For a sport routinely identified with privilege, golf has a wonderful democratic streak. While all the money on the world won’t let you throw a pitch from the mound at Fenway Park or skate in a game at the Air Canada Centre, recreational golfers can tee it up on the holiest of the holies such as Pebble Beach, the Old Course in St. Andrews, TPC at Sawgrass or Banff Springs.
That fantasy player experience extends to the PGA National Resort’s famed Champion Course, home of next month’s Honda Championship (March 3-6) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The Tom and George Fazio design-- updated in the 2002 by local resident Jack Nicklaus-- has hosted the Honda tournament, the 1983 Ryder Cup, the 1987 PGA Championship and the PGA Seniors championship (1982-2000).
With its renowned Bear Trap (holes 15 through 17) featuring some of golf's most challenging par-three approaches, the Champion has become a bucket-list destination for Canadian golfers looking to test themselves against the best. The Champion features water on 16 of its holes. Add in Florida breezes, white sand and heat and you have 5145- 7048 yards of challenge to satisfy golfers at all levels.
For the real Tour experience, try walking the course with caddies to simulate the tournament feel. You may not score four straight 68s or better (as 2010 Honda winner Camilo Villegas did) but you can try his patented Spiderman stance lining up a putt on the Champ’s testing greens. To complete the experience, the resort has a Honda Classic package with unlimited one-day play at the Champion, carts, accommodation, breakfast and practice facilities that ranges from $210 (low season) to $315 (high season).
The new PGA Resort owners have spent $65 million since acquiring the four diamond, triple A property in 2006 to replace the greens with Tif Eagle grass that allows for a bent-grass experience in a climate where Bermuda usually holds sway. For a little extra you can get a caddie to line them up for you.
But the Champion is just the beginning of the experience at the Resort, which features four other courses. The 7079-yard Palmer course with its new Champion Bermuda greens is an ideal resort course known for its distinctive cochina shell hazards.
The Squire (named for Gene Sarazen) plays a tight 7048 yards to challenging Tif Dwarf greens, while the Haig (for Walter Hagen) features forgiving fairways for the casual round among friends. A fifth course, the Estates, is located nearby the resort for players wanting a new experience every day. All the resort courses feature a range of tee boxes to accommodate every skill level.
In addition, PGA National features a David Leadbetter Golf Academy (run by former Chateau Whistler instructor Matt Denzer), a Dave Pelz Scoring School and Titleist Performance Institute to brush up on your game. If a workout is required, there’s the newly remodeled Health and Racquet Club, a 33,000-square-foot fitness center that includes tennis and racquetball courts. And the Spa can soothe sore muscles with a range of service from Swedish massage to pedicures and facials.
With the well-known attractions of the nearby beaches and resorts as competition, the PGA National has poured much care and attention into renovations of its rooms, restaurants, conference and recreation areas. A new chef, Irishman Gordon Maybury, was lured from Doral in Miami to upgrade the menus of the resort’s restaurants. On a recent visit the upgrades were apparent with two splendid restaurants – iBAR and Ironwood Grille – and a zero-entry pool providing a beautiful place to while away a 19th hole experience.
PGA National is a short 15 minute drive from Palm Beach International airport with daily direct flights from Montreal and Toronto.