The Golden Bear is entering his golden years

That’s right—Jack Nicklaus turns 79 on January 21. It’s been 33 years since he won his last major. That’s not to say Jack isn’t prevalent. Following the death of Arnold Palmer, Nicklaus has become golf’s elder statesman, occasionally weighing in on issues of importance to the game’s greatest champion.

Of course, Jack’s connection to the sport is ever-present. The clothing line that bears his name can be found in Golf Town, and his golf design firm is still active and successful, with some of the top courses in Canada.

With that in mind, here’s Golf Town’s Top 10 Golden Bear moments:

1. 1959 U.S. Amateur

The first of Nicklaus’ U.S. Am wins cemented him as something truly special. Within a year he almost beats Arnold Palmer for the U.S. Open.

2. 1962 U.S. Open

His breakthrough, the win that convinced the world the big kid from Ohio was the real deal.

3. 1963 Masters

He’d already demonstrated he could win the hardest golf championship, and now he recorded a win at the most notable event—the Masters. It was a tournament he’d dominate like few others. He’d win there three times in four years started in 1963.

4. 1969 Ryder Cup

Nicklaus concedes the final putt to Tony Jacklin, guaranteeing a tie in the Ryder Cup, and making the Golden Bear a beacon of good sportsmanship for the rest of his life.

5. 1977 British Open

While he didn’t win—that went to Tom Watson—the “Dual in the Sun” at Turnberry in Scotland remains one of Nicklaus’ most notable championships.

6. 1980 U.S. Open

At 40, and with his career in apparent decline, Nicklaus wins at Baltusrol, and later wins his fifth PGA Championship.

7. The Memorial

Now one of the most venerated championships in golf, The Memorial was Jack’s tribute to Ohio and is played on a course he built and tinkered with. He won the tournament in 1977, its second year on tour.

8. 1961 U.S. Amateur

Though Nicklaus had narrowly missed winning major championships as an amateur, this win would be his swansong from the amateur ranks, before he became the greatest professional golfer in the history of the sport.

9. 1975 Masters

Jack always beat the best, as witnessed by this victory over Tom Weiskopf and Johnny Miller. “Jack knew he was going to beat you,” Weiskopf said. “You knew Jack was going to beat you. And Jack knew that you knew that he was going to beat you.”

10. 1986 Win at the Masters

It doesn’t even matter if you were alive when Jack won his last major—the replays of his iconic Sunday round are emblazoned on our consciousness.