Reunion Resort (Nicklaus)

With 18-hole layouts from Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, the Reunion Resort has 54 holes of golf designed by three of the greatest golfers to ever grace the fairways in the Sunshine State of Florida. The Watson layout (originally known as “Independence”) and Palmer course (previously named “Legacy”) debuted in 2004, followed a few year later by the longer, more difficult “Tradition,” which has also now been renamed after its designer, Jack Nicklaus.

The Nicklaus course can stretch to more than 7,200 yards from the back tees, playing to a par of 72, with holes set out around residential properties as two returning nines. Water hazards feature on a few holes: a little lake lies to the right of the fairway and green on the par five 3rd; a pond sits to the left of the green on the par four 14th; and there’s another lake protecting the front and right of the green at the par three 16th. A trademark Nicklaus waste area also runs along the left of the closing hole.

Highlights here include the demanding par four 2nd (with housing to the right and trees to the left of the fairway); the slightly right doglegging par five 6th (played to an offset green with one bunkers guarding the front left of the putting surface); the long par four 13th (with sandy waste areas to the left of the tee and the fairway); and the signature par three 16th, requiring a daunting carry over water to a shallow, offset green that’s further defended by deep bunkers.