It had been mentioned work was still needed in raising money to pay for renovations to Percy Warner Golf Course before CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz, a Nashville resident and golf enthusiast, stepped to the podium Thursday at a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Nantz, in tears, talked about his love for the game as a whole and more specifically how special the $2.5 million project to the Metro Parks golf course was to him. Then as he wrapped up Nantz announced he would take care of the balance needed to finish the work and pledged $100,000.
Nantz, who lives near the course, made the decision on the spot to make the pledge while sitting in the audience. Nantz had already made a donation earlier to the project, which has he been a part of since moving to Nashville two years ago.
The entire project was funded by private donors who had been invited to the reception at the par-3 course built in 1938.
“You know, we’re so close (to completing funding for the project); all of you here made an investment beyond yourself and I think we ought to close it out today,” Nantz told the group. “I’m going to commit the last $100,000 right here on the spot.”
The group clapped and cheered for Nantz after his commitment.
“Don’t applaud me anymore than you applaud yourself because you all gave,” Nantz said.
Nantz went on to say he wanted to make the donation because this is a significant week in his life. He and his sister Nancy and her husband Don, who were in attendance, marked this week a year since Nantz’s mother died.
“It’s been special to be with (Nancy and Don) … we had the greatest mom in the world,” Nantz said. “I just walked in here and heard these speeches. And I’m sitting over here with tears in my eyes and I wanted to do this in honor of my family, who lifted me on their shoulders and let a kid dream through golf to one day broadcast the game and the championships of American sports.”
Since Nantz had already made a contribution his name was on the plaque listing donors displayed next to the podium. He asked that his donation for $100,000 be added in his family’s name.
Former Nashville Mayor John Cooper had supported the renovation at Percy Warner and followed that up by announcing last month the city would fund a $2 million renovation at Shelby Golf Course, which will start in March, followed by work at Ted Rhodes.
New Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell attended Thursday’s ceremony and Nantz made a plea to him to continue to support local golf and the effort Cooper set in motion.
“Mr. Mayor please continue to seed this. This is important to this community,” Nantz said. “This helps develop a community from this generation to the next generation for how things are done right and just and giving back and helping others and that’s what golf is all about.”
Nantz also vowed to be involved in the Ted Rhodes renovation.
In May during the broadcast of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, Nantz mentioned the Percy Warner project.
“I was supposed to be reading this pre-approved copy about the PGA of America, which governs over the PGA Championship,” Nantz said. “And somehow I spun off from there and talked about the magic of golf and the good things it can do and I said, ‘I”ve seen it firsthand down in Nashville, Tennessee with what they’re doing with Percy Warner and (golf course architect) Bruce Hepner coming in and that’s what the game’s about.’”
Some of the improvements at Percy Warner included a new irrigation system, combing the summer and winter greens and clearing out some of the forestry on the course. The course won’t officially reopen until June. Nantz will hit the first tee shot of the No. 1 hole when it does.
“Jim Nantz is just an icon of our game and for a guy that is not on the PGA Tour to achieve that type of status speaks to his impact on the game,” said Tennessee Golf Foundation president Whit Turnbow. “You just felt it right there. His donation was on a whim. Nobody knew that was coming. Jim Nantz just gets it. He understands why the game is good.”