36 Nicklaus Design courses recognized in “Best Public Courses” in US ranking

Thirty-six Nicklaus Design courses spread across 22 states were ranked in Golf Magazine’s new list of Best Public Courses by State, published in July 2012. Two courses were given the top spot in their respective states: Ross Creek Landing in Clifton, Tenn., and The Greenbrier Course at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Twelve of the 36 Nicklaus Design courses to be recognized were in the top five, and nine others were ranked within the top 10 for their state. Overall, almost half of the public Nicklaus Design courses in the U.S. placed.

Nicklaus Design is widely regarded as the world’s leading golf course design firm. With courses in 39 states and 36 countries, Nicklaus Design has been a leader in golf course architecture since Jack Nicklaus designed his first golf course in 1969 alongside Pete Dye (Harbour Town, in Hilton Head, S.C., which ranked second-in-state). Each of the 371 Nicklaus Design courses around the world is classified as daily fee, resort, semi-private, or private. Only 78 of the courses in the United States were eligible for the rankings.

Golf Magazine released the “Best Courses by State” list as part of its biennial “Top 100 Courses You Can Play”. Below is a full list of Nicklaus Design courses that ranked in the list.

Arizona
12. Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain (Saguaro/Tortolita), Marana
23. La Paloma (Ridge/Canyon), Tucson
28. G.C. at Estrella, Goodyear

California
19. Old Greenwood, Truckee

Colorado
9. Breckenridge (Beaver/Bear),Breckenridge
14. Cougar Canyon, Trinidad

Delaware
2. Bayside, Selbyville

Florida
4. Hammock Beach Resort (Ocean), Palm Coast
7. PGA National (Champion), Palm Beach Gardens
12. Grand Cypress (New), Orlando
16. Old Corkscrew, Estero
29. North Palm Beach C.C., North Palm Beach

Georgia
3. Reynolds Plantation (Great Waters), Greensboro
14. Bear’s Best Atlanta, Suwanee

Hawaii
4. The Challenge at Manele, Lana’i
6. Four Seasons Hualalai (Nicklaus), Big Island
7. Kauai Lagoons, Kauai

Maryland
9. Rocky Gap, Cumberland

Massachusetts
7. Pinehills (Nicklaus), Plymouth

Michigan
8. Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor

Mississippi
3. Grand Bear, Saucier

Montana
2. Old Works, Anaconda

New York
18. Timber Banks, Baldwinsville
20. Mansion Ridge, Mansion Ridge, Monroe

Nevada
5. Coyote Springs (Chase), Coyote Springs
11. Bear’s Best Las Vegas, Las Vegas

Oregon
5. The Club at Pronghorn (Nicklaus), Bend

Pennsylvania
14. Great Bear, East Stroudsburg

South Carolina
2. Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island
5. May River at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton
18. Daufuskie Island (Melrose), Daufuskie Island
20. Pawleys Plantation, Pawleys Island

Tennessee
1. Ross Creek Landing, Clifton

Virginia
6. Bay Creek (Nicklaus), Cape Charles

West Virginia
1. The Greenbrier (Greenbrier), White Sulphur Springs

Wisconsin
8. The Bull, Sheboygan Falls

More News

June 7, 2024

Masters Low Amateur Neal Shipley Heads to the U.S. Open as a Jack Nicklaus™ Brand Ambassador

Read More
Nicklaus Design coupled with a Tiger Woods and TGR Design

April 8, 2024

First-ever Jack Nicklaus Heritage course now under construction in Bahamas

Read More
Hyperscapes 3d model closeup

November 8, 2023

Hyperscapes Golf Club and Nicklaus Companies Select Historic Scottish Terrain as Foundation for Metaverse Golf Club

Read More