Jack Nicklaus is best known for his 18 major championships, including a record six wins in the Masters. But the Golden Bear is renowned equally or more these days for his golf course design work, with more than 300 courses in operation worldwide.
Eleven of his finest can be found in South Carolina, and five of them are open to the public. Here are our rankings:
May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, 843.706.6580
This is arguably Nicklaus' best work in SC and is regularly considered one of the state's finest courses, period, with generous use of marshland, woodlands, water and sand.
Long Bay Golf Club, Longs, 800.344.5590
A bit off the beaten path on the Strand's North End, but home to a number of the area's best and most memorable holes.
Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, 843.363.8385
One of the Golden Bear's earliest efforts (co-designed in 1969 with Pete Dye), it's still a favorite among PGA Tour players who come annually for the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club, Pawleys Island, 843.237.6000
Among the top layouts on the Grand Strand's golf-rich South End, with plenty of the area's Lowcountry terrain, Pawleys also serves as home to the Mel Sole Golf School.
Kiawah Island Resort/Turtle Point, Kiawah, 800.576.1570
Another older design, part of Kiawah Resort's strong lineup of on-island courses along with courses by Dye, Tom Fazio and Gary Player.
Nicklaus designed six other courses in South Carolina:
- Golf Club at Indigo Run, Hilton Head
- Colleton River Plantation, Bluffton
- Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run, Hilton Head
- The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, Sunset
- The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Sunset
- The Reserve Club at Woodside Plantation, Aiken