It took Jack Nicklaus some years and a lot of hardcore golf championship titles before he got to the legendary status in the sport. That is one story. How he became equally legendary in the golf design aspect is another. Not all champion golfers are equally as successful in golf course design; and Nicklaus is a definite standout. One look at any of his works is a perfect reason to say how good he is at the craft. One golf vacation destination that tops this list of Nicklaus creations is the Jack Nicklaus Golf Course in PGA West, Palm Springs, CA.

The Jack Nicklaus Golf Course is one of the five world-class, championship golf courses in the PGA West fame, and shares the limelight for the PGA Q-Tour finals with its most famous sibling, the TPC Stadium Course. This Jack Nicklaus signature is known for challenge, beauty and and drama combined to perfection. This golf trip favorite is one for the adventurous, being served with equal parts of demanding and forgiving. The course is set amidst the same golden-red desert that has graced the Stadium Course for a backdrop. And in the hands of one such genius as Nicklaus, this natural spectacle is a magnanimous part of the overall look of the course.

What this golf vacation paradise is best known for, however, are its two signature island greens, Jack Nicklaus Golf Course being one of the few courses in the world to have such feature. But that should not be surprising, this is a Jack Nicklaus creation, considered among the best of his works. This 7,200-yard, par 72 beauty is more than enough a proof that indeed, Jack Nicklaus is as much a champion golf course designer as he is a champion golfer.