Jack Nicklaus’ top 10 courses as rated by Golfweek’s Best

Jack Nicklaus has done a lot more than win championships in his 80 years.

His eponymous design firm has laid out more than 425 courses in 45 countries and 40 states. Many of those tracks have garnered great acclaim, earning spots on the various Golfweek’s Best lists for course rankings.

Jack Nicklaus and Jack Vickers during planning at Castle Pines in Colorado. (Photo courtesy of Castle Pines)

Following are the 10 highest-rated courses Nicklaus has built, with seven of these on the Golfweek’s Best Modern list for courses built in or after 1960, and three appearing on Golfweek’s Best list for courses in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Golfweek’s Best course ratings are determined by an extensive group of players who judge each course on 10 criteria then provide their total rating from one to 10. Those ratings are then averaged for a final rating, shown with each course listed.

Four Seasons Punta Mita’ Pacifico course (Photo courtesy of Four Seasons)

10. Four Seasons Punta Mita (Pacifico)

• Golfweek’s Best average rating: 7.09
• Where: Punta Mita, Mexico
• Year built: 1999
• Status: Resort course
• Golfweek’s Best: No. 10 on the list for best courses in the Caribbean and Mexico

Shoal Creek during the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)

9. Shoal Creek

• Golfweek’s Best average rating: 7.11
• Birmingham, Ala.
• Year built: 1976
• Status: Private course
• Golfweek’s Best: No. 83 on the Modern list for U.S. courses built in or after 1960

The 18th hole at Valhalla before the 2014 PGA Championship (Photo courtesy PGA of America)

8. Valhalla

• Golfweek’s Best average rating: 7.15
• Where: Louisville, Ky.
• Year built: 1986
• Status: Private course
• Golfweek’s Best: No. 76 on the Modern list for U.S. courses built in or after 1960

Mayacama in California (Photo courtesy of Mayacama)

7. Mayacama

• Golfweek’s Best average rating: 7.24
• Where: Santa Rosa, Calif.
• Year built: 2001
• Status: Private course
• Golfweek’s Best: No. 66 on the Modern list for U.S. courses built in or after 1960

Four Seasons Lanai’s Manele course (Photo courtesy of Four Seasons)

6. Four Seasons Lanai (Manele)

• Golfweek’s Best average rating: 7.25
• Where: Lanai, Hawaii
• Year built: 1993
• Status: Resort course
• Golfweek’s Best: No. 65 on the Modern list for U.S. courses built in or after 1960

Four Seasons Punta Mita’s Bahia course (Photo courtesy of Four Seasons)

5. Four Seasons Punta Mita (Bahia)

• Golfweek’s Best average rating: 7.33
• Where: Punta Mita, Mexico
• Year built: 2009
• Status: Resort course
• Golfweek’s Best: No. 5 on the list for best courses in the Caribbean and Mexico

Castle Pines (Photo courtesy of Castle Pines/Marc Feldman)

4. Castle Pines GC

• Golfweek’s Best average rating: 7.35
• Where: Castle Rock, Colo.
• Year built: 1981
• Status: Private course
• Golfweek’s Best: No. 55 on the Modern list for U.S. courses built in or after 1960

Cap Cana’s Punta Espade in the Dominican Republic (Photo courtesy of Cap Cana/Evan Schiller)

3. Cap Cana (Punta Espada)

• Golfweek’s Best average rating: 7.70
• Where: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
• Year built: 2006
• Status: Resort course
• Golfweek’s Best: No. 1 on the list for best courses in the Caribbean and Mexico

Tiger Woods plays No. 14 during the 2019 Memorial at Muirfield Village. (Photo by Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports)

2. Muirfield Village

• Golfweek’s Best average rating: 8.01
• Where: Dublin, Ohio
• Year built: 1974
• Status: Private course
• Golfweek’s Best: No. 11 on the Modern list for U.S. courses built in or after 1960

I.K. Kim plays No. 2 at Sebonack during the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open at Sebonack. (Photo by Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)

1. Sebonack

• Golfweek’s Best average rating: 8.33
• Where: Southampton, N.Y.
• Year built: 2006
• Co-designer: Tom Doak
• Status: Private course
• Golfweek’s Best: No. 6 on the Modern list for U.S. courses built in or after 1960