Nicklaus golf course at Bay Point Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida

Radically altered by a Jack Nicklaus team redesign, the former Lagoons Legend golf course at Bay Point Resort is a tamer beast (the old Robert von Haage layout sported a 157 slope rating), but the rechristened Nicklaus course is still a very imaginative layout loaded with flair.

This is an excellent mix of holes, with nary a dud. The course has great movement and flow and the fairways are gracefully contoured. The green complexes are interesting, though the greens themselves are relatively flat. Redesign architect Gary Nicklaus almost always gives you a bail-out area close to the hard-to-hit greens.

With scenery (particularly the portion of the front nine that plays along St. Andrews Bay), top-flight service and a superb practice facility, this is a must-play in the Panama City area. Green fees are in the $80-$100 range.