It’s been 40 years since Golf Digest first started ranking the best courses in each state—11 years after the debut of their national list. To kick-off 2017, the magazine included six Nicklaus Design layouts on its list of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses in January. Then in May, Golf Digest selected nine Nicklaus Design layouts among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. This month, they honor the top courses in all 50 states—including 55 Nicklaus Design courses in 31 of the 39 states where the world’s leading golf course design firm has a presence.
Nicklaus Design layouts took the No. 1 spot in six states: Alabama (Shoal Creek); Colorado (Castle Pines Golf Club); Kentucky (Valhalla); Louisiana (The Country Club of Louisiana); Ohio (Muirfield Village Golf Club); and Texas (Whispering Pines Golf Club). Additionally, there were eight states in which every Nicklaus Design course open for play was ranked.
In total, Nicklaus Design has 410 golf courses open for play in 39 U.S. states and 43 countries worldwide. No fewer than 146 Nicklaus Design courses have hosted more than 900 professional tournaments or significant amateur championships worldwide. In 2017 alone, Nicklaus Design courses will host a total of 17 sanctioned professional events.
Below is an overview of how Nicklaus Design courses fared in Golf Digest’s list of the 2017-2018 list of the Best Courses in Every State. A key to the symbols is as follows: 2015-16 ranking in parentheses; ♥ America’s 100 Greatest course; ≈ America’s Second 100 Greatest course; ^ America’s 100 Greatest Public Course; ★ Other public-access course.
Alabama – out of 10
- (1) Shoal Creek ≈
Arizona – out of 25
- (7) Desert Highlands G.C., Scottsdale ≈
- (10) Desert Mountain Club (Chiricahua), Scottsdale
- (18) Desert Mountain Club (Geronimo), Scottsdale
- (16) Desert Mountain Club (Renegade), Scottsdale
- (25) Ritz-Carlton G.C. At Dove Mountain (Saguaro/Tortolita), Marana ★
California—out of 30
- (12) Mayacama G.C., Santa Rosa ♥
- (16) Sherwood C.C., Thousand Oaks
Colorado—out of 20
- (1) Castle Pines G.C., Castle Rock ♥
- (10) Roaring Fork Club, Basalt
- (13) C.C. of the Rockies, Edwards
- (9) Aspen Glen Golf Club, Carbondale
Delaware—out of 5
- (2) Bayside Resort G.C., Selbyville ★
- (5) The Peninsula, Millsboro
Florida—out of 30
- (7) The Concession Golf Club, Bradenton ≈
- (8) The Bear’s Club, Jupiter
Georgia—out of 20
- (14) Champions Retreat G.C. (Bluff/Island), Evans
- (15) Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee, Eatonton ^
Hawaii—out of 15
- (6) Manele Golf Course, Lanai City, Lanai ^
- (12) Hualalai Golf Course, Kailua-Kona ^
Illinois—out of 25
- (20) Wynstone G.C., North Barrington
Indiana—out of 15
- (4) Sycamore Hills G.C., Fort Wayne ≈
Kentucky—out of 10
- (1) Valhalla G.C., Louisville ♥
Louisiana—out of 10
- (1) The C.C. of Louisiana, Baton Rouge
Michigan—out of 25
- (18) Grand Traverse Resort and Spa (The Bear), Acme ^
Mississippi—out of 10
- (3) Annandale G.C., Madison
- (5) Grand Bear Golf Course, Saucier ♥
Missouri—out of 10
- (6) The Club at Porto Cima, Sunrise Beach
- (8) Buffalo Ridge Golf Course, Hollister ★
Montana—out of 10
- (New) The Reserve at Moonlight Basin, Big Sky
- (7) Old Works G. Cse., Anaconda ★
Nebraska—out of 10
- (5) Dismal River Club (White), Mullen
Nevada—out of 10
- (8) Montreux G. & C.C., Reno
- (10) Coyote Springs G.C. ★
New Mexico—out of 10
- (1) The Club at Las Campanas (Sunset), Santa Fe
- (3) The Club at Las Campanas (Sunrise), Santa Fe
New York—out of 30
- (7) Sebonack G.C., Southampton ♥
North Carolina—out of 25
- (19) The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Arden
Muirfield Village Golf Club
Ohio—out of 18
- (1) Muirfield Village G.C., Dublin ♥
Oregon—out of 15
- (7) Pronghorn Club (Nicklaus), Bend ≈^
Pennsylvania—out of 25
- (New) The Club At Nevillewood
South Carolina—out of 25
- (3) Harbour Town G. Links, Hilton Head Island ≈^
- (10) Colleton River Club (Nicklaus), Bluffton
- (26) The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, Salem
Texas—out of 25
- (2) Whispering Pines G.C., Trinity ♥
- (9) The Club at Carlton Woods (Nicklaus), The Woodlands
- (13) Summit Rock G.C., Horseshoe Bay
Tennessee—out of 10
- (3) Spring Creek Ranch G.C., Collierville ≈
Utah—out of 10
- (3) Red Ledges G.C., Heber City
- (6) Promontory C. (Painted Valley), Park City
- (New) Park Meadows C.C., Park City
Vermont—out of 5
- (4) Vermont National C.C., South Burlington
Virginia—out of 20
- (11) The Club at Creighton Farms, Aldie
- (20) Bay Creek Resort & Club (Nicklaus), Cape Charles ★
Washington—out of 10
- (10) The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge, Snoqualmie
