With soft economy at home, Nicklaus works designs in faraway lands

NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Jack Nicklaus' design company has more than 340 courses in play around the world. But the work has slowed to a crawl because of the global economic downturn.

"It's not very good," he said recently about the climate for new layouts.

Nicklaus designed the 18 holes at Punta Espada, home of the Cap Cana stop on the Champions Tour. But after putting in nine holes at the Las Iguanas course at the same exclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, the decision was made to wait a year to finish it, largely because of the downturn. Nicklaus is opening the first Golden Bear Lodge & Spa at Cap Cana.

Apparently the market for signature courses isn't bad everywhere.

"Our business primarily has been China, Korea, Russia, South Africa -- all those places have continued to move forward," Nicklaus said. "Most other places and the United States, it's been very, very slow. I think we'll see a turn in the next six months or so."

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