Nicklaus North
Jack Nicklaus put his name on only one course in Canada, and he chose the floor of a glacial valley north of Whistler village to do it. Opened in 1996 on the shore of Green Lake, Nicklaus North is a par 71 of about 6,925 yards that runs through wetland, mountain and lakeshore under the Wedge and Armchair glaciers, a daily fee resort course that earns its place on every Whistler golf itinerary.
Photo: Nicklaus North Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Whistler is better known for its lifts than its links, yet the resort holds a quartet of mountain courses and Nicklaus North is the one with the famous name. It opened in 1996 as the only Jack Nicklaus signature design in Canada open to public play, laid out on the valley floor where the Green River feeds Green Lake, and the setting is the headline act. You play with the glaciers of Wedge Mountain and the Armchair on one side and the turquoise of the lake on the other.
The golf is more generous than the Nicklaus reputation suggests. Fairways are wide off the tee, the trouble is wetland and water rather than punishing rough, and the course rewards a player who plots a sensible route and keeps the ball dry. It is a resort round to be enjoyed rather than survived, walkable in the cool mountain air, and it pairs beautifully with a day or two at the other Whistler courses. Plan it for the high summer when the days are long and the turf runs firm.
Nicklaus North at a glance
- Opened
- 1996
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Mountain parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,925 yds
- Access
- Public resort
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Nicklaus North, Nicklaus Design and leading course databases. The course is a Jack Nicklaus signature design opened in 1996, a par 71 of about 6,925 yards from the back tees. Nicklaus North is a daily fee resort course operated by GolfBC and open to public play; peak summer green fees are premium and sit among the highest in the Whistler valley. Rates move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Nicklaus North opens gently along the valley floor, the fairways framed by stands of cedar and fir and the peaks rising directly behind the greens. The first stretch eases you in, wide enough to find with a driver yet asking for position to open the angle into greens that Nicklaus has tilted and guarded with his trademark flashed bunkering.
The middle of the round flirts with the wetland and the creek that thread the property, and accuracy starts to matter more than length. The water is rarely in play for the sensible second shot, but it frames tee shots and tightens the nerve, and the green complexes ask for the right tier rather than just the right number.
It is the closing run toward Green Lake that lingers in the memory, the holes opening to the water and the glaciers with the lake shimmering beyond the flag. Save a camera and a steady swing for the finish. Nicklaus North is a course you remember as much for where you stood as for the score you signed.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Daily fee resort course operated by GolfBC, open to public play; advance tee times recommended in peak summer |
| Green fee | Premium peak season rates, among the highest in the Whistler valley; shoulder season and twilight rates lower (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book through the golf shop or as part of a Whistler stay and play package; carts and rentals available |
| Season | Roughly May to October; peak conditions late June through August |
| Getting there | About 5 minutes north of Whistler village, around a 2 hour drive from Vancouver on the Sea to Sky Highway |
| On the day | Cool mountain mornings even in summer; the course is walkable, with carts widely taken for the scenery and pace |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; resort rates change with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking with the golf shop or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Whistler village is the natural base, a compact pedestrian resort five minutes south of the course with hotels at every level, strong dining and the lifts on the doorstep for a non golf day. A village stay puts Nicklaus North and the other three Whistler courses within a short drive, and the Sea to Sky Highway makes Vancouver an easy add on at either end of a trip.
For a golf focused stay, the valley pairs Nicklaus North with the Whistler and Fairmont Chateau courses for a multi day mountain golf trip, with Green Lake and the glaciers as the constant backdrop. It is one of the most scenic golf bases in North America, and an easy week to build around.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Nicklaus North.
Build a Whistler golf trip
We book the Nicklaus North tee times, pair them with the best of the Whistler valley and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Nicklaus North questions
Who designed Nicklaus North and when did it open?
Nicklaus North is a Jack Nicklaus signature design that opened in 1996 on Green Lake just north of Whistler village in British Columbia, Canada.
What is the par and length of Nicklaus North?
Nicklaus North is a par 71 of about 6,925 yards from the back Nicklaus tees, with several tee sets that play down to roughly 5,000 yards for shorter hitters.
Can visitors play Nicklaus North?
Yes. Nicklaus North is a daily fee resort course operated by GolfBC and open to public play, with tee times and stay and play packages available through the golf shop. The season runs roughly May to October.
When is the best time to play Nicklaus North?
The Whistler golf season runs from about May to October. Peak summer from late June through August offers the longest days, the firmest turf and the peaks at their most dramatic.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access and indicative green fee guidance verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.