Ever since Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer in the history of the game, unveiled his first golf course design in 1970, he has been winning kudos for his visually striking layouts and challenging yet playable holes. More than 235 Nicklaus courses have sprung up around the globe, earning the Golden Bear "Golf Digest's" designation in 1999 as the world's leading active designer. At least 30 Nicklaus courses have been ranked in various Top 100 lists, from Shoal Creek in Birmingham, with its sharply etched bunkers and rock-strewn creeks, to Castle Pines outside Denver, carved through a mile-high site that affords stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Nicklaus reveals how he builds his courses and shares the secret of how to "read" a golf hole and play it well. With tips from the master on how to plot out strategy on the fairway, this book with its superb course photos, plans and diagrams will be the season's top holiday gift for any golfer.