The results are in, and PGA National’s Champion Course, the new home of the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic, has shown itself to be a real “monster test of golf.” The course played to a stroke average of 1.958 over par for the week of the tournament, edging out Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines and the Riviera Country Club to become the toughest course on the PGA TOUR so far this season.
Located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, PGA National Resort & Spa was developed as the centerpiece of a 2,340-acre luxury residential community. The 339-room resort boasts five master-designed golf courses. PGA National also features a multi-million dollar, 40,000 square foot Spa with the renowned Waters of the World collection of outdoor mineral pools, an extensive program of tennis instruction and competition on its 19 Har-Tru tennis courts, a 33,000 square foot Health & Racquet Club with personal trainers and a wide range of classes, five professional croquet lawns, multiple dining options, 34,000square feet of meeting facilities and a resort pool which fronts a 26-acre lake.
Among the pros, there were no complaints about the course, which was renovated by Jack Nicklaus prior to this year’s tournament.
“It was difficult but fair,” said Jim Furyk, currently ranked number two among the world’s top golfers. “There was always a place to hit the ball, though it wasn’t always easy to get there.” NBC analyst Johhny Miller was effusive about the course and Nicklaus’ renovations throughout the tournament. “I think this event goes up several notches in status, just because of the couse,” Miller said during the broadcast.
In addition top the highest stroke average over par to date this season, an amazing 6 holes on the Champion Course rank among the toughest 50 in the nation, according to statistics provided by the PGA TOUR.
Report by Chitra Mogul
