Jack Nicklaus respected Chi Chi Rodriguez so much as a golfer — and a humanitarian — he sent his sons, and later, a grandson, to Rodriguez for lessons.
“Chi Chi came from very humble beginnings and worked very hard to become very successful, not only as a golfer but as a person and a humanitarian,” Nicklaus, the North Palm Beach resident, told The Palm Beach Post Friday.
“Beyond his tremendous record and impact on the game of golf, Chi Chi was a great teacher of the game. I sent my boys and even a grandson to Chi Chi to learn various aspects of golf, especially the short game, and he taught them a great deal. But his focus on educating young minds transcended golf.”
Jack and Barbara Nicklaus lost a good friend Thursday when Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, one of golf’s greatest philanthropists, died at age 88.
Rodriguez was a showman and entertainer on and off the course. He was known for his signature “sword dance.” But do not let that overshadow his talent on the golf course. Known as the greatest Puerto Rican golfer of all time, Rodriquez, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, won eight times on the PGA Tour and collected 22 victories on the PGA Tour Champions.
“Chi Chi gave us a wealth of wonderful quotes,” Nicklaus said. “I always got a chuckle out of the things he would say.”
One of those was when Rodriguez called Nicklaus “a legend in his spare time.”
“Chi Chi might have called me a legend in my spare time, but I call him a legend for all time,” Nicklaus, 84, said.
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Jack, Chi Chi shared passion for helping children
Rodriguez founded the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation in Clearwater in 1979. The foundation helps at-risk youth achieve academic, social and economic success. And he once credited Nicklaus for starting the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy which opened in 1993 in Clearwater. The academy teaches academics and life skills to at-risk children.
“The credit for getting the whole project off the ground goes to Jack Nicklaus,” Rodriguez said. “Jack said we could raise a million dollars. It was called ‘Chi Chi and the Bear.’ ”
And they raised $1 million, in one day, which got the project rolling.
“His school in Clearwater and the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation have helped thousands of kids over the last 45 years,” Nicklaus said. “Chi Chi was just a wonderful all-around person, who always cared more about the health and welfare of others, especially children.”
The two shared a common passion. Jack and Barbara founded the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation in 2004. The foundation pledged $60 million to the Miami Children’s Health System in 2015 and as a result the hospital’s flagship entity was renamed the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
“Chi Chi and I played a lot of golf together, and we always had a great time,” Nicklaus said. “He and I also spent a lot of quality time together off the golf course. And we worked with kids together.
“Barbara and I were honored to work with his foundation and school on numerous occasions. Chi Chi has been a very good friend for a long time, and Barbara and I join so many who will miss him greatly.”
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and golf reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.