Restored Nicklaus Signature Course set for major return
Shortly after the completion of last year’s Chevron Championship in April at Carlton Woods, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, opened in 2001, underwent restoration of the greens and improved agronomic conditions, along with putting in new irrigation system. All greens were rebuilt, restoring them to their original size and maintaining original contours. Bunkers were rebuilt and tee locations adjusted, and in some cases, added.
Here is a hole-by-hole description:
No. 1
Par 4, 412 yards.
A fourth tee box was built so all but the back tee could move forward to make hole little shorter in hopes of getting a golfer off to a fast start. Slight dogleg left.
No. 2
Par 4, 468 yards.
All tee areas positioned to make this one of the longest par 4s. Played to a raised, but generous landing area with a fairway bunker left. Green nestled into a large landform and well-guarded by two right bunkers. First third of the first greenside bunker has been eliminated.
No. 3
Par 3, 186 yards.
Plays from a well-elevated set of tees. Green is positioned on a peninsula protected by water, short and left, and a bunker long.
No. 4
Par 5, 538 yards.
Shortest of the par fives, turning from right to left around a lake that comes into play almost entire length of hole. Bunkers heavily guard the green right, left and long. The two back tees were shifted to the edge of the lake, creating more of a dogleg.
No. 5
Par 4, 436 yards.
Medium-length, dogleg right with water down entire left side. However, a new tee was built to add 28 yards to the hole. Large bunker complex right narrows the fairway at the landing area offering several choices from the tee. A shot into the green must negotiate water left and bunkers short left and back right.
No. 6
Par 4, 378 yards.
Shortest of the par fours, a dogleg right that is well protected off the tee by three fairway bunkers down left side. Green crowned in center, sloping in four different directions with three more bunkers guarding it.
No. 7
Par 3, 214 yards.
Played from raised tees over a low area to an elevated green. Bunkering changed the hole. Left bunker shrunk, and around the green added another bunker in front. Instead of two bunkers in front, there are three. Leftside bunker across the approach shrunk, so the approach is more on the side of the green.
No. 8
Par 5, 544 yards.
The most notable change of the course is a waste bunker splitting the fairway off the tee. The right side shortens the hole. Left side is a safer shot. Second landing area turns toward the green off a large landform and is guarded by two bunkers on left.
No. 9
Par 4, 455 yards.
Long hole that has added a second bunker on left, closing off the fairway a bit, but still almost 30 yards wide between the lake and new bunker. Was 45 yards wide.
No. 10
Par 4, 427 yards.
Mid-length hole with slight dogleg left. Tee shot challenged by lake on left that also comes into play just short of green for the approach. Green is further protected by large bunker left and small bunker right.
No. 11
Par 4, 459 yards.
Lengthy. Tee shot well guarded by thick trees on both sides. Approach to an elevated green, set into a landform, must negotiate past large bunker short and left, and large grassy hollow directly left of putting surface.
No. 12
Par 3, 192 yards.
Medium length hole playing downhill across a lake. Green well protected in front by the lake with two bunkers short and one bunker long.
No. 13
Par 5, 578 yards.
Longest of the par fives with tee shot playing right to left against a landform and a possible carry bunker left. Shot to second landing area plays left to right with bunker guarding right side of fairway.
No. 14
Par 4, 440 yards.
Dogleg right playing to landing area that pitches right to left and protected by two fairway bunkers right. Approach to green guarded by bunker short, a bunker front right and series of deep grassy hollows left.
No. 15
Par 4, 455 yards.
Dogleg left with tees set to left of small lake. Lake feeds into a creek that crosses in front of fairway, then runs down left side of landing area, eventually crossing fairway again and emptying into a pond just short and right of the green.
No. 16
Par 4, 416 yards.
Dogleg right. The landing area, pitched from right to left, is protected by bunker right but offers ample room out to the left. Green is protected by small bunker right and large sandy native area left.
No. 17
Par 3, 222 yards.
Plays into a well-elevated green set into a large landform. Green is guarded by bunker right, and two bunkers short.
No. 18
Par 5, 548 yards.
Great finishing hole for a major championship. Lilia Vu made birdie on No. 18 to force a playoff in the 2023 Chevron Championship, then birdied the hole again to win a one-hole playoff over Angel Yin. The hole plays as a dogleg right off the tee into a crowded landing area guarded by bunker on right. Large lake on left comes into play on the approach.