World’s best players rave about Champion Course and The Bear Trap
(PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.) – PGA National Resort & Spa — host of last week’s PGA TOUR Honda Classic – announces 111,950 spectators attended the wildly popular event held at the legendary south Florida destination. This represents a substantial increase over the previous record of 101,200 in 2010.
As the start of the “Florida Swing,” the Honda Classic has become one of the prestigious stops on TOUR due to the stature of The Champion Course, challenge of The Bear Trap and plethora of amenities offered at PGA National – where the majority of the field stays during the tournament. The resort’s Ironwood Grille and sophisticated iBAR in its spacious lobby have become two of the best spots to mingle with PGA TOUR players.
“This was our fifth time hosting the Honda Classic and the event gets more spectacular every year,” says Joel Paige, Vice President and Managing Director of PGA National. “Our combination of championship golf, state-of-the-art instruction facilities, world-class amenities and dining provide TOUR players as well as all our resort guests everything needed for a wonderful week of Florida fun in the sun.”
Originally designed by George and Tom Fazio, and redesigned by Jack Nicklaus, The Champion is home to the legendary “Bear Trap” — known as one of the most difficult three-hole stretches in golf. The industrial strength trifecta lived up to its billing as No. 15, a par 3 of 179 yards, captured 60 balls in the water. The 434-yard par 4 16th gobbled up 25. No. 17, a par 3 of 205 yards, was a watery grave for 65 more balls bringing the grand total to 150 — the most ever for the event.
“There’s a pretty good reason they call it the Bear Trap because if it doesn’t get you one way, it’s going to get you another,” says Rory Sabbatini, winner of the 2011 Honda Classic. “It definitely caused some stress for me.”
When asked about The Bear Trap earlier in the week golf legend Jack Nicklaus says, “It’s not about length, it’s about precision. It’s about guts. It’s all about what do you have in your chest that you can finish those holes.”
Says Paige, “We encourage golfers to visit us and test their mettle against our Champion Course and the mighty Bear Trap just like the PGA TOUR players did last week.”
For more information, or to make reservations, visit www.pgaresort.com, or call (800) 533.9386. Advance tee-times are required.
About PGA National Resort & Spa
PGA National Resort & Spa is a national, premier golf vacation and meeting destination. The legendary 379-room Florida resort recently completed a $65 million comprehensive revitalization, including a new front entrance, outdoor pool and pavilion, new Ironwood Grille and iBAR, as well as enhanced public areas, golf courses and landscaping.
PGA National Resort & Spa offers 90 holes of championship golf on five courses, including the famed Champion course, home to the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic. The resort’s storied golf history includes hosting the 1983 Ryder Cup, 1987 PGA Championship, and nearly two decades of the Senior PGA Championship. In addition to The Champion, PGA National’s award-winning golf courses are: The Palmer, The Haig, The Squire and The Estates.
Other distinguishing features include a 40,000 square-foot European Spa with 32 treatment areas and the exclusive “Waters of the World” outdoor mineral pools, a world-class 33,000 square-foot health-and-racquet club with 19 Har Tru tennis courts, 40,000 square feet of self-contained conference space and nine on-site restaurants and lounges.
Conveniently located within easy driving distances of major Florida population centers, the AAA Four Diamond resort is 15 minutes from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), one hour from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and 90 minutes from Miami International Airport (MIA).
Contact:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
704.519.8381
ssharp@buffalocommunications.com
David Wood
Buffalo Communications
703.635.0577 (cell)
dwood@buffalocommunications.com
