ST ANDREWS Community Council will not reconsider its decision to reject a proposal to honour US golfing legend Jack Nicklaus when he plays in his final Open Championship in the town this summer.

This was made clear in a letter from community council chairman Donald Macgregor to the three-times winner.

Mr Macgregor said yesterday he had issued an unreserved apology to Mr Nicklaus over its handling of the issue, which he admits has caused him and other members “great embarrassment.”

He has said, however, he will not bow to the mounting pressure to reconsider the decision, a move—in his opinion—unlikely to lead to an acceptable outcome, but instead let the issue rest.

Jack Nicklaus was, coincidentally, in St Andrews yesterday at a corporate event but he declined to comment.

Mr Macgregor took the decision to write to Mr Nicklaus to defuse the row and increasing criticism of the organisation over the results of its secret ballot when members decided against honouring the golfer. It had now become clear the proposal to confer on him the title of honorary citizen of the royal burgh should have been conducted in private.

Mr Macgregor added, “Privacy of discussion is obviously essential for any organisation making honorary awards and we, struggling under a workload that is unusually heavy at present, were clearly remiss in failing to take measures to ensure that privacy.

“Much though I might wish to atone for the effect of the council’s procedural mistake in this embarrassing episode, I do not see anything can now sensibly be done other than let the matter pass into history.

“I also regret if any embarrassment to Mr Nicklaus is being augmented by those politicians who wish to make capital of the matter.

“One positive outcome of this business has been that some members of the public have felt moved to retell in detail the exemplary manner and the sportsmanship with which he has conducted himself over the years. I very much hope that this episode will not detract from his visit to St Andrews in July.”

Mr Macgregor added that, at the 1990 Open in St Andrews, the community council had honoured Jack Nicklaus at a private ceremony in a hotel with the presentation of its coat of arms and a matriculation certificate.

Mr Macgregor added, “I would stress that there is no diminution in our regard for what he has done for the game of golf.

“It is my sincere wish that it will now be possible to draw a line under the embarrassing episode, which was well intentioned but, in hindsight, mishandled.

“I am sorry that the issue has upset so many people in St Andrews. However, I do not personally believe that attempting to reopen the matter is likely to lead to a satisfactory outcome for anyone.”

Twice a winner of the Open at St Andrews, in 1970 and 1978, the Golden Bear is the only the third man in history to notch up consecutive victories in the town.

Nicklaus was made an honorary member of St Andrews Golf Club in 1978, awarded an honorary doctorate from the university in 1984 and invited to become one of the few honorary members of Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1990 to mark his contribution to the sport.

He is regarded as the greatest golfer of his generation and, in terms of victories in major championships—18 in all and 20 if his successes in the US Amateur are included—his record is unsurpassed.

Nicklaus was in St Andrews yesterday as the guest of the R&A for a Royal Bank of Scotland patrons day but a spokesman said he would not comment on the issue.

He led a golf clinic before playing over the Old Course with some of the corporate day’s guests, allowing him a preview of some of the new tees that will be in operation for the Open.

Interviewed on his arrival in the UK earlier this week he again acknowledged the special place St Andrews has in the game—and in his heart—and he confessed he is likely to get “pretty emotional” at his final appearance in July.

The community council decision has come in for strong criticism from many quarters, including Ted Brocklebank MSP, who urged members to reconsider.

In 2000 the community council created two honours—honoured citizen of the royal burgh of St Andrews, for those who are residents and honorary citizen for non-residents—following a proposal by Mr McCartney.

The title of honorary citizen has never been bestowed although two people have received the other accolade.