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To
enforce Jack Nicklaus’ international reputation as a golf
course designer, one need only look to his work in Canada
as a
microcosm of the legend’s credentials. His first design
north of the 49th parallel, the Glen Abbey Golf
Club in
Oakville,
Ontario, has hosted
the majority of the country’s national Opens since its
opening in the late 1970s. It was only natural, then, that the
Golden Bear be commissioned to place his fingerprint on
Whistler Golf, and in 1996 Nicklaus North joined the catalogue
of great golf opportunities in this popular resort town. With
a scarce amount of land available, Nicklaus made due with a
parcel of real estate that only in Whistler could be deemed
uninspiring, and has crafted an interesting mountain course
that, like many Nicklaus designs, seem to emphasize the
strengths of Nicklaus the golfer’s own game. At 6,908 yards,
there is demand on good driving and strong middle and long
iron play, qualities displayed both by the Golden Bear and by
Greg Norman, when he won the 1997 Export ‘A’ Skins Game
here.
Winding
through a gentle valley floor with stunning views of the
surrounding snowcapped peaks, the 390-yard opener does not
portend what’s to come. Still, the best bet for a good start
is a bold drive up the left edge of the fairway that flirts
with the fairway bunker, leaving as short an approach as
possible. This first test is usually manageable for most
players, but at the second, the talent gap between the resort
golfer and the history’s greatest player is plainly on
display.
Nicklaus
was known for his towering long irons, and at the 197-yard
second, something fitting that trajectory is essential. The
green lies at an oblique angle behind a pond and deep-faced
bunker. Most good shots will end up near the back fringe or
just over, leaving a tricky play back down toward the flag.
Power,
and plenty of it, should be drawn from one’s reserves at the
next two holes. To the modest hitter, the 517-yard third is a
fairly straightforward par five. But for the long hitter, the
vast expanse of fairway urges one to swing for the mountains,
and a great drive leaves a very realistic chance at birdie or
even eagle. At the 465-yard fourth, a similar drive is a
requisite just to make par, with such a long approach left
after a good tee shot.
The
179-yard sixth and 514-yard eighth share a common green, but
the similarities end there. The tee shot to the former is a
reasonable one if the pin is cut near the front, as the slope
of the green will feed shots back toward the hole. The longer
player entertaining thoughts of reaching the eighth in two had
better be wary of a quick hook, which will find one of the few
unplayable spots on this open course. A good second shot that
carries the cross bunker on the right edge of the fairway will
leave a short uphill pitch and a good chance at birdie.
Turning
to the back nine, the 185-yard 10th bears a
striking resemblance to the second, again emphasizing a high
long iron play. Not surprisingly, many shot values are
repeatedly inferred by this Nicklaus design, which can be a
treat for the power hitter and somewhat frustrating for the
more conservative shotmaker. A small consolation, and a
testament to the complexity of the design, is the number of
occasions where a smart play is beneficial. At the 555-yard
11th,
a heroic but thoughtless fairway wood on the second shot will
leave a much more difficult pitch than a full wedge from the
fairway. Unfortunately, at the very next hole, all 225 yards
at this gargantuan par three must be navigated through the
air. To paraphrase the old adage, Nicklaus North giveth, but
it also taketh away.
The
closing stretch is a fine microcosm of this balance between
charity and penalty. Three straight medium-length par fours
between 14 and 16 share many common traits. Long drives may
set up an easier approach, but the greens are all receptive to
approach shots from further out, virtually negating the length
advantage. Combined with the 226-yard 17th and the
438-yard closing hole, though, it seems inevitable that
sacrificing length will eventually catch up with the shorter
hitter. The greens at Nicklaus North are fairly protected,
enough so that a shaky short game will likely resort in a
string of bogeys at some point in one’s round.
Solace
can be found in the overall balance, though. A big hitter may
seem to have the advantage, but their weaknesses will be
exposed in the long run. The smart shotmaker, despite giving
his or her long irons and fairway woods a busy day, can tame
this Nicklaus design. It is likely this balance, on an
unimpressive parcel of land, which has helped earn Nicklaus
North the 23rd spot in the most recent national
rankings of Canada’s Top 100
golf courses. As a fourth suitor for the Whistler resort
golfer, Nicklaus North fits very well indeed.
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