Nicklaus Connect, built like a social network, to be unveiled at next week's PGA Show

For all his amazing accomplishments playing the game, it's possible to overlook the impact Jack Nicklaus has on golf facilities around the world as a golf course designer. Now the Nicklaus Companies is using this month's PGA Merchandise Show to launch a new communications initiative to bring facility employees closer together - no matter how far apart they are.

Jack Nicklaus has always approached the business of golf course design with a passion and thinks of every Nicklaus Design course as part of his extended family. In following that philosophy, the Nicklaus Companies embarked on an initiative in 2010 to reach out to all Nicklaus Design courses around the world, and whenever possible, offer assistance to the operators of the golf club.

To ease the communication and foster the interaction between Nicklaus and each golf club, Nicklaus Companies developed the idea to apply the concept of social media to the building of an online community where staff at each Nicklaus Design course can make connections to staff at other Nicklaus Design courses, and thus expand their professional network.

Using a proprietary social media platform, the Nicklaus Companies is launching what's called Nicklaus Connect. Membership in the community will initially be leaders at Nicklaus Design courses - such as directors of golf, PGA professionals, general managers and superintendents. These invited members of the private online Nicklaus Connect community will be able to communicate directly with each other to share best practices, ask and answer questions, and network with their counterparts at the hundreds of Nicklaus Design courses around the world.

The platform will also host exclusive travel offers available only to the Nicklaus Connect community from NicklausTravel.com. The definitive guide to Jack Nicklaus Signature and Nicklaus Design courses, Nicklaus Travel provides course and destination guides, golf packages, and real-time reservations at select hotels and resorts across the globe.

This innovative idea was featured in this month's PGA Magazine and its PGA Show preview for Nicklaus Connect's unique way of connecting clubs worldwide.

Nicklaus Connect has been in beta testing for several weeks, and the formal rollout will be in Orlando at next week's PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 27-29. Show attendees can see a demo of the service at the PGA Magazine booth. Staff members of Nicklaus Design courses and Nicklaus partners can stop by the booth between 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27, or 10:00 a.m.-noon on Friday, Jan. 28, for exclusive demonstrations.