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The Golden Bear won a record 18 majors in a span of 24 years from 1962 to 1986 and when he retired at St Andrews in 2005 he had won 73 tournaments and was widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time.
He set the benchmark for Tiger Woods and his major haul remains the driving ambition of the former world No.1's career, currently stuck on 14 as he battles with leg injuries and the fallout from his failed marriage.
The relationship between the two has always been politely cordial and Woods, at 35, is never short of being full of respect for Nicklaus, but there is a different, more grandfatherly, feel in the relationship he enjoys with the new boys.
The brightest member of the rising stars, 22-year-old Rory McIlroy, spoke warmly of his encounter with Nicklaus after he blew a four-stroke lead in the final round of the Masters in April.
Asked to comment on stories that Nicklaus had jibed to him he would beat him up if he failed to live up to his huge potential, McIlroy replied: "Not really, he just said he would kick my backside, but that was about it.
"I spoke briefly with him at the Memorial (Nicklaus' home tournament) a couple weeks ago, and I feel as if I have a pretty good relationship with Jack.
"He just sort of said to me, there's going to be a lot of pressure on you, but you've got to put a lot of pressure on yourself early.
"That's what he always did. He always put a lot of pressure on himself to do well. He he didn't really threaten to beat me up, but I think I could take him now; he's a little old!"
With McIroy seemingly back on track after shooting a 65 to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the US Open, the inter-generational words of wisdom seem to have worked.
There were similar comments from 26-year-old Charl Schwartzel in April as he closed in on a stunning Masters triumph.
The South African was playing for just the second time at Augusta and he gingerly sought out Nicklaus, a six-time former winner, to give him some tips.
"He took me through every single hole the way he used to play it when he played. You can't get much better than that," Schwartzel said at the time.
"We were having lunch, We started talking about hunting and he took me through the way he played 18 holes at Augusta.
"He just told me that some flags we used to go for and just ones he never went for and some lines he used to hit it on.
"But conditions also changed those sort of things You know, 12, he said he never went outside of the bunkers. Always aim it at the bunkers and if it's long, you're never going into the bush, so that was his line.
"That was a particular hole that always sticks with me, that that is always my line."
Golf is more often than not about passing the baton down from one generation to the next, but the greatest inspiration can often skip a level as was the case with Nicklaus himself, who, as an amateur and young pro just starting out looked towards the legendary Bobby Jones.
Now it seems that the new kids on the block, still competing as they are with the likes of Woods and Phil Mickelson, are drawing strength from those, such as Nicklaus, who have long retired.
