce the details as to where and when tickets will be available sometime in late August or early September. As soon as we know, you’ll know.”

Organizers say that locations that are likely to receive tickets for distribution include The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, Given Memorial Library in Pinehurst, and at least one other location in the area.

Angie Tally of The Country Bookshop said the bookstore will distribute the tickets “if they are made available.”

“We have heard absolutely nothing as of yet,” Talley said. “All we know is that we will probably receive tickets at some point for distribution, but when that will be I don’t know.

“I would suggest that everyone just relax and wait. We will be glad to share that information as soon as we hear something from the lecture series organizers.” 

While Nicklaus’ appearance in Pinehurst as a speaker may be unique, the golfing legend is no stranger to the area. The National Golf Club of Pinehurst is the home of the Sandhills’ only Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, personally designed by Nicklaus.

Excitement at Nicklaus’ appearance is already running high based on the phone calls and emails received at the Pilot from fans in search of tickets.

“(I) was thrilled to see that Jack will be at the SCC Ruth Pauley lecture series on Sept. 19th,” said Pam Wase, of Pinebluff. “I would like to be there with my husband, who is a huge Nicklaus fan.”

Golfing fan Tom Brown emailed his request to the Pilot.

“How do I get tickets to the Jack Nicklaus lecture?” he asked. “My wife and I are fans of Jack and would love to see and hear him speak.”

Considered one of the greatest golfers of all time, Nicklaus won 73 PGA Tour events, including 18 major championships, in his 25-year career. He won the North and South Amateur Tournament in Pinehurst in 1959.

He was invited to the event by a personal friend, the Rev. Dr. William E. Smith, of Southern Pines. Smith has known Nicklaus since 1965, when Smith became senior pastor of North Broadway United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio.

Contact John Lentz at (910) 693-2479 or jlentz@thepilot.com.