Jack Nicklaus is generally considered the greatest golfer of all-time because no player has come anywhere near his performance in the major championships, but what really separated Jack was his consistency. When Jack shifted his focus to include golf course architecture in the late 60’s, the consistent excellence that personified Nicklaus on the PGA Tour soon became apparent in his course designs—beginning when he collaborated with Pete Dye to create Harbour Town Golf Links in 1970. In 1976 Jack designed Shoal Creek, which shortly thereafter hosted the 1984 PGA Championship, won by Lee Trevino.
While Pete Dye and Tom Fazio receive much of the acclaim for modern golf course architecture, Nicklaus designs often fly under the radar—but rest assured that when Jack puts his name on a course, it is virtually guaranteed to be a first-class venue requiring thought and precision.
Everyone is familiar with Muirfield Village and The Memorial, Jack’s masterpiece and legacy, but keep in mind as well that 86 of the roughly 200 courses in the U.S. with Nicklaus original design or renovation are open to public play, and 53 of them received a GolfDay Rating of 90 or higher (Jack Nicklaus Public Courses).
7 of Jack’s designs are among the Golf Digest Top 100 Public Courses in the US, and 14 are included in the Golf Digest’s Top 200 courses. Top public courses with Nicklaus design can be found just about everywhere in the country, from Hawaii to the East Coast.
Our Top 40 public venues featuring Jack Nicklaus design include 22 states, with South Carolina and California at the top with 4 each, followed by Michigan, Georgia, Ohio, and Virginia—each with 3.
If you are looking for great public golf, or planning a vacation, the GolfDay Search Engine makes it easy to find the best courses and a better bang for your buck.
1. Pinehurst Resort/Pinehurst, NC
- Holes: 180 (10 Eighteen Hole Courses_
- Course Architects: Donald Ross/Walter Travis/Richard Tufts/Tom Fazio/Tom Marzolf/Ellis Maples/George Fazio/Rees Jones/Jack Nicklaus/Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw/Tom Doak
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
1: 69.1/124
2: 77.9/149
3 66.1/123
4: 74.9/138
5: 73.1/135
6. 74.5/140
7. 75.6/142
8. 73.9/139
9. 74.8/139
10. 74.1/142
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range and Multiple Chipping Greens with Bunkers, Thistle Dhu Putting Course.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
2. Kiawah Island Golf Resort/Kiawah Island, SC
- Holes: 90 5 Eighteen Hole Courses: Ocean/Cougar Point/Oak Point/Osprey Point/Turtle Point
- Course Architects: Pete Dye/Alice Dye/Gary Player/Clyde Johnston/Tom Fazio/Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Ocean: 79.1/155
Cougar Point: 72.7/134
Oak Point: 72.1/137
Osprey Point: 73.6/140
Turtle Point: 73.0/134
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Ranges with Targets, Chipping and Putting Greens at each course. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
3. Reynolds Lake Oconee/Greensboro, GA
Ritz-Carton-Reynolds Lake Oconee
- Holes: 99 (4 Eighteen Hole Courses (Great Waters/Oconee/Landing/Preserve) and Twenty-seven Hole Course (National)
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Tom Fazio/Rees Jones/Bob Cupp/Fuzzy Zoeller/Hubert Green
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Great Waters: 76.1/147
National-Bluff: 37.0/143
National-Cove: 37.4/143
National-Ridge: 37.2/143
Oconee: 75.2/141
Landing: 74.6/140
Preserve: 72.2/133
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and TaylorMade Kingdom of Golf Academy.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
4. The Sea Pines Resort/Hilton Head Island, SC
- Holes: 54 (3 Eighteen Hole Courses: Harbour Town Links/Heron Point/Atlantic Dunes)
- Course Architects: Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus/George Cobb/Clyde Johnston/Davis Love III/Scot Sherman
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Harbour Town Links 79.5/152
Heron Point 74.8/140
Atlantic Dunes 74.3/143
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Ranges with Targets (2-Harbour Town and Heron Point/Ocean), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls and Fore Caddie (Harbour Town) included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
5. PGA West/Hilton Head Island, SC
Hilton Honors.La Quinta Resort & Club
- Holes: 108 (Six Eighteen Hole Courses: Palmer (Private)/Norman (Resort)/Nicklaus (Private)/Nicklaus (Resort)/Weiskopf(Private)/TPC Stadium (Resort)
- Course Architects: Arnold Palmer/Greg Norman/Matthew Dusenberry/Tad Burnett/Jack Nicklaus/Tom Weiskopf/Pete Dye
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Palmer 73.9/141
Norman 74.6/136
Nicklaus Private 74.3/146
Nicklaus Resort 75.3/130
Weiskopf 74.2/130
TPC Stadium 75.8/148
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers and Golf Academy.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
6. Pronghorn/Bend, OR
Juniper Preserve
