'Golden Bear' swings by with his eagle eye

Jack Nicklaus inspects progress at the Nicklaus Signature course near Lake Taupo

American golfing legend Jack Nicklaus made a flying visit to Taupo yesterday to inspect a golf course he has designed at the Kinloch Golf Resort.

The man dubbed the "Golden Bear" arrived by private Lear jet and stopped for only the day to inspect and sign off on the progress of New Zealand's first Nicklaus Signature course, started in 2004 and six to nine months from completion.

Nicklaus, aged 66, who won 18 major titles and 70 tournaments, left for Queenstown in the afternoon to indulge his other passion, trout fishing.