Every person, no matter how influential, always has someone they look up to or idolize. It’s no different for athletes. They too often have someone who serves as their inspiration to play the sport or someone who had a huge impact when they first began. The golf legend Jack Nicklaus too has such people in his life, and he once opened up about the respect he had for them.

Nicklaus is perhaps one of the most famous names in golf history. Many consider it impossible for other golfers to achieve as much as he has throughout their careers. The ex-golf pro is now worth $400 billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth. But he was once yelled at for a $300 bill.

Jack Nicklaus gives his younger self some advice

In a letter to his 10-year-old self, as per The Players Tribune, Nicklaus revealed one of the biggest influences in his early golf career. In May 2019, he wrote the letter, narrating the time when he was younger and his father received a huge bill in the mail from the golf club.

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“Three hundred dollars, Jack?” he recalled his father screaming. He then explained to his younger self to not worry and stand his ground. “You’ll say this to him. ‘Dad, you told me you wanted me to learn how to play golf,’” he wrote.

Nicklaus further told his younger self to not back down against his father. He said to tell him, “I don’t just want to learn the game — I want to be great at it.” 

The golf legend said that the bills would continue for a few months, and then one day they would stop, and for that, he owed thanks to Jack Grout, who would become one of the greatest influences in his life.

How did Grout change Nicklaus’ life?

The 18-time major champion wrote in his letter that his golf skills would not only go on to impress his father but also Jack Grout, his childhood golf trainer. He said that Grout would stop caring about the fees because he believed Nicklaus could be great.

“He believes in you. Because he’s a great, great man,” wrote the ex-golf pro with nothing but respect for his old trainer. He further added that his younger self would start taking private lessons from him. And that he would learn a lot more than just the sport.“His kindness, his care — it will never leave you,” Nicklaus stated in the letter.

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Do you think things would have been different if Grout had not influenced Nicklaus’ life? The golf great certainly thinks so.