Bay Point Resort Golf Club (Nicklaus course)

Bay Point Resort Golf Club (Nicklaus course): Just across St Andrews Bay from Panama City, you'll find Bay Point Resort and two top-quality and contrasting championship golf courses - the parkland elegance of the tree-lined Meadow course is overshadowed by the usually higher-rated and more expansively roaming Nicklaus course - revamped by the Golden Bear stable in 2005, this out-and-back layout weaves its way through a community of large and discreetly set back housing - the Nicklaus certainly delivers variety, both on and beyond the course - a more tree-lined mid-section on the back-nine (especially at the par-4 12th and par-4 13th) contrasts with the bayside and more condo-flanked front-nine - the Nicklaus's par-4 1st and par-3 2nd signal that small lakes and ponds will frequently threaten on this wonderfully crafted, ever-varied and ever-challenging layout - the par-4 4th and 5th holes steal the scenic honours - both are played alongside the Grand Lagoon where it connects into St Andrews Bay, and offer spectacular bayside views - the signature 5th is a testing short par-4 with a double carry over wetlands, from tee-to-fairway and fairway-to-green - large and often seriously undulating greens are defended by a stylish array of bunkers, both small and large, as well as considerable mounding - like many other holes, the long par-5 9th offers plenty of space from the tee, but also a blind drive, up and over a small ridge - a layout typically characterised by excellent upkeep, variety, challenge and great Nicklaus design work.