Nicklaus places seven in Golf Digest's list of top golf retreats

(11/20/06) A new ranking by Golf Digest has turned, and frequently, to an established name in Nicklaus Design.

Muirfield Village Golf Club came in at No. 15 on the Golf Digest list.

Nicklaus Design claimed seven spots on Golf Digest's recent list of America's 50 Greatest Golf Retreats for 2006. The article appeared in Digest's new publication, Golf Digest Index, a lifestyle magazine targeted at the affluent market. Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, led all Nicklaus Design courses at No. 15.

In order to be considered for the list, clubs had to be included on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses, ranked among the Best in State or be finalists in the Best New Courses survey. It was also required that clubs be able to provide overnight accommodations for members and their guests.

Muirfield Village, home to the PGA Tour's Memorial Tournament, is currently ranked 18th in Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Courses. Muirfield Village was followed in the list by a run of Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses: Castle Pines Golf Club (Castle Rock, Colo.) at No. 19; Mayacama Golf Club (Santa Rosa, Calif.) at No. 20; and Shoal Creek (Ala.) at No. 24.

Other Signature Courses to make the second half of the list included Spring Creek Ranch Golf Club (Collierville, Tenn.) and Colleton River Plantation Golf Club (Bluffton, S.C.) at Nos. 27 and 35, respectively. The Club at Las Campanas, which is home to two Signature Courses, completed list of Nicklaus Design entries at No. 48.

Clubs on the list were given a score from one to 10 by over 800 course rating panelists. Each club was rated on accommodations, meals, wines and spirits, caddies, and service. Nicklaus Design posted at least one course in the Top 10 of each category and Muirfield Village had Top-10 scores in four out of the five categories.