Nearly 40 Years Later, Nancy Jackson is Still the Heart of the Chubb Classic

By Zoe Waltzer

NAPLES, Fla. – As the Chubb Classic closes out its 39th year and approaches year 40 next season, the tournament isn’t just celebrating longevity — it’s celebrating the people who built it year after year. And no one embodies that history quite like Nancy Jackson.

“This is my 39th year, and I just enjoy seeing all the volunteers from year to year. We just have a great time doing this. It's a great event to do.”

From the tournament’s earliest days to the polished event it is today, Nancy has been there through it all. She began her journey as a walking marshal during the inaugural year — inside the ropes, walking alongside legends of the game.

Over nearly four decades, she’s watched the tournament evolve from those early “growing pains” into one of the premier stops on the PGA TOUR Champions schedule. But while operations have grown more refined, one thing has remained constant: the sense of community among the volunteers.

Nancy’s own role has evolved alongside the event. After starting as a walking marshal, an experience she still holds close, she now serves in volunteer services.

“I am in volunteer services now where we are in charge of making sure all the volunteers get their uniforms. That way, I get to interact with all the volunteers, and every year, they'll say, ‘Oh, nice to see you.’ I like volunteer services a lot. I feel like I'm helping people.”

It’s that interaction — the familiar faces, the shared stories, the friendships built year after year — that keeps her coming back.

“Seeing all the volunteers from year to year, we've made so many friends. I look forward to it every year. I do all three tournaments [at Tiburón]. I do the CME, Grant Thornton and this one. But this one is more special because I've been with it so many years.”

As the tournament prepares to mark its 40th anniversary, Nancy is already looking ahead to what could make the milestone even more meaningful.

Beyond the celebrations, Nancy’s story is a reminder of what truly sustains a tournament for 40 years: commitment, connection and heart. From walking marshal to volunteer services leader, she has grown with the event — and helped it grow in return.

Next year’s anniversary will mark 40 years for the tournament. For Nancy Jackson, it will represent 40 years of friendships, memories and a tradition she simply “looks forward to every year.”