PGA National Golf Club

PGA National Champion Golf Course – Designed by: Tom & George Fazio, Jack Nicklaus – 6,442 Metres / 7,045 Yards – Parkland – Par 72

Although the Champion has generous landing areas and spacious and accepting greens, golfers are presented with course management challenges throughout the round. This South Florida golf resort course has five sets of tees to make the course more playable for golfers of all levels. A must-play on any avid golfer’s list, The Champion features the Bear Trap, which spans three demanding holes designed by Jack Nicklaus. Considered one of Florida’s most notable golf challenges, on what is unquestionably one of the best golf courses in Florida, USA Today calls the Bear Trap “one of the toughest stretches in golf.”

Originally designed by Tom and George Fazio for major tournament play, The Champion course at PGA National Resort & Spa was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 2014 and hosts the Honda Classic each spring on the PGA Tour. Humidity makes the fairways stick, whilst large bodies of water can prove perilous to any wayward shot. The greens are narrow, and so are the fairways, but with various tee-boxes, golfers of every ability can play the PGA National Champions Course. Jack Nicklaus redesigned the fairways and greens to make them more accommodating to shots, so that balls were collected instead of being repelled by the greens and fairways. Overall, it’s a must-play course that will test every golfer, but with fantastic course conditions and the pleasant Florida climate, you can’t help but enjoy being there.

PGA National The Palmer – Designed by: Arnold Palmer – 6,473 Metres / 7,079 Yards – Par 72

Named after its designer, Arnold Palmer, this course is one of the more forgiving at PGA National Resort from tee to fairway, known as a risk/reward game. The open fairways and larger “Champion Bermuda” greens can be quite accommodating and invite players to take a chance if they dare – as golfers are not overly penalised for missing the fairway or primary rough on most holes here. There is a considerable amount of undulation through the fairway, presenting the opportunity for uneven lies and creative shot-making. The Palmer has a great series of finishing holes, with the 18th being one of the most scenic par 5’s on the property.

The layout features tree-lined fairways with reed-lined water hazards, intriguing bunker shapes and an abundance of rock-lined hazards. The challenges on The Palmer are not as numerous as the Champions Course, but they come in the form of water hazards alongside fairways, and large bunkers surrounding greens. The Palmer course is often cited as PGA National members’ favourite of the five. The Course follows an out-and-back routing, with the 18th coming in at a 601-yard par-5 to offer a long challenge when finishing off a round. Overall, The Palmer course is consistently ranked as a favourite by those who  have experienced all five PGA National Golf Courses, and a must-play for every travelling golfer.

PGA National The Fazio – Designed by: George & Tom Fazio, Tom Fazio II – 6,446 Metres / 7,050 Yards – Par 72

The Fazio is a reinvention of The Haig, PGA National Resort & Spa’s original 18-hole course that opened in 1980. The Haig was designed by George and Tom Fazio in tribute to five-time PGA champion Walter Hagen, and its renovation is being led by third-generation designer Tom Fazio II, who emphasised modernising the course layout. While the original par-72 routing remains intact, the renovation improves the classic golf architecture with modern advances, including Bermuda grass on tees and fairways, Reconfigured tee boxes and bunkers, and friendly tee-boxes allowing the course to be played at 4,663 metres / 5,100 yards for those who like a little less of a challenge.

The Fazio’s fairways are generally flat, with very strategic bunkers that present the most amount of challenges as you approach the greens. Both nines on the eighteen-hole course haven their own loops, so each starts and finishes next to the PGA National Fazio driving range. Many oaks and banyan trees are interspersed throughout the back nine, whilst the nine runs straight through a residential area. Walking with caddies is permitted, otherwise golf carts are compulsory.

PGA National The Squire – Designed by: George & Tom Fazio – 5,895 Metres / 6,447 Yards – Par 72

Named after the immortal Gene Sarazen, the first golfer ever to win the professional Grand Slam, “the thinking man’s course” is the ultimate test of accuracy and precision. Designed by Tom and George Fazio, The Squire is the shortest and most exacting of the courses at PGA National Resort. Accuracy with fairway woods and long irons is tested on many tees, and the new smaller “Emerald Bermuda” greens demand precise approach shots.

 Several doglegs provide a risk/reward opportunity for any longer hitter as well. The Squire is surrounded by natural areas teeming with vegetation and wildlife – the 5th hole even runs along part of a wilderness preserve, which borders the west side of the PGA National community. Overall, the Squire has been labelled the most scenic the five courses as its route features plenty of natural ponds, small lakes and wetland areas.

The Estates Course – Designed by Karl Litten  Par 72 – 6,121 Metres / 6,694 Yards

Designed by Karl Litten, The Estates course presents an enjoyable mix of challenging and docile holes. The course sets up for any level of player as it is one of the shorter courses at PGA National Resort & Spa. Where golfers are tested is in the formidable placement of fairway bunkers and water hazards. Generous fairways at this course will often make stray tee shots more manageable, and the large, inviting greens help keep the course fun for the high handicapper. Forced carries to many of the greens over either hazards or bunkers create a test that makes each round more enjoyable than the last. With an open feeling created by the property-wide housing setbacks, the course seems almost like a core golf course. The Estates course is located five miles west of the main resort.

The course has generous fairways that eases the stress of the fairway bunkers and water hazards, so your tee-shots do not always have to be directly on line. Considered a generous course when compared with the other courses at PGA National, The Estate Course has an intriguing block-like acreage that makes many holes run parallel or perpendicular to each other, with a large forest area in the middle that’s interspersed with water hazards.