Bay Point Resort - Nicklaus Course

About
Bay Point Golf Club's Nicklaus Course at Sheraton Bay Point Resort is the only Nicklaus Design course in Northwest Florida. The golf course was formerly Lagoon Legend, which had a reputation for being one of the Florida Panhandle's toughest layouts. In 2004, the golf course closed and underwent a major renovation by the Nicklaus Design team. It reopened a year later with rave reviews. The redesign included restructuring the tees, greens, and bunkers and also re-contouring the fairways. The scenic landscape of scrub oaks, towering pines, and saltwater marshes was carefully preserved though. The golf course maintained the challenging aspects of the original but infused a play-ability that makes it accessible to all skill levels. Also like the former course, the new Nicklaus design offers the same stunning views of St. Andrew's Bay. In the fall of 2018, the Nicklaus Course completed a greens conversion to Tif-Eagle Bermuda-grass greens to bring championship greens to a championship course. Bay Point Golf Club has won the Panama City News Herald's "Best of Bay" in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The Nicklaus Course has hosted US Open Local qualifiers and is a home course of the FSU Women's Golf Team and will host their Division 1 Invitational in February of 2020.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | 72 | 7152 yards | 74.3 | 143 |
#2 | 72 | 6430 yards | 70.7 | 132 |
#3 | 72 | 5972 yards | 68.8 | 120 |
#3/4 | 72 | 5340 yards | 66.5 | 114 |
#4 | 72 | 4974 yards | 68.8 | 119 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tee I M: 74.2/137 | 380 | 190 | 439 | 434 | 391 | 491 | 207 | 395 | 568 | 3495 | 167 | 461 | 518 | 289 | 485 | 566 | 449 | 231 | 392 | 3558 | 7053 |
Tee II M: 71.2/130 W: 77.1/144 | 362 | 173 | 359 | 382 | 371 | 481 | 169 | 363 | 508 | 3168 | 135 | 420 | 494 | 272 | 402 | 528 | 409 | 183 | 366 | 3209 | 6377 |
Tee III M: 69.2/125 W: 74.7/139 | 350 | 160 | 328 | 367 | 335 | 427 | 151 | 352 | 461 | 2931 | 89 | 400 | 482 | 260 | 357 | 515 | 402 | 165 | 347 | 3017 | 5948 |
Tee III/IV M: 65.5/115 W: 70.6/125 | 267 | 160 | 328 | 304 | 227 | 427 | 151 | 352 | 461 | 2677 | 89 | 319 | 401 | 260 | 357 | 430 | 306 | 165 | 271 | 2598 | 5275 |
Tee IV M: 63.9/109 W: 68.7/120 | 267 | 88 | 284 | 304 | 227 | 417 | 142 | 273 | 448 | 2450 | 75 | 319 | 401 | 204 | 342 | 430 | 306 | 150 | 271 | 2498 | 4948 |
Tee V M: 59.9/102 W: 62.4/107 | 218 | 88 | 216 | 230 | 210 | 290 | 75 | 240 | 305 | 1872 | 75 | 252 | 283 | 164 | 242 | 317 | 261 | 150 | 225 | 1969 | 3841 |
Handicap | 10 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 7 | |||
Par | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 10 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 17 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 7 |
Course Details
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Reviewer Photos
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The 5th hole with the approach from the ”island fairway” Photo submitted by JayEmm on 04/23/2025
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No rough to speak of, which may appeal to some. Photo submitted by JayEmm on 04/23/2025
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Photo submitted by gkortman on 01/08/2025
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Photo submitted by gkortman on 01/08/2025
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Photo submitted by ThisGuyCharlie on 10/26/2024
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Photo submitted by dGraOqLMep99nId28yp7 on 08/18/2024
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Photo submitted by NJxDCdcMMb5AUWJC0rzo on 04/05/2024
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Photo submitted by BStewart94 on 11/23/2023
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Photo submitted by BStewart94 on 11/23/2023
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Photo submitted by BStewart94 on 11/23/2023
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Photo submitted by BStewart94 on 11/23/2023
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Photo submitted by ZxpnPXTn7dqgy9xfcibA on 08/03/2023
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Photo submitted by abc55 on 07/14/2023
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Ball stayed dry Photo submitted by u314164202554 on 06/27/2023
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Photo submitted by u314163183058 on 05/19/2023
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Tough beautiful golf hole. Photo submitted by u314163894733 on 05/10/2023
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Photo submitted by Jcyn25 on 04/08/2023
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Photo submitted by u4299850 on 02/26/2023
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Photo submitted by JFranzen on 05/22/2022
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Photo submitted by u715626257 on 05/15/2022
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Photo submitted by u715626257 on 05/15/2022
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Photo submitted by u239689801 on 01/07/2022
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Photo submitted by u818134521 on 01/07/2022
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Photo submitted by 2010mustang on 08/30/2021
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Photo submitted by u204541685 on 06/22/2021
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Photo submitted by u204541685 on 06/22/2021
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Photo submitted by u204541685 on 06/22/2021
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Photo submitted by 9eNAa1SL2ikOdIyP8rfo on 06/02/2021
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Photo submitted by u314160939851 on 10/20/2020
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Photo submitted by 28NocNs0dr2eyVWE8CDh on 10/09/2019
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Photo submitted by 28NocNs0dr2eyVWE8CDh on 10/09/2019
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Photo submitted by 28NocNs0dr2eyVWE8CDh on 10/09/2019
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View of the bay from fifth fairway. Photo submitted by 4nsicguy on 09/30/2019
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Photo submitted by Tdog5566 on 09/18/2019
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Photo submitted by Tdog5566 on 09/18/2019
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Photo submitted by Tdog5566 on 09/18/2019
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Aerial view of The Nicklaus Course at Sheraton Bay Point Resort Photo submitted by KielChristianson on 03/31/2018
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Hole 2 Nicklaus Course, Sheraton Bay Point Resort (long par 3) Photo submitted by KielChristianson on 03/31/2018
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Greenside at the par-3 17th hole Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 07/27/2017
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From behind par-4 fourth hole Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 07/27/2017
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Par-3 seventh hole Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 07/27/2017
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Par-3 10th hole Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 07/27/2017
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Second shot view on par-5 12th hole Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 07/27/2017
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Approach shot on the signature par-4 fifth hole Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 07/27/2017
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Signature hole #5 - Par-4 Photo submitted by zbuechner4 on 11/28/2016
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Photo submitted by RobKempinski on 08/17/2015
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Photo submitted by Jason5085605 on 06/23/2013
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Hole 2 tee Photo submitted by mahavishnu on 04/02/2013
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Hole 3 tee Photo submitted by mahavishnu on 04/02/2013
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Hole 5 tee Photo submitted by mahavishnu on 04/02/2013
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Hole 12 tee Photo submitted by mahavishnu on 04/02/2013
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Hole 16 tee Photo submitted by mahavishnu on 04/02/2013
A little expensive
Great course but the greens could have been in better shape. Fun layout with lots of water. It was quite expensive even with a Hot Deal. Not sure it’s if it’s quite worth the price.
