A few of the team from Golfbreaks were lucky enough to venture to Florida recently, visiting some of the best golf resorts and courses in the Sunshine State – all in the name of work!
They played an array of magnificent holes, experienced great American hospitality, saw a number of excellent sights, and even met a few inspirational people (in particular Jack Nicklaus). Here is what they had to say about their incredible golf holiday to Florida!
PGA National Resort
PGA National offers the complete golf resort experience. A $100 million renovation back in 2012 has transformed the resort, allowing it to boast modern-day luxury combined with grand history as one of the USA’s greatest golf resorts.
Located in Palm Beach Gardens and featuring 90 holes of championship golf – this resort is just over an hour’s drive from Miami International Airport – the ideal getaway for British golfers craving some championship golf in the sunshine state.
In addition to hosting the Ryder Cup in 1983, PGA National has set the PGA TOUR’s ‘Florida Swing’ in motion with The Honda Classic since 2007. Standing between the competitors and victory is the Champion Course and its infamous ‘Bear Trap’ – the toughest three-hole stretch on the PGA TOUR named after Jack Nicklaus who re-designed the course in 1990.
The tournament will be won or lost within The Bear Trap – the pros are happy to escape with three pars and so should any amateur holiday-goers!
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is a privately owned, understated golfing venue that hosts the second stop of the Florida Swing in the heart of Orlando. The club features 80 bedrooms, 27 holes of golf, and as a resident of the club, you get the feeling that you are Arnold Palmer’s guest, rather than a ‘nobody’ of any other golf resort.
The Arnold Palmer’s Invitational brings out all the big names and is one of the more historic competitions on the PGA TOUR, dating back to 1966. Former winners here include Tiger Woods (8 times), Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Rory McIlroy – so you can understand why every golfer wants to add their name to the trophy.
The course itself offers 27-holes of beautiful parkland, with the Challenger and the Champion 9s making up the layout you see on TV. It is long and tight, and it features one of the toughest back 9s on tour, with the 14th and 17th without doubt the two most difficult. The 18th provides a grandstand finish and has been home to some of the most dramatic shots in golf!
TPC Sawgrass
Perhaps the most famous course on the PGA TOUR schedule, TPC Sawgrass has famously hosted THE PLAYERS Championship since 1982. It is one of the very best in Florida and is a must-play for anyone visiting the Sunshine State. There are very few strategic tests of golf quite like this, with surprisingly undulating fairways and greens (which you can’t always see on TV), doglegs aplenty, and intimidating tee shots.
Here, you’ll need to battle water from start to finish, especially on the infamous 17th hole, the most recognisable par 3 in golf! The 18th is another whirlwind of a hole, a difficult par-4 dogleg around the biggest lake on the course. It is a stressful end to the round no doubt, but the finish is all worth it with the prospect of walking into one of the world’s most beautiful clubhouses.
Innisbrook Golf Resort
Situated near Tampa, Innisbrook Golf Resort is more of a family complex that features four championship golf courses within close proximity to the famed beaches of Clearwater. This resort may not be as well-known as some of the others in this list, however, many pros have singled the Copperhead Course out as their favourite layout on the PGA TOUR.
The Valspar Championship is the final stop of the Florida Swing and features gorgeous undulating holes through pine trees, testing dog legs, and several water features – more reminiscent of the Carolina and Georgia sand hills than the typical Florida terrain.
The resort also has three other 18-hole championship courses – all of which are superbly maintained and act as the perfect preparation before you take on The Copperhead.
Bonus: Trump National Doral Miami
Located just a 15-minute’ drive from Miami International Airport, this Trump National Doral Miami is the ideal destination for golfers looking to get away for a quick few days golfing in Florida. Donald Trump purchased this distressed venue in 2012 for a reported $150 million and got to work overhauling the property into one of the world’s most impressive stay & play golf resorts.
And while it is no longer featured on the PGA TOUR schedule, having previously hosted an event for more than half a century, it is certainly worth a visit on any trip. The five-star complex features a total of five world-class courses and a state-of-the-art driving range with an LED lighting system, which was one of the first of its kind.
Visit Golfbreaks.com to find your next US golf holiday.
The post Playing the PGA TOUR’s Florida Swing appeared first on Golf News.
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