Determined to build a world-class golf course, Jack Nicklaus instead created something much bigger — a community. Homes were built, parks were developed, and bike paths were integrated into neighborhoods.

“Jack really set a vision and a tone for what he wanted this community to be,” Peterson said.

And not only did Nicklaus buy up huge parcels of land on which to build, he actually brought water to the area. Seriously.

“When we did Muirfield Village, the city of Columbus bypassed the city of Dublin to bring sewer and water to our project,” Nicklaus said. “Then we put sewer and water back to the City of Dublin.”

Meanwhile, the I-270 Outerbelt brought Dublin within an easy drive to Columbus. People started buying houses in Jack’s Muirfield Village, and companies started moving their headquarters there. In 2006, fast-food chain Wendy’s moved from Columbus to Dublin.

But it wasn’t just a nice suburb to move to. Dublin hit the national — and soon international — stage thanks to the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide and events such as The Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup.

“Let’s be honest — not everybody would’ve heard of Dublin, Ohio, unless the Memorial Tournament was here,” Peterson said. “That exposure that the tournament brings every year is extraordinary.”

Said Nicklaus: “Dublin was a little tiny one-horse town when we came here.” And now, he says, “Dublin is a beautiful, great place to live.”

And in August of 1987, Dublin finally shed its one-horse town label. That’s when the population exceeded 5,000 residents, allowing Dublin to officially be declared a city.