The 2021 Reimagination
In 2021, Nicklaus Design returned for the most comprehensive overhaul since the club’s opening—expanding greens, reducing bunkers, and updating play to suit today’s golfer while protecting the island challenge.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Sailfish Point Golf Club
Stuart, Florida
Established
1981
Architect
Jack Nicklaus / Nicklaus Design (1981, 2021 renovation)
Access
Private
Par
Par 72
Length
5,248 – 7,117 yds
The verdict
Nicklaus Island Challenge Awaits
Sailfish Point offers a distinctive private club test, where Jack Nicklaus’s strategic signature meets the drama of coastal Florida. The course’s 2021 reimagining delivers modern playability while never sacrificing challenge or scenery. If you get the invite, bring your shotmaking and soak up an experience only this unique club location provides.
Course DNA
Difficulty
78
Scenery86
Conditioning83
Shot Variety77
Walkability61
Green Complexity79
Wow Factor75
Design Quality77
Don't miss
Take in the panoramic ocean and river views from the high point at the 14th tee—few realize just how much water surrounds the landing area.
At a glance
Quick facts
Architect
Jack Nicklaus / Nicklaus Design
Recent Renovation
Comprehensive 2021 Nicklaus reimagination
Setting
Ocean-to-river Florida barrier island
Access Policy
Private, member-owned, no standard tee times
Event Host
South Florida PGA Professional Championships
Course Character
Playable design, yet challenging from the back tees
Club Experience
Exclusive, with coastal and marina amenities
The design
The architecture
Sailfish Point’s course is a modern classic from Jack Nicklaus—a strategic Florida coastal test that moves elegantly between river, ocean, and residential corridors. Redesigned in 2021 to expand playability without lessening bite, the course uses broad fairways, repositioned bunkering, and expanded greens to give players of all levels chances to score—but only if they can manage the coastal winds and demanding angles. The routing maintains a strong rhythm, alternating between spectacular water-edge holes and sheltered, treelined stretches, ultimately building to a closing sequence that demands discipline and nerve.
Nicklaus’s strategies remain at the heart of Sailfish Point—generous off the tee, testing on approach, and always influenced by wind; the 2021 update makes the layout more playable for all but keeps ‘member-champion’ balance at its core.
Defining features
- Expansive greens with new contours (2021 renovation)
- Mix of short, scorable holes and penal finishers
- Classic Nicklaus risk-reward par 5s
- Coastal wind exposure and shifting angles
- Modernized bunkering and reduced forced carries
- Sweeping river and ocean vistas on key holes
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 14
Risk Reward Peninsula
PAR
5
YARDAGE
534
A long par 5 sweeping toward the water’s edge, where the fairway shape and bunkering test your nerve and decision. Reachable in two for the bold, but only with a perfectly placed drive and a brave second.
Play it smart
An aggressive line sets up an eagle try, but prudent players lay back for a wedge—angle into the tiered green matters most.
Where it bites
Water flanks the entire second half; a major miss right or long can end in disaster.
Course management
Shots to think about
Tee shot into coastal wind
Use one more club and aim for width—not distance; you'll need margin for the approach.
Approach to expanded green (post-2021)
Double-check the pin; full-width greens reward the bold but punish pulled misreads.
Second shot risk on par 5s
Weigh your chances—aggression means more bunker and water, but can produce eagle looks.
Breezy par 3 over hazard
Forget ego and play the percentages—a safe miss short-side keeps bogey in play.
Short par 4 temptation
Resist going for the green if wind or setup is tough; lay up for a controlled wedge and birdie chance.
Club selection for final three holes
Expect shifting conditions—re-check wind and flag location for each tee shot.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
First-class surfaces, lush and meticulously maintained following the 2021 renovation.
Pace
Fast and member-friendly, thanks to the no-tee-time policy.
Vibe
Exclusive, relaxed luxury—private island calm with Nicklaus-level golf excitement.
Dress code
Traditional private club golf attire; guests should confirm details prior to arrival.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Study the wind
Check local coastal breezes before your round—the wind changes both club selection and strategy, especially on the closing holes.
02
Bring your rangefinder
The expanded greens and new bunker placements demand precise yardages for good scoring chances.
03
Ask about course routing
With renovations altering flow, a quick walkthrough of routing nuances with staff can save strokes and confusion.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1981
Sailfish Point Golf Club opens as a Jack Nicklaus original design.
- 2021
Comprehensive course reimagination and renovation by Nicklaus Design.
- 2022
Renovated course debuts, with expanded greens and new infrastructure.
- 2023
Hosts South Florida PGA Professional Championships.
- 2024
Named to Golf Digest's Best in State list for Florida.
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Member-First Philosophy
With a no-tee-times system and private, member-owned format, Sailfish Point is purpose-built for pure enjoyment and pace—play is relaxed but exclusive, with the ocean always within sight or earshot.
The Proving Ground
Sailfish Point quietly hosts top-notch regional events, including the South Florida PGA Professional Championships, drawing many of the area’s best to tackle its strategic test.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Sailfish Point sits at the southern tip of Hutchinson Island, with both Atlantic Ocean and Indian River frontage.
2
The course was one of Jack Nicklaus’s earliest solo Florida designs.
3
The 2021 renovation added new forward tees, expanded greens, and upgraded course infrastructure.
4
There are no tee times for members—play is by preference, not by the clock.
5
The club hosts regional professional and charity events, but is best known for its privacy and exclusivity.
Build the trip
Island Golf Plus Palm Beach Greats
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
PGA National Champion Course
Resort
Tour-tested, thrilling Championship golf experience.
The Park West Palm
Public
Modern daily-fee course with broad appeal and fun layout.
Abacoa Golf Club
Public
Accessible public play and elevated green complexes.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club
Public
User-friendly, natural routing through preserve.
Stuart or Palm Beach Gardens for access to both Sailfish Point and the best public and resort tracks.
Course DNA
If You Like Sailfish Point Golf Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match7.9
Dancing Rabbit Golf Club – Azaleas Course
Philadelphia, MississippiWhy it matches: Dancing Rabbit Golf Club – Azaleas Course is a natural next stop after Sailfish Point Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match7.8
The Golf Club at Red Rock
Rapid City, South DakotaScenery
Why it matches: If Sailfish Point Golf Club is your kind of course, The Golf Club at Red Rock is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
Strong DNA Match8.1
The Quarry Golf Course
San Antonio, TexasScenery
Why it matches: If Sailfish Point Golf Club is your kind of course, The Quarry Golf Course is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
The architect's other work
More from Jack Nicklaus
Sebonack Golf Club
Southampton, New YorkModern classic by the bay with bold natural drama
Muirfield Village Golf Club
Dublin, OhioA Nicklaus masterpiece, tournament-tough, elite and exacting
Harbour Town Golf Links
Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaThe original shotmaker’s test on the Carolina coast
Old Corkscrew Golf Club
Estero, FloridaNicklaus’s boldest natural Florida test
Pinehurst Resort (No. 9 Course)
Pinehurst, North CarolinaNicklaus risk-reward in Pinehurst’s sandhills heart
Desert Mountain (Geronimo Course)
Scottsdale, ArizonaNicklaus drama across Scottsdale's canyons and ridges
Community Sentiment
See something inaccurate in this listing?