Tiger Woods in his first Honda Classic appearance since 2014 placed just outside the top ten, but proved he was still the biggest draw in golf. When was the last time crowds gathered 10 deep for a golfer ranked 544th in the world?

Perfect Florida weather and the Tiger Woods factor helped the 2018 Honda Classic shatter all previous attendance records.

The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens is an annual stop on the PGA tour’s Florida swing. Designed by Tom and George Fazio for major tournament play,  Jack Nicklaus redesigned The Champion course in 1990, creating the now famous stretch of finishing holes 15, 16 and 17, called the Bear Trap.

Fifteen is a 179 yard par three, Sixteen is a 434 yard par four and Seventeen is a 172 yard par three. Describing the challenge of the Bear Trap, Nicklaus said,

It’s not about length, it’s about precision.

If you bail out into the left bunker to avoid the water right on 17, only a deft touch will keep your ball on a green sloping severely downhill into the water. If the wind is up and the rough is long, tour players will be happy to take par and move on.

Playing the challenging Bear Trap at PGA National is must on any avid golfer’s bucket list. And if your game needs a tune-up before tackling the Bear Trap, the on-site David Leadbetter Academy at PGA National can help.

Golf Digest put The Champion at PGA National on their list for best buddies golf destinations in 2013 and the recent 100 million dollar renovation puts PGA National at the top of première golf resort destinations in Florida.

If you can’t book a tee time on The Champion, try the new Fazio course. Tom Fazio II took the existing Haig course and modernized the layout, reconfiguring the tee boxes and bunkers and enlarging the greens, now grassed with TifEagle.

After your round at one of the PGA National’s five golf courses, check out their signature restaurant Ironwood, a 2012 Wine Spectator  Award of Excellence winner.

The resort offerings also include a health and racquet club and the “Waters of the World” outdoor mineral pools, – part of the 40,000 square foot European spa.

Travel Planner

• The Honda Classic   Feb.23-26 2023
• PGA National Resort  & Spa   400 Ave of the Champions, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418   561.627. 2000
• The Leadbetter Golf Academy PGA National