Ruitoque (1997), Karibana (2012), and Serrezuela (redesign). Three Nicklaus-signed courses in Colombia, across three radically different climate regions.
Updated: April 2026 · By Pelecanus — Golf Tour Operator in Colombia — IAGTO Member
Jack Nicklaus is, by any objective metric, the most successful golfer in history: 18 majors, 73 PGA Tour victories, and a legacy as a course architect that has shaped some of the most respected designs in the world. In Colombia, the Nicklaus name is linked to three courses. Each one tells a different story of Colombian golf.
In this guide
1. Ruitoque Golf Country Club (Bucaramanga, 1997)
The first Nicklaus design in Colombia opened in 1997 at Ruitoque, a highland plateau at 1,000 m (3,281 ft) altitude on the outskirts of Bucaramanga, Santander. It was no easy commission: Nicklaus had to work with mountainous terrain, dramatic elevation changes, and canyon winds that shift from hole to hole.
With a rating of 73.1 and a slope of 151, Ruitoque consistently ranks among the top five courses in South America. Situated on the Bucaramanga plateau at roughly 800–1,300 m (2,625–4,265 ft) altitude, the course stretches across rolling terrain where winds from the Chicamocha Canyon add a strategic dimension that few courses on the continent can match. Nicklaus designed the greens with multiple tiers and subtle breaks that punish imprecise approaches.
The back nine holes, with panoramic views of the canyon, are among the most photographed in the country.
The result is one of the most respected courses in South America. Ruitoque ranks among the Top 5 in South America in multiple rankings and has been nominated numerous times at the World Golf Awards.
Designer: Jack Nicklaus (Nicklaus Design, 1997)
Par: 72
Rating / Slope: 73.1 / 151
Altitude: ~1,000 m (3,281 ft)
Signature feature: Mountain design with significant elevation changes
What sets Ruitoque apart is the use of wind. In Santander, the canyons and geography create currents that shift throughout the day. Nicklaus oriented the holes so that each nine would include holes into the wind, downwind, and crosswind — ensuring the same course feels different on every round.
2. Karibana Beach Golf Club (Cartagena, 2012)
Karibana is the only golf course in Colombia with a direct ocean view. Inaugurated as TPC Cartagena, it hosted Korn Ferry Tour events and continues to serve as a venue for professional tournaments. The Nicklaus design takes full advantage of the constant Caribbean breeze — the coastal holes, especially 14 through 17, play completely differently depending on wind direction. The fairways are wide, but the greens are defended by deep bunkers and water in strategic positions.
The experience goes beyond golf: the complex includes a five-star hotel, private beach, and marina. It is possible to combine a morning round with an afternoon at the Rosario Islands or dinner in the walled city of Cartagena, just 30 minutes away.
3. Serrezuela Country Club (Bogota Savanna)
Although Nicklaus did not design Serrezuela from scratch — the club already existed — his firm participated as a consultant in the renovation that transformed the course into what it is today: a technical layout on the Bogota Savanna that has been nominated multiple times at the World Golf Awards. At 2,600 m (8,530 ft) altitude, the ball flies significantly farther than at sea level, forcing players to recalculate every club selection.
The Three Colombian Nicklaus Courses: A Journey in Itself
Playing all three Nicklaus courses in Colombia means crossing three completely different landscapes. Ruitoque sits at 1,000 meters above sea level in the Santander canyon, where the altitude adds noticeable distance to every shot and the surrounding cliffs create a dramatic backdrop. Karibana lies at sea level on the Caribbean coast, where ocean winds reshape every hole depending on the time of day. Serrezuela occupies the cool Bogota savanna at 2,600 meters, where the ball flies significantly farther and the mild climate allows year-round play without heat or humidity.
The contrast between these three settings is what makes the Nicklaus circuit in Colombia unique. Very few countries offer this kind of geographic range within a single designer’s portfolio. A golfer who plays all three will experience sea-level wind strategy, mid-altitude canyon golf, and high-altitude precision — three fundamentally different games in one trip.
Why Nicklaus Came to Colombia
Nicklaus’s involvement in Colombia began with Ruitoque in the late 1990s, when a group of investors in Bucaramanga commissioned a world-class residential golf community. The dramatic terrain of the Chicamocha canyon offered the kind of natural elevation changes that Nicklaus has always favored in his designs. The success of Ruitoque led to a second commission: Karibana on the Caribbean coast, which opened in 2012 as TPC Cartagena and hosted Korn Ferry Tour events.
Colombia’s appeal to designers like Nicklaus comes down to geography. The country’s extreme topographic diversity — from sea level to over 3,000 meters — creates natural settings that most golf destinations simply cannot replicate. Arnold Palmer recognized this as early as 1956 when he won the Colombian Open in Cali. Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed El Rincón in 1957. Pete Dye built a course in Pereira. Colombia has quietly attracted some of the most important names in golf course architecture for over half a century.
Frank Spitzer
Golf Tour Operator • IAGTO Member • RNT 171769
Frank runs the only specialized golf tour operation in Colombia, with direct access to 23 courses verified on the ground. From Bogota he coordinates itineraries that combine golf, gastronomy, and nature in a country with over 50 courses from sea level to 9,843 ft (3,000 m) altitude.