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Nicklaus/Fazio)
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Nicklaus: 75.0/148
Fazio: 74.8./141
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 100
- Location
7. The Bull at Pinehurst Farms/Sheboygan Falls, WI
Wisconsin Golf Trail
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.3/143
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Junior “Kid Bull” Short course.
- Wisconsin Golf Trail
- GolfDay Rating: 99.9
- Location
8. Pinehills Golf Club/Plymouth, MA
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Jones/Nicklaus)
- Course Architects: Rees Jones/Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Jones: 75.3/137
Nicklaus: 75.2/135
- Practice Facilities: Double Sided Driving Range with Targets (Grass/Friday-Sunday, Mats/Monday-Thursday), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Titleist NXT Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 98.7
- Location
9. Old Greenwood Golf Club/Truckee, CA
Tahoe Mountain Club
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.5/144
- Practice Facilities: Extensive 5 Acre Facility including Two Tiered Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens and Keith Lyford Golf Academy. Titleist Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 98.3
- Location
10. Old Works Golf Club/Truckee, CA
CourseCo Golf Management
- Holes: 21
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.4/153
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and 3 Hole “Little Bear” Practice Course. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 98.1
- Location
11. Coyote Springs Golf Club/Coyote Springs, NV
RedHawk Golf and Resort/Troon Golf
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.8/149
- Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 97.5
- Location
12. Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club/Pawleys, Island, SC
RedHawk Golf and Resort/Troon Golf
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Rick Jacobson/Troy Vincent
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.2/150
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- Hammock Coast Golf Trail
- GolfDay Rating: 97.3
- Location
13. Harbor Shores Golf Course/Benton Harbor, MI
Harbor Shores Resort
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.6/146
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 96.7
- Location
14. The Idaho Club/Sandpoint, ID
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.2/149
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 95.7
- Location
15. Old Corkscrew Golf Club/Estero, FL
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.6/151
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 95.7
- Location
16. Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point/Bronx, NY
City of New York/Bally’s Corporation
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.1/141
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Michael Breed Golf Academy. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 94.9
- Location
17. May River Golf Club/Bluffton, SC
Montage-Palmetto Bluff
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.8/141
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range with Target Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (6). ProV1 Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 94.5
- Location
18. Grand Bear Golf Course/Saucier, MS
Harrah’s Gulf Coast/VICI Golf Properties
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.0/142
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Green.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 94.5
- Location
19. The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge/Saucier, MS
Troon Golf
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.9/145
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Green.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 94.5
- Location
20. Williamsburg National Golf Club/Williamsburg, VA
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Yorktown/Jamestown)
- Course Architects: Tom Clark/Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Yorktown: 73.5/133
Jamestown: 73.5/138
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 93.9
- Location
21. Manele Golf Course/Lanai City, HI
Four Seasons/Lanai
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.0/134
- Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Diving Range with Targets, Wedge Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. ProV1 Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 93.8
- Location
22. Hualalai Resort/Kailua Kona, HI
Four Seasons
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Nicklaus/Ke’olu)
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Tom Weiskopf/Phil Smith
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Nicklaus: 74.1/129
Ke’olu: 74.9/133
- Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (unlimited ProV1 Balls and complementary TaylorMade clubs provided).
