The King vs. The Bear
In 2001, Palmer and Nicklaus played a televised match here, with Palmer shooting his age and the two legends matching wits on their own creation. Their friendly rivalry and shared design vision are woven into the course’s DNA.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
King & Bear Golf Course
St. Augustine, Florida
Established
2000
Architect
Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus; bunkers renovated by Nicklaus Design (2017); comprehensive restoration by MacCurrach Golf (2024)
Access
Resort
Par
Par 72
Length
5,119 – 7,279 yds
Green Fees
$$$
The verdict
Elite Collaboration, Playable Drama
King & Bear’s true value is its blend of storied design pedigree—Nicklaus and Palmer working together—and modern resort accessibility. The course delivers risk-reward drama amid lush resort surroundings with a front nine that's open and a back nine demanding precision. It stands out as a top Florida destination and a rare chance to play the work of two legends.
Course DNA
Difficulty
73
Scenery75
Conditioning78
Shot Variety80
Walkability60
Green Complexity76
Wow Factor81
Design Quality79
Don't miss
If you visit after the 2024 reopening, check out the new practice putting green, expanded and fully rebuilt to mirror the fresh TifEagle surfaces on course.
At a glance
Quick facts
Only Palmer-Nicklaus 18-hole design
A unique architectural partnership
Just minutes from World Golf Hall of Fame
Premium resort location
Recent full-course restoration
Comprehensive 2024 turf/bunker facelift
Host of PGA TOUR Champions and Korn Ferry events
Tournament pedigree
Two distinct nines
Front is open, back is wooded and strategic
Officially opened by the icons in 2000
Palmer and Nicklaus both cut the ribbon
Wide tee options
5,119–7,279 yards
Voted Golf Inc. Golden Fork Award winner (2021)
Recognized club dining and service
The design
The architecture
King & Bear masterfully blends the design DNA of two golf legends: Palmer’s penchant for drama and visual excitement, and Nicklaus’s strategic, shotmaker’s test. The front nine offers openness and sweeping landforms, encouraging aggressive play; the back nine transitions to tighter, tree-lined corridors and emphasizes placement and control, delivering a distinctly different challenge after the turn. Water, bold bunkering, and risk-reward options prevail throughout, capped off by a memorable closing hole where strategy meets spectacle. The result is a cohesive, original resort course where two contrasting identities come together—and a rare opportunity to play the sole 18-hole collaboration of two giants of the game.
This is the only course where Palmer and Nicklaus truly collaborated on 18 holes—melding their unique design philosophies and competitive spirits into a single, playable layout.
Defining features
- Distinctive blend of open and wooded holes
- Water hazards and cross-bunkering shaping lines
- Strategic risk/reward par 5s
- Tiered TifEagle Bermuda greens (post-2024 renovation)
- Dramatic visual framing from mature trees
- Memorable, challenging finish
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 3
Long-Iron Baptism
PAR
3
YARDAGE
227 yards
A formidable par 3 that greets golfers with a 227-yard test over water and bunkers to a large, tilted green. Precision long-irons or hybrids are mandatory, and the wind is always a factor. This is a pure examination early in the round.
Play it smart
Take enough club and favor center-green—left or short misses bring deep trouble and a likely big number.
Where it bites
Water front and left, plus a daunting bunker complex, punish both short and pulled shots.
Course management
Shots to think about
Opening drive on 1
Stay disciplined—favor position over length to set the round’s rhythm.
Par-5 second shots
Double-check your angles; aggression pays when unchecked trouble is avoided.
Approach to 8
Aim for the fat side of the green and avoid right-side hazards at all costs.
Tight tee shots on the back nine
Club down for control, as riskier lines are only rewarded with pinpoint accuracy.
Short club at 11
Be aggressive on the short par 3—birdie here can jumpstart momentum.
Finishing 18
Hang tough—play to your strengths and respect the closing hazards before taking on the green in two.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Lush, modern resort standard—new TifEagle greens, rebuilt bunkers, and well-tended fairways.
Pace
Standard resort pace; expect 4–4.5 hours during peak windows.
Vibe
Upscale but welcoming, with a sense of occasion from the legends’ presence and mixed resort crowd.
Dress code
Standard golf dress code (collared shirts, tailored shorts or pants required).
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Study Both Nines
Prepare for a bold, open front and a more technical, wooded back—don’t let either lure you into the wrong mindset.
02
Practice Your Long Irons
There’s no hiding from long, tough approaches, especially at the par 3s and lengthy par 4s.
03
Plan for Resort Play
Pace can be brisk or slow—pack patience and be ready to adjust your start time for optimal flow.
The lore
How it came to be
- 2000
King & Bear officially opens; Palmer and Nicklaus inaugurate
- 2001
Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf televised match here
- 2001
Host of Legends of Golf on the Senior PGA Tour
- 2017
Bunker renovation project by Nicklaus Design completed
- 2020
Clubhouse renovation completed (Troon Design)
- 2020
Hosts Korn Ferry Tour's King & Bear Classic
- 2024
Comprehensive agronomic restoration and reopening after full greens and bunker rebuilds
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Icons Open the First Tee
On opening day in 2000, both Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus were onsite to cut the ribbon—no other course can claim this live, legendary start. Their handshakes and laughter set the tone for every round since.
A Tale of Two Nines
The outward nine plays broad and open, rewarding bold play and sweeping drives, but the inward half tightens both visually and strategically, demanding precision and smart tee-ball placement. The course asks you to embrace two mindsets within a single round.
Modernized, Not Modern
After the 2024 renovation, King & Bear returned with firmer, faster TifEagle greens and freshly rebuilt bunkers. Still, the course’s resort feel and original strategic intent fully remain, honoring Nicklaus and Palmer’s vision.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The course name honors both architects’ nicknames—'King' for Arnold Palmer, 'Bear' for Jack Nicklaus.
2
Palmer and Nicklaus both teed it up here in a televised match in 2001, with Palmer shooting his age.
3
The only 18-hole design the two legends ever co-authored together.
4
The course just completed a major 2024 agronomic restoration—new greens, bunkers, irrigation, and practice area upgrades.
5
Bunker renovation in 2017 was led by Nicklaus Design’s team for improved playability.
Build the trip
The World Golf Village Golf Adventure
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course
Resort
Play the legendary Island Green and PGA TOUR atmosphere just a short drive away.
World Golf Village – Slammer & Squire
Resort
A fun, companion course and the full Hall of Fame experience.
St. Johns Golf & Country Club
Semi-Private
Strong local daily-fee option for variety and value.
The Yards
Public
Casual, modern option with a relaxed pace and playable vibes.
Stay at World Golf Village or nearby St. Augustine for maximum convenience to both King & Bear and Slammer & Squire.
Course DNA
If You Like King & Bear Golf Course
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match7.8
Barefoot Resort – Fazio Course
North Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Barefoot Resort – Fazio Course a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to King & Bear Golf Course.
Strong DNA Match7.6
Cobblestone Golf Club
Blythewood, South CarolinaWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Cobblestone Golf Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to King & Bear Golf Course.
Strong DNA Match8.2
Firefly Golf Club
Spring Hill, TennesseeShot Variety
Why it matches: If King & Bear Golf Course is your kind of course, Firefly Golf Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Community Sentiment
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