Half the battle of planning a golf trip is transportation. Getting there, and then getting around once you’ve arrived.
PGA National tackles the transit headache thanks to piece of cake flights from the Northeast to West Palm Beach, Fla., and a series of four first tees just downstairs from your hotel room.
Without spending time on the logistics of moving your group from spot to spot, you can fully enjoy PGA National’s bevy of golf options.
Thanks to wildly different designs, and with slightly different turf on the greens of each course, playing all your rounds on site won’t turn your trip into a monotonous grind. A poll of our group revealed just about everyone had a different favorite 18.
The Champion is the big-name course, thanks to its place on the PGA Tour as host of the Honda Classic and history hosting major championships and a Ryder Cup. Redesigned by Jack Nicklaus, the highlight comes down the stretch as golfers square off with the Golden Bear’s “Bear Trap,” a series of three intimidating holes.
The Squire provides a tranquil tour through beautiful nature preserves. It makes for a peaceful round with ever-present wildlife and a layout featuring lots of fun holes. It’s the shortest course and offers many risk-reward options that keep the round exciting.
The Palmer is considered the top contender to The Champion for PGA National’s top billing. A demanding track that might not hit you over the head as brutally hard, but just may have you wondering what happened when it’s time to add up the scorecard.
A nice change of pace can be found on The Haig. It’s a stellar complement to some of the more demanding options you’ll face, designed with no forced carries over water.
The Estates is a favorite of members and locals. With water on 17 of 18 holes, don’t expect a pushover just because it’s off property.
Want to explore West Palm Beach?
If you’re thinking snowbirds and grandparents when picturing West Palm Beach, think again. A vibrant downtown is lined with dozens of bars and restaurants and a scene that exudes energy. With everything from posh martini bars to a roof-deck club to margarita-fueled sports bars, there’s an option (or many) for everyone.
