Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Where the Tour plays — the Bear Trap, five courses, Palm Beach glamour.
The farthest and most big-league — deep in Palm Beach County, where the pros play. The Champion is home of the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic (long the Honda Classic) and its infamous "Bear Trap", the water-lined 15-16-17 stretch that wrecks Tour cards every March; it also hosted the 1983 Ryder Cup. Four more courses — Palmer, Fazio, the match-play "Match," and the par-3 "Staple" — round out five on property, wrapped in Palm Beach glamour with the Atlantic minutes away.
| Course | Designer | Notes | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Champion | Jack Nicklaus (refresh) | Nicklaus-refreshed; home of the Bear Trap and the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic. The must-play. | resort |
| The Palmer | Arnold Palmer | The most welcoming of the five — a great opening round. | resort |
| The Fazio | Tom Fazio | Balanced challenge and playability, water and bold bunkering. | resort |
| Match · Staple | — | A par-67 match-play course (2021) and a fun par-3 short course for evening games. | resort |
The resort
A freshly renovated flagship with the spa, several restaurants and all five courses out the door. The polished, everything-on-site option.
◆ The private house
Rent a Palm Beach Gardens / Jupiter pool home — private pool, big kitchen, minutes from the resort and the beach. PGA National also rents on-site cottages and vacation homes that keep golf access.
5-6 BR · sleeps 10-12 · ~$1,000–$3,000/nt
AM The trip's longest haul (~11 hrs) — leave at dawn, split the wheel.
PM Move into the house or resort, dinner and drinks poolside; early night.
AM Ease in on the friendliest of the five.
PM Beach time on the Atlantic or the resort spa; big seafood dinner out in Palm Beach.
AM Fazio's balanced test.
PM A rowdy loop on the par-3 Staple with skins and beers; steak night back at the house.
AM The main event — play the Bear Trap where the Tour plays it, for the team match.
PM Trophy dinner; last big night on the coast.
AM Optional early nine or a last beach walk, then load up for the long drive back — an epic to close the season.
Play the Bear Trap where the Tour plays it, four more courses on site, and Palm Beach polish. The farthest, most big-league stop on the list.
All five are on the resort; book the Champion early and consider a caddie or forecaddie. South Florida is warm — spring is ideal before the summer heat and afternoon storms.