Jack Nicklaus (second from left) is creating a new golf course at NOKOSI in collaboration with his son, Gary, on the site of a former South Florida private club that closed about a decade ago.

NOKOSI

Jack Nicklaus and his son, Gary, are redesigning and rebuilding a golf course at a South Florida private club from the ground up that’s being rebranded as NOKOSI: A Nicklaus Family Club. The Palm Beach County project is the first development under a newly formed design group since Nicklaus reacquired the company he founded over 50 years ago following a series of legal battles.

Construction is already underway at the former Sherbrooke Golf & Country Club, a 153-acre site located about 20 minutes from Palm Beach International Airport. The completely reimagined course, crafted by Nicklaus, is expected to open in late 2026 in a golf-rich region of Florida that the record 18-time major champion has called home for almost six decades. The former club closed about a decade ago and, after a failed residential redevelopment bid, was acquired in 2025 for $15 million.

“Palm Beach County has been home to our family for close to 60 years, and where Barbara and I have raised our five children, most of our 24 grandchildren, as well as our nine great-grandchildren -- with number 10 on the way,” said Jack Nicklaus. “NOKOSI is very personal to us, because it is inspired and driven by our lifelong commitment to family. It is about creating a place where families can come together around great golf, great friendships, and a club culture built to last for generations.”

Nokosi means “bear” in the Native American language of the Seminole Indians in South Florida, a tie to Nicklaus’ Golden Bear nickname.

The centerpiece for the high-end, limited membership club focused on hospitality, lifestyle and family engagement will be the first golf course completed by the newly formed development group led by Gary Nicklaus and the Nicklaus family along with TWG Global. Jack Nicklaus in March teamed with TWG Global, a diversified holding company whose sports interests include MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers and the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, to complete the acquisition of Nicklaus Companies LLC. At the time, he said he was excited to expand the success of Nicklaus Design, through which he’s created many of his more than 300 courses worldwide.

NOKOSI is envisioned as a legacy project that signals a new phase of golf development tied to the Nicklaus family’s long-term vision. The fourth of Jack’s and wife Barbara’s five children, 57-year-old Gary is a West Palm Beach resident and is overseeing operations and development at NOKOSI.

Not much is known about the design, other than the routing will be walking-friendly and, per a news release, “feature strategic shot values and a layout shaped by Jack’s long-standing approach to creating aesthetically pleasing courses that reward thoughtful play while remaining fair, enjoyable and memorable.”

The course will be complemented by expansive practice facilities, advanced instruction programs, and a staff dedicated to player development and member experience. Clubhouse and amenity construction is scheduled to begin in fall of 2026, with plans calling for state-of-the-art health and wellness amenities designed to support active, long-term living, relaxation and social connection.

“We’re building the kind of club where members don’t just come to play golf — they come to spend time, connect, and invest in their long-term lifestyle,” said Gary Nicklaus. “Everything is being designed with the long-term member experience in mind.”

Sherbrooke originally closed around 2016 due to financial issues, fell into disrepair and became the subject of redevelopment disputes. A proposed plan in 2021 to build 282 homes on the site faced legal opposition from local homeowners about increased density and the removal of green space, resulting in the course sitting fallow for years before the Nicklaus project emerged.