Greens had been punched
Unfortunately, the greens were punched 2 days before we played…
Satsfactory
Not worth full price, some dry areas. Worth an under $80. Good 19th hole.
Staff made the course
The friendliness of the staff made it it fun, however the course needs some tlc , especially on the greens. I believe it was overpriced for the condition.
Disappointed in the course conditions based on the price...
I played in April 2025. Last time I played was 10 years ago and I was disappointed as I remember it as a fine course. The Bermuda greens were spotty, there was no real difference between the fairway and the rough (although some might find that appealing), and the pace of play was hampered by 4 groups of locals (two foursomes and two fivesome) who would not yield or pick up their pace. My group of two just past them by - 5 holes - and had clear sailing. we returned to play the holes we missed and actually caught back up to the last group on 18. Green fees were $130. For that price, I expected much more from this course.
As for the course, the layout has numerous dogleg holes, all varieties. The par 4, 14th is a double dogleg. Long at 402y from tee 2, with water in play off the tee and second shot. Based on the length and angles, I played it like a par 5 and was fortunate to hole out a 10 foot put for 4. The par 3, 10th hole is the shortest of the threes at 135y from tee 2 butwith carry over water to hit the green. With the pin on the back left, the carry over water and a back left bunker made center of the green the wisest choice.
Most websites talk about the par 4, 5th hole with its ”island fairway”. You certainly need to cover water to hit the fairway and the smart play is to hit it as far left as possible since it is a dogleg that way and the more right you go, the longer your approach over water again. But this also means you have more to carry to clear the water the further left you go. The final hole is a par 4, at 366y from tee 2 looks simple enough of a dogleg left but my pushed tee shot caused a long approach and you can't see the water short right so this was a disappointment too for the final hole. Water is found on EVERY hole. At times it is just in front of the tee box with a reasonable carry to clear and no real hazard if you hit your tee decent enough, but on other holes, a missed tee shot right or left or bad approach will find them. Local knowledge, and the course map with hole layouts certainly helped.

Wind and Poa Annua
The good was the course layout- demanding, well bunkered - tons of water to navigate and difficult carry shots. But that all made the course interesting enough to value and suggest it a recommendation to play.
The bad were the greens. Bermuda with Poa Annua growing thru is a really bad combo and made putting impossible to depend on - the ball never held its line and it was as if we were putting over small landmines. It was unfortunate because the round and the course itself could have been a much more enjoyable experience without that going on with the greens. The practice green didn’t seem to have this issue at all- so getting to the first green and so on from there was a surprising disappointment.
It should also be known that the driving range was closed due to what appeared to be a lot of work on the grounds where balls hit from the range would land. It didn’t look like something that would be done anytime soon. They did have 5 nets for us to hit into- but again, something of a bummer given the cost.
Not lost in all the negative- we saw plenty of local wildlife - turtles, cranes, even an osprey having a breakfast of a freshly caught fish. I’d recommend the play- just beware and check with shop about some of these downfalls.
Great layout
Great layout, good condition except for the greens. We were told that they are being invaded by poanna . ( the west coast grass) a lot of the courses I played down here in the panhandle have a poanna invasion . Otherwise the course is great , lots of water, picturesque holes.
Range was closed, Poa Anna all over the greens
I like this course, but I wish they would have disclosed the range was closed before we spent $$ booking an “all inclusive” greens fee. Also, someone needs to do something with the greens - our putts were bouncing all over the place! Otherwise, always enjoy the overall experience…. Not many courses around PCB of this caliber.
My experience golfing Bay Point Nicholas course
Lay out was very good. Only down side was that the greens were a bit rough. This cauced for a uneven roll.
Need to get a handle on the greens
The course is difficult especially on days where the wind is blowing 30 but it’s a fun course. Some of the greens have serious intrusion of weed grass and they are very bumpy. I hope they get it under control soon.
Bay Point
Greens were complete trash. Not worth the $. Play was slow.
Greens in horrible shape
I was very disappointed in the quality of the greens. Poa Annua grass has overtaken all the greens. Could not put straight all day. Ruined the entire day. If Jack Nicklaus visited this course and saw these greens he would fire the Superintendent