About King & Bear

Located in St. Augustine, FL, the King & Bear is stunning 18-hole golf course set among pristine lakes, beautiful loblolly pines, and stately oak trees in northeast Florida. Most notably, it's the only collaboration in the world between golf's greatest legends - Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. 

About the Designers  

The King & Bear golf course gets its name from both designers. Palmer earned the nickname "The King" during his playing career, while Nicklaus adopted the "Golden Bear" moniker. The two World Golf Hall of Fame members, both inducted in the inaugural class in 1974, put the spotlight on their decades-old friendship, rather than their storied rivalry, to create this co-design. King & Bear stands as a representation of their shared love of golf course design.

Arnold Palmer Design has created more than 230 golf courses worldwide, and Nicklaus Design has more than 400. These two legends put their heads together and the resulting golf course is beautiful, challenging, and remarkable. Measuring 7,279 yards from the back tees and 5,119 yards from the forward tees, the course is sure to challenge avid golfers while providing player-friendly conditions for beginners.

Course Layout & Design

The layout puts a premium on driving, which should come as no surprise as both Palmer and Nicklaus were known for their power at the height of their playing careers. Golfers will also experience Nicklaus' inviting fairways and Palmer's fast greens. When legends like Arnie and Jack dream up a layout, you know it's going to be good. But they didn't just create a solid track here, they crafted an absolute masterpiece by blending their two distinct design styles. 

Palmer and Nicklaus even incorporated indigenous coquina rock into waste bunkers, cart paths, and as bulkheads for the many lakes that come into play on a whopping 16 of the 18 holes. The front nine has that nice open, links-style feel as a nod to the historic St. Augustine area's roots. But then on the back, it transitions into quintessential Florida golf surrounded by towering pines, ancient oaks, coquina rock, and shimmering water hazards.

Stretching out to a robust 7,279 yards from the tips, this course requires you to unleash the driver and embrace your power game. No surprise there though, considering Palmer and Nicklaus could absolutely punish a golf ball back in their primes. In fact, Palmer himself selected hole 15 on this course as one of his 'Dream 18' in an issue of Sports Illustrated.  
Walk in the Footsteps of Legends.

When you play King & Bear, get ready for a true test that lets you walk the same fairways as these two icons of the game. Tee it up at the one-and-only King & Bear course.

Recent Highlights

Boardroom Magazine 2023 - Distinguished Golf Destination
Golden Fork Award Best New Amenity 2021 - AJ's Kitchen & Cocktails
Top Ranked Club and Resort Culinary Experiences - World Golf Village Resort
Top Ranked Patios - AJ's Kitchen & Cocktails
Top Ranked Private Club and Resort Pro Shops
Korn Ferry Tour's King & Bear Classic June 2020