Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus)

North Carolina, United States

Nestled along the Intracoastal Waterway near Wilmington, the 45-hole golf facility at the Country Club of Landfall features an early 1990s Jack Nicklaus Signature course which has since had another nine (“Pines”) added. The original (and best) 18-hole course comprises of the "Marsh" and "Ocean" loops.

Overall rating

4.5

Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus)

The Country Club of Landfall offers 45 holes of golf for fortunate members. The first 18 of those holes came from the pen of Pete Dye, at his titular "Dye" course, and the other 27 came from his friend Jack Nicklaus. The “Marsh” and “Ocean” nines are most often combined as the “Nicklaus Course,” the more celebrated 18 from the Bear (he also designed the newer “Pines” nine).

Although finding land seems to be the theme suggested by the club’s name, the “Ocean” nine makes a line for the coast right out of the gate. It finally meets the ocean on No. 4, a short par three tucked around a marsh. On the following holes, players will need to choose whether to shoot for the shorter or longer fairway, with a watery grave being the punishment for choosing poorly. No. 8 is the final coastal hole, requiring a long hit over open water on the way to this 230-yard par three’s green.

As the “Marsh” title suggests, players will be no more safe from drink on the back nine at the Nicklaus. No. 16 features one of the most daunting greens in the architect’s collection: a skinny shepherd’s crook that reaches back into the lake the players drove over to reach the fairway. Many will opt to “lay up” to green’s entrance...which is ironically behind the green.

Getting there

Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus)

North Carolina 28405, United States

countrycluboflandfall.com +1 910 256 8411

World Top 100 Golf Courses

The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings

View all

Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus)

Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus)

Getting there

World Top 100 Golf Courses

Other Great Courses Nearby

World Top 100 Golf Courses

Cypress Point Club

Pine Valley Golf Club

Royal County Down (Championship)

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

National Golf Links of America