Beyond the Bear Trap - PGA National`s Champion a great Florida golf course
Released on = April 21, 2007, 11:18 am
Press Release Author = GolfPublisher Syndications
Industry = Media
Press Release Summary = Beyond Bear Trap, PGA National\'s Champion a great Florida play. Course reviews at WorldGolf.com
Press Release Body = By Chris Baldwin, Senior Writer, Golf Publisher Syndications
PGA National\'s much-hyped Bear Trap may be more about opening golfers\' wallets than buckling their knees. But beyond the hype, National\'s Nicklaus-redesigned Champion course is a terrific south Florida play
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - The plaque stops most golfers cold.
It\'s right before the 15th tee at the Champion course at PGA National Resort & Spa. It takes up the surface of a large rock and includes a solemn quote from Jack Nicklaus meant to make the average golfer\'s knees buckle:
\"It should be won or lost right here.\"
Welcome to the Bear Trap - Nos. 15-17 at the Champion course and one of the great marketing inventions in golf.
The Bear Trap - born of Nicklaus\' redesign of the George and Tom Fazio original - gives this Palm Beach Gardens golf course an instant identity in a south Florida golf market glutted with luxury golf communities. It\'s been in almost as many ads as Peyton Manning.
Don\'t believe the hype. The Bear Trap isn\'t about buckling knees, it\'s about opening wallets ($241 high-season green fee). The good news is, beyond the three-hole marketing myth is a course that\'s enjoyable from start to finish
No. 18, a newly renovated 600-yard double dogleg, is arguably a more impressive hole than any in the Trap.
Nicklaus added a far back tee over water - a lot of swampy Florida water - in preparation for the PGA Tour\'s return to PGA National with last March\'s Honda Classic.
Facing that drive is much more stomach-spinning than taking the tee at the Trap\'s two water-carry par 3s.
\"Forget the Bear Trap,\" visiting golfer Zane Sanders said. \"No. 18 is the hole that can eat you alive right at the end of the round when you think you\'re home free.\"
It\'s best not to go to sleep at No. 10 either. It doesn\'t look too intimidating from the tees, but those trees are closer than you think, and the green is tucked in as tight as a farmer at 10 p.m. At the Honda Classic it yielded more than half as many bogeys (143) as pars (256).
Of course, for the pros it plays as a par 4. For you, it\'s a par 5, and you\'ll be thankful for that - although probably still staring at a bogey.
For more details visit :- http://www.worldgolf.com/course-reviews/florida/pga-national-resort-champions-course-palm-beach-gardens-5228.htm
April 20, 2007 Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.
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