Jack Nicklaus-renovated Champion Course, Bear Trap await contestants
(PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.) – PGA National Resort & Spa – home of the PGA TOUR Honda Classic and former Ryder Cup venue – will host the 23rd season of Golf Channel’s “Big Break,” premiering Feb. 2 (9 p.m. EST).
“Big Break The Palm Beaches, FL” will showcase the recent Jack Nicklaus renovation of The Champion Course. The most notable change is the strengthening of the 465-yard, par-4 14th hole – which leads into the feared Bear Trap. An all-male cast of 12 aspiring golf professionals will vie for more than $120,000 in cash and prizes, including an exemption to the PGA TOUR 2015 Barbasol Championship.
Few courses have a golf pedigree as storied as the Champion Course. Its vaunted resume includes hosting the 1983 Ryder Cup, 1987 PGA Championship, nearly two decades of the Senior PGA Championship and this year’s final stage of the Web.com Q-school. Last year it was the toughest layout on the PGA TOUR schedule (non-major venues) with an average per round score of 1.318 over par.
The lauded track is home to the aforementioned legendary “Bear Trap” (Nos. 15-17). The daunting trifecta continues to live up to its reputation as one of the most testing gauntlets in the sport. USA Today called The Bear Trap “one of the toughest stretches in golf.”
Produced in conjunction with Discover The Palm Beaches and Visit Florida, the series will showcase three additional layouts at PGA National during the 11 episodes:
• The Palmer – Named after its designer, Arnold Palmer, the course is a subtle nod to the game’s Scottish roots and is a true risk / reward layout. Its 18th is one of the most scenic and picturesque par 5s on the property.
• The Fazio – A complete renovation of the resort’s Haig Course, The Fazio was modernized by Tom Fazio II and is a splendid shot maker’s design.
• The Squire – Named after Gene Sarazen and designed by George and Tom Fazio, The Squire is a test of accuracy and precision making it the most exacting of the courses at PGA National.
“It will be thrilling to watch the Big Break contestants battle each other as well as taking on the demanding Champion Course and mighty Bear Trap,” says Joel Paige, Vice President and Managing Director of PGA National. “Players vying to advance and viewers at home will see why we’re one of the world’s top golf destinations.”
The legendary destination is the only resort in Florida with five championship courses. It also has the unique distinction of being home to both the David Leadbetter Golf Academy and Dave Pelz Scoring Game School, along with offering a PGA TOUR-level fitting experience at the PGA National Club Fitting Lab. At the off-site Estates Course, the resort additionally offers Every Ball Counts – the world’s first science-based, statistics-driven training system for golf improvement.
For more PGA National Resort & Spa information: www.pgaresort.com or call 561.627.2000.
About PGA National Resort & Spa
Fresh off its comprehensive $100 million revitalization, PGA National Resort & Spa is a world-class golf, vacation and meeting destination. The South Florida locale offers 90 holes of championship golf on five courses, including the famed Champion Course, home to the popular PGA TOUR Honda Classic and past host of the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship and a litany of other prized professional golf tournaments.
The Champion showcases the legendary “Bear Trap” – one of the most difficult three-hole stretches in the game. Holes 15, 16 and 17 are where designer Jack Nicklaus famously said, “It should be won or lost right here.” On-site programs from both the David Leadbetter Golf Academy and the Dave Pelz Scoring Game School, along with tour level custom club fitting from the PGA National Club Fitting Lab, are available. At the off-site Estates Course, PGA National additionally offers Every Ball Counts – the world’s first science-based, statistics-driven training system for golf improvement.
PGA National features customized suites ideal for weddings, golf “buddy trips” and spa aficionados; a permanent, lakeside wedding venue with stunning vistas; and new 19thhole bar and grill named “Bar 91.” Other distinguishing highlights include 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 seven on-site restaurants and lounges.
Conveniently located within easy driving distance 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:
David Wood (703.635.0577)
Buffalo Communications
dwood@buffalocommunications.com
