Home of the Honda Classic

400 Ave of the Champions

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

800-863-2819

Cost:  $$$  Click for current rate

PGA National Golf and Spa — Overall Empty Nester’s Guide (ENG) Rating 3.9/5.0

The Champion Course —  ENG Rating 4.2/5.0

The Champion course at PGA National Resort & Spa was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 2014 and hosts the Honda Classiceach spring on the PGA TOUR. Although The Champion has generous landing areas and spacious and accepting TifEagle 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.

  • Tee       Yardage       Par      Rating       Slope
  • Black      7045               72          75.2             148
  • Gold       6727                72          73.4             145
  • Blue        6373               72           71.8             138
  • White     5984               72          69.9             129
  • Red         5145                72          71.7              136

The Squire — ENG Rating 3.9/5.0

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 shot.

  • Tee       Yardage       Par      Rating       Slope
  • Black      6447               72           72.1             140
  • White     6015               72           69.7             130
  • Red         4911                72          69.6             122

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 emphasized modernizing the course layout.

  • Tee       Yardage       Par      Rating       Slope
  • Black      7050               72          74.5             139
  • Blue        6600              72           72.3             136
  • White     6200               72          70.4             133
  • Red         5145                72          71.7              136

Local Restaurant

Discovering a hidden gem among many restaurant options in the greater Palm Beach area is no easy task.  But with a little help from our friend Yelp we found Christopher’s Kitchen.  The restaurant is only five minutes from PGA National.

I was a bit hesitant since this restaurant serves only vegan dishes.  However, with open minds and empty stomachs, my friend and I decided to take a shot.  To our surprise we had the most pleasant and satisfying dining experience.  Definitely try their Power Bowl ($13.95).  It was delicious, gluten-free and guilt-free. We liked it so much we went back for lunch the next day. And once again for dinner before leaving Palm Beach.

ENG Rating 5.0/5.0.

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