43 Inspirational Jack Nicklaus Quotes (GOLF)

Top 10 Most Famous Jack Nicklaus Quotes (BEST)

“The worse you’re performing, the more you must work mentally and emotionally. The greatest and toughest art in golf is ‘playing badly well.’ All the true greats have been masters at it.”
Jack Nicklaus

Success depends almost entirely on how effectively you learn to manage the game's two ultimate adversaries the course and yourself. — **Success** depends almost entirely on how effectively you **learn** to manage the game’s two ultimate adversaries: the course and yourself.

Talent isn't as important as the work and dedication necessary to become competent. — **Talent** isn’t as important as the work and **dedication** necessary to become competent.

Confidence is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your natural talent, there is only one way to obtain and sustain it: work. — **Confidence** is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your natural **talent**, there is only one way to obtain and sustain it: work.

I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head. — I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-**focus** picture of it in my head.

“I don’t believe in luck. Not in golf, anyway. There are good bounces and bad bounces, sure, but the ball is round, and so is the hole. If you find yourself in a position where you hope for luck to pull you through, you’re in serious trouble.”
Jack Nicklaus

Pursue what you love, what you are passionate about. Don't let somebody else dictate your life's path. — Pursue what you love, what you are **passionate** about. Don’t let somebody else dictate your life’s path.

I'm a firm believer that in the theory that people only do their best at things they truly enjoy. It is difficult to excel at something you don't enjoy. — I’m a firm believer that in the theory that people only do their best at things they truly enjoy. It is difficult to excel at something you don’t enjoy.

Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one's level of aspiration and expectation. — Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s level of aspiration and expectation.

Resolve never to quit, never to give up, no matter what the situation.

12 Wise Jack Nicklaus Quotes on Golf

“Ask yourself how many shots you would have saved if you always developed a strategy before you hit, always played within your capabilities, never lost you temper, and never got down on yourself.”
Jack Nicklaus

It takes hundreds of good golf shots to gain confidence, but only one bad one to lose it. — It takes hundreds of good golf shots to gain **confidence**, but only one bad one to lose it.

Sometimes the biggest problem is in your head. You've got to believe you can play a shot instead of wondering where your next bad shot is coming from. — Sometimes the biggest problem is in your head. You’ve got to believe you can play a shot instead of wondering where your next bad shot is coming from.

“I’d rather be two strokes ahead going into the last day than two strokes behind. Having said that, it’s probably easier to win coming from behind. There is no fear in chasing. There is fear in being chased.”
Jack Nicklaus

A kid grows up a lot faster on the golf course. Golf teaches you how to behave.

Golf is game of respect and sportsmanship; we have to respect its traditions and its rules. — Golf is game of **respect** and sportsmanship; we have to respect its traditions and its rules.

“If I had one golf course, from a design standpoint, one that I really love, it would probably be Pinehurst. There’s a totally tree-lined golf course where trees are not a part of the strategy.”
Jack Nicklaus

Golf is not, and never has been, a fair game.

Tee your ball high… air offers less resistance than dirt.

Professional golf is the only sport where, if you win 20% of the time, you're the best. — Professional golf is the only sport where, if you win 20% of the time, you’re the best.

“I never went into a tournament or round of golf thinking I had to beat a certain player. I had to beat the golf course. If I prepared myself for a major, went in focused, and then beat the golf course, the rest took care of itself.”
Jack Nicklaus

10 Jack Nicklaus Quotes to Inspire Success

Confidence is believing in your own ability, knowing what you have to do to win. My confidence was developed through preparation. — **Confidence** is believing in your own ability, knowing what you have to do to win. My confidence was developed through **preparation**.

Pressure is what you live for… if you are going to be successful in life, you're going to have pressure. — Pressure is what you live for… if you are going to be **successful** in life, you’re going to have pressure.

Focus on remedies, not faults. — **Focus** on remedies, not faults.

There is no room in your mind for negative thoughts.

Complacency is a continuous struggle that we all have to fight. — **Complacency** is a continuous struggle that we all have to fight.

The best way to cope with trouble is to stay out of it as much as possible.

Learn the fundamentals of the game and stick to them. Band-Aid remedies never last.

The biggest rival I had in my career was me. I couldn’t control Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson or Lee Trevino. The only person I could control was me. — The biggest rival I had in my **career** was me. I couldn’t control **Arnold Palmer**, Gary Player, Tom Watson or Lee Trevino. The only person I could control was me.

Don't be too proud to take lessons. I'm not. — Don’t be too proud to take lessons. I’m not.

My ability to concentrate and work toward that goal has been my greatest asset.

6 Inspirational Jack Nicklaus Quotes About Life

“People don’t want to go to the dump and have a picnic, they want to go out to a beautiful place and enjoy their day. And so I think our job is to try to take the environment, take what the good Lord has given us, and expand upon it or enhance it, without destroying it.”
Jack Nicklaus