69
NICKLAuS NoRTH
Golf Course
PAR 4 450 yARDS
Whistler, BC
800.386.9898
www.nicklausnorth.com
A great course requires a great finishing hole, and architect Jack Nicklaus follows
through beautifully at Nicklaus North Golf Course. The 18th demands length and
accuracy from all five tee boxes that stretch the hole from 266 yards all the way back
to 450 yards.
The fairway carves a straight and fairly generous path, but is bordered on each side
by trees and natural areas. Stray drives left or right dim any hopes of a strong finish.
Shots in to the green must first carry Fitzsimmons Creek, which rumbles across the
width of the fairway with the runoff from Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains on its
way across the 16th hole and finally to Green Lake. The hole is slightly uphill and
usually plays into the prevailing wind, so laying up in front of the creek can be a
thoughtful option.
Whether it is a second or third, the shot over the creek is beautifully framed by 80-foot
trees guarding the entrance. Greg Norman captured the 1997 Canadian Skins Game
in a playoff on 18 by hitting a 191-yard 5-iron from the fairway bunker to eight feet for
his birdie. The well-protected green, with a huge, deep horseshoe-shaped bunker
front left and a large one guarding the right side, is big and wide with mounding along
the right. The Shark's great shot aside, par is a wonderful score on this fitting finale
to Nicklaus' Whistler masterpiece.
18
Photograph by John Henebry
