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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Two straight weeks on the road was taking its toll.
I was living out of a suitcase like a PGA Tour pro but without the skills to match. I had traveled thousands of miles in airplanes and rental cars from California for The American Express in Greater Palm Springs to Orlando for the PGA Merchandise Show to south Florida for a TGL Match, leading to the troubling predicament I found myself in.
I had just rinsed a terrible tee shot on the 13th hole of the Champion Course at PGA National Resort & Spa, host of this week's Cognizant Classic. When I went to my bag for another ball, panic set in. I only had two left.
By my math that wasn't enough to survive my pending encounter with The Bear Trap, the waterlogged three-hole stretch from holes 15-17 that ranks among the toughest on tour every year. Is there anything more embarrassing in golf than asking complete strangers to borrow some balls to finish the round? Gulp ...
Teeing up the Champion Course at PGA National
Playing the Champion had been on my bucket list for years, despite knowing my game would be no match for the tricks of Jack Nicklaus, who was in his 'make it hard' phase when he rebuilt the original Tom Fazio routing in the late 1980s.
Golfers must be a resort guest, member or guest of a member to play all the courses at PGA National. Green fees on the Champion are pushing $450 in high season these days, plus a required forecaddie costing $70 plus tip. I rode in a cart by myself, paired with three older members who played from the green tees (5,280 yards), while I mixed the 6,000-yard whites and 6,350-yard blues. It's definitely a course I recommend you tee it forward a box. The rough, as you'd expect in late January a month before the tournament, was downright nasty.
Between that and the water in play on 15 holes, there are lots of chances for your score to go awry. The fairways and greens were in excellent condition. All of us struggled to read the greens, which no doubt torture professional caddies and players alike.
Interestingly, the 225-yard seventh hole - probably the least memorable of the four really strong par 3s - rates as the No. 1 handicap. It's not easy to hit a pushup green surrounded by water and bunkers, but you would think that the stout par 4s at holes 11, 14 and 16 are all tougher.
Now that I've officially completed the PGA Tour's Florida Swing of public courses, I would rank them as follows. Mind you, this isn't a best-of ranking as much as it follows the philosophy of "courses I would like to play over and over if I was a member". As you can see from the GolfPass star ratings, not everyone agrees with me.
1, Bay Hill Club & Lodge (4.1 stars)
2, Copperhead at Innisbrook Resort (4.2)
3, PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass (4.6)
4, Champion at PGA National (2.8)
For more content comparing these four courses from a fan's perspective (Ranking the Tournaments of the PGA Tour's Florida swing) and a player's perspective (Breaking down the PGA Tour's Florida Swing), check out the articles below.
Less than a week after my visit, it was announced Feb. 3 that PGA National was purchased by London-based private equity firm Henderson Park in a joint venture with Salamander Hotels - which owns Innisbrook - and investment manager South Street Partners for an estimated $425 million. Talks are underway to extend the Cognizant beyond its current contract, which ends in 2028, and to further invest in the resort, according to the Palm Beach Post. I think it's safe to say The Champion and the resort's other courses can only get better moving forward.
How I survived The Bear Trap
Back to my story. Like any good caddie, mine sprung into action the moment I shared my disappearing ball dilemma. By trolling ponds - with no fear of alligators - he restocked my stash within a couple of holes (see the photo on Instagram below). Obviously, I wasn't the only golfer at PGA National sinking balls like fishing lures.
Buoyed by his kindness and plenty of backups, I'm happy to report The Bear Trap didn't devour me whole ... I only lost the usual pound of flesh.
The 160-yard 16th was directly into the wind playing 180, knocking down my tee shot short of the green, albeit dry. I should have gotten up and down for par but didn't. The 399-yard 16th wasn't as kind. After a decent drive, I still faced a 190-yard carry over water into the wind. A few bad decisions and shots later, I walked away with a 7.
That triple bogey made redemption all that much sweeter on the 140-yard 17th (again into the wind). I laced a 7 iron into the heart of the green for a much-needed par to save some pride.
I walked away from the round knowing that only one golfer who plays The Champion every year leaves as one. Good luck to all the pros at the Cognizant this week. I'll give them the same advice I would anybody who is playing The Champion: bring enough balls.
Have you played The Champion at PGA National? Leave us a course review or share your experience in the comments below.
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