Golfweek recently released its annual ranking of America’s 100 Best Modern Courses, as well as the magazine’s listing of the best public-access in every state, and 35 Nicklaus Design courses were recognized. Golfweek’s staff, in conjunction with 725 course raters from all 50 states, based ratings on 10 criteria, which take into account such issues as course routing, playing strategy and memorability.
Seven Nicklaus Design courses were ranked in Golfweek’s list of the 100 Best Modern Courses (opened 1960 and later). Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, NY, which opened in 2006 and is home to the 2013 US Women’s Open, came in at No. 8. Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, and home to the Memorial Tournament and the 2013 Presidents Cup, came in at No. 12. The other Nicklaus courses to make the Top 100 were: No. 36 Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colo.; No. 46 Mayacama Golf Club in Santa Rosa, Calif.; No. 71 The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.; No. 90 Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.; and No. 98 Shoal Creek Country Club in Birmingham, Ala.
Of the 28 Nicklaus Design public-access courses ranked in the state-by-state list, three courses ranked first and 11 others ranked within the top-five of their respective state. The courses that took top honors were: Cougar Canyon Golf Links (Colorado); Bayside Resort (Delaware); and The Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain (Tennessee).
The Achasta Golf Club course in Dahlonega, Ga., the Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort in Cumberland, Md., and the Timber Banks Golf Club in Baldwinsville, NY, made their way into the best state-by-state ranking for the first time this year.
Best State-by-State Courses
Arizona
2. Ritz-Carlton GC at Dove Mountain (Saguaro/Tortolita), Marana
4. Superstition Mountain GC (Prospector), Superstition Mountain
9. Superstition Mountain GC (Lost Gold), Superstition Mountain
20. La Palmoa GC (Ridge/Canyon), Tucson
Colorado
1. Cougar Canyon GL, Trinidad
Delaware
1. Bayside Resort GC, Fenwick Island
Florida
5. PGA National Resort & Spa (Champion), Palm Beach Gardens
8. Ocean Course at Hammock Beach, Palm Coast
20. Grand Cypress (New), Orlando
24. Grand Cypress (North/South), Orlando
Georgia
3. Reynolds Plantation (Great Waters), Greensboro
11. Achasta, Dahlonega
Hawaii
4. Challenge at Manele Bay, Lanai
5. Hualalai GC, Kona
6. Kauai Lagoos GC, Kauai
Maryland
6. Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort, Cumberland
Massachusetts
10. Pinehills (Nicklaus), Plymouth
Mississippi
2. Grand Bear, Saucier
Montana
2. Old Works, Anaconda
Nevada
4. Coyote Springs (Chase), Coyote Springs
10. Bear’s best, Las Vegas
New York
15. Timber Banks GC, Baldwinsville
Oregon
6. Pronghorn (Nicklaus), Bend
South Carolina
2. Harbour Town GL, Hilton Head Island
4. May River Course at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton
Tennessee
1. Bear Trace (Cumberland Mountain), Crossville
Virginia
8. Bay Creek GC (Nicklaus), Cape Charles
Wisconsin
6. The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, Sheboygan Falls
Best Modern Courses
8. Sebonack Golf Club, Southhampton, N.Y.
2006, Tom Doak and Jack Nicklaus
12. Murfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, OH
1974, Jack Nicklaus
36. Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Rock, CO
1981, Jack Nicklaus
46. Mayacama Golf Club, Santa Rosa, CA
2001, Jack Nicklaus
71. The Concession Golf Club, Bradenton, FL
2006, Jack Nicklaus, Tony Jacklin
90. Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, KY
1986, Jack Nicklaus
98. Shoal Creek Country Club, Birmingham, AL
1976, Jack Nicklaus
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