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 93.8
- Location
23. Bay Creek Club & Resort/Cape Charles, VA
- Holes: 36 (3 Nine Hole Courses (Palmer-Front/Palmer-Back/Nicklaus)
- Course Architects: Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay/Victoria Martz/Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Palmer-Front: 37.6/141
Palmer-Back: 37.2/144
Nicklaus: 38.0/146
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 93.3
- Location
24. Great Bear Golf Club/East Stroudsburg, PA
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.3/142
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 93.3
- Location
25. Salem Glen Country Club/Clemmons, NC
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Glen Day
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.1/139
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 93.2
- Location
26. Breckenridge Golf Club/Breckenridge, CO
Town of Breckenridge
- Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Courses: Beaver/Bear/Elk)
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Beaver: 36.9/155
Bear: 37.0/147
Elk: 36.3/145
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 93.1
- Location
27. The Golf Club at Doe Mountain/Marana, AZ
Ritz-Carlton/Escalante Golf
- Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Courses: Saguaro/Tortolita/Wild Burro)
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Seguaro: 37.2/151
Tortolita: 37.0/144
Wild Burro: 37.0/143
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 92.8
- Location
28. Potomac Shores Golf Club/Potomac Shores, VA
Troon Golf
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.5/145
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Putting Green. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 92.6
- Location
29. Achasta Golf Course/Dahlonega, GA
Troon Golf
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.2/141
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 92.4
- Location
30. La Paloma Country Club/Tucson, AZ
The Weston/Troon Golf
- Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Courses)
- Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Canyon: 36.8/149
Ridge: 36.1/151
Hill: 35.9/144
- Practice Facilities: Covered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker (2). Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 92.1
- Location
31. Grand Traverse Resort & Spa/Acme, MI
- Holes: 54 (3 Eighteen Hole Courses: The Bear/Spruce Run/The Wolverine)
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
The Bear: 76.1/150
Spruce Run: 71.2/136
Wolverine: 74.5/140
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 91.9
- Location
32. Reunion Resort & Golf Club/Kissimmee, FL
- Holes: 54 (3 Eighteen Hole Courses: Nicklaus/Watson/Palmer)
- Course Architects: Arnold Palmer/Tom Watson/Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Nicklaus: 74.8/140
Watson: 75.0/136
Palmer: 73.6/141
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Golf Academy.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 91.9
- Location
33. Valley of the Eagles/Elyria, OH
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.7/133
- Practice Facilities: Putting and Chipping Green, Indoor Golf Simulators (2).
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 91.6
- Location
34. Escena Golf Club/Palm Springs, CA
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.4/133
- Practice Facilities: Warm Up Nets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 91.5
- Location
35. Coyote Creek Golf Club/Morgan Hill, CA
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Tournament/Valley)
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating
Tournament: 74.2/138
Valley: 74.0/132
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- GolfDay Rating: 91.5
- Location
36. Bear’s Best-Atlanta/Suwanee, GA
Invited Club Management
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.6/144
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Expansive Putting and Chipping Greens.
- Course Description
- Layout
- GolfDay Rating: 91.0
- Location
37. The Reserve at Moonlight Basin/Big Sky, MT
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 78.5/153
- Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Multiple Bunkers.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 90.9
- Location
38. Aston Oaks Golf Club/North Bend, OH
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.3/135
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Photos
- GolfDay Rating: 90.8
- Location
39. Bayside Resort Golf Club/Selbyville, IL
Troon Golf
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Rick Jacobson
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.0/149
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Golf Academy
- GolfDay Rating: 90.6
- Location
40. American Dunes Golf Club/Grand Haven, MI
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:75.4/148
- Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 90.6
- Location
The GolfDay rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews. The resort rating also includes a factor for the variety of courses located at the property as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.
