Power Rankings: Florida resorts and Nicklaus designs highlight the top 10 courses for the month of December

Before we turn our attention to our annual Best-of lists, highlighted the top-rated courses according to reviews submitted by you, we have one more monthly power rankings to look back on.

The month's top courses, according to reviews submitted to Golf Advisor for the month, were not surprisingly all pretty bankable warm-weather winter destinations, including four in Florida alone.

The New Course at Grand Cypress, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus design sculpted in the mold of Scottish Links, took the top spot.

Coming in second was a Nicklaus design, the Nicklaus Design Course at Vidanta Puerto Penasco, and Grand Bear, a Jack Nicklaus design in the Mississippi Gulf Coast, finished 5th.

You can view the full top ten below, as well as our reviewer photo and review of the week.

Top 10 courses in December

Orlando, Fla.


Sonora, Mexico


Howey in the Hills, Fla.


Howey in the Hills, Fla.


Saucier, Miss.


St. Simons Island, Ga.


Borrego Springs, Calif.


Lake Buena Vista, Fla.


Hollister, Calif.


Naples, Fla.


Reviewer photo of the week

It's the week of the SBS? Tournament of Champions on the PGA Tour, and we were fortunate enough to have reviewer BrandonWebb submit several images from his round on the Plantation Course at Kapalua:

Review of the week

There aren't many Alister Mackenzie-designed courses in the United States, but the U.K. has a bit more. One reviewer had the chance to play Hadley Wood, located outside of London, and jumped at the chance.

I played at Hadley last week following a buddy's recommendation and was amazed at how far this place had come on from the last time I played. Great welcome from the Pro who was very friendly and happy to show us around and explain about history of the club. The layout is traditional MacKenzie with crazy good greens and huge bunkers. A great day out in North London's Hollywood town of Hadley Wood. What more can you ask for! Can't wait to get back there in the summer.

Brandon Tucker is the Sr. Managing Editor for GolfPass and was the founding editor of Golf Advisor in 2014, he was the managing editor for Golf Channel Digital's Courses & Travel. To date, his golf travels have taken him to over two dozen countries and nearly 600 golf courses worldwide. While he's played some of the most prestigious courses in the world, Tucker's favorite way to play the game is on a great muni in under three hours. Follow Brandon on Twitter at @BrandonTucker and on Instagram at @btuck34.
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Power Rankings: Florida resorts and Nicklaus designs highlight the top 10 courses for the month of December