Playing the PGA TOUR’s Florida Swing – Golf News | Golf Magazine

A couple of of the group from Golfbreaks have been fortunate sufficient to enterprise to Florida lately, visiting a number of the greatest golf resorts and programs within the Sunshine State – all within the identify of labor!

They performed an array of magnificent holes, skilled nice American hospitality, noticed plenty of wonderful sights, and even met just a few inspirational folks (specifically Jack Nicklaus). Here’s what they needed to say about their unbelievable golf holiday to Florida!

PGA Nationwide Resort

PGA Nationwide provides the entire golf resort expertise. A $100 million renovation again in 2012 has reworked the resort, permitting it to boast modern-day luxurious mixed with grand historical past as one of many USA’s greatest golf resorts.

Positioned in Palm Seashore Gardens and that includes 90 holes of championship golf – this resort is simply over an hour’s drive from Miami Worldwide Airport – the perfect getaway for British golfers craving some championship golf within the sunshine state.

Along with internet hosting the Ryder Cup in 1983, PGA National has set the PGA TOUR’s ‘Florida Swing’ in movement with The Honda Basic since 2007. Standing between the opponents and victory is the Champion Course and its notorious ‘Bear Lure’ – the hardest three-hole stretch on the PGA TOUR named after Jack Nicklaus who re-designed the course in 1990.

The match will likely be received or misplaced inside The Bear Lure – the professionals are blissful to flee with three pars and so ought to any novice holiday-goers!

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Membership & Lodge

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is a privately owned, understated {golfing} venue that hosts the second cease of the Florida Swing within the coronary heart of Orlando. The membership options 80 bedrooms, 27 holes of golf, and as a resident of the membership, you get the sensation that you’re Arnold Palmer’s visitor, reasonably than a ‘no one’ of every other golf resort.

The Arnold Palmer’s Invitational brings out all the large names and is likely one of the extra historic competitions on the PGA TOUR, courting again to 1966. Former winners right here embrace Tiger Woods (8 occasions), Fred {Couples}, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Rory McIlroy – so you possibly can perceive why each golfer needs so as to add their identify to the trophy.

The course itself provides 27-holes of lovely parkland, with the Challenger and the Champion 9s making up the format you see on TV. It’s lengthy and tight, and it options one of many hardest again 9s on tour, with the 14^th and 17^th doubtless the 2 most tough. The 18^th gives a grandstand end and has been house to a number of the most dramatic pictures in golf!

TPC Sawgrass

Maybe essentially the most well-known course on the PGA TOUR schedule, TPC Sawgrass has famously hosted THE PLAYERS Championship since 1982. It is likely one of the very best in Florida and is a must-play for anybody visiting the Sunshine State. There are only a few strategic assessments of golf fairly like this, with surprisingly undulating fairways and greens (which you’ll be able to’t at all times see on TV), doglegs aplenty, and intimidating tee pictures.

Right here, you’ll have to battle water from begin to end, particularly on the notorious seventeenth gap, essentially the most recognisable par 3 in golf! The 18^th is one other whirlwind of a gap, a tough par-4 dogleg across the largest lake on the course. It’s a aggravating finish to the spherical little doubt, however the end is all value it with the prospect of strolling into one of many world’s most lovely clubhouses.

Innisbrook Golf Resort

Located close to Tampa, Innisbrook Golf Resort is extra of a household complicated that options 4 championship golf programs inside shut proximity to the famed seashores of Clearwater. This resort might not be as well-known as a number of the others on this checklist, nevertheless, many execs have singled the Copperhead Course out as their favorite format on the PGA TOUR.

The Valspar Championship is the ultimate cease of the Florida Swing and options attractive undulating holes by way of pine timber, testing canine legs, and several other water options – extra paying homage to the Carolina and Georgia sand hills than the everyday Florida terrain.

The resort additionally has three different 18-hole championship programs – all of that are fantastically maintained and act as the right preparation earlier than you tackle The Copperhead.

Bonus: Trump Nationwide Doral Miami

Positioned only a 15-minute’ drive from Miami Worldwide Airport, this Trump National Doral Miami is the perfect vacation spot for golfers trying to get away for a fast few days {golfing} in Florida. Donald Trump bought this distressed venue in 2012 for a reported $150 million and started working overhauling the property into one of many world’s most spectacular keep & play golf resorts.

And whereas it’s now not featured on the PGA TOUR schedule, having beforehand hosted an occasion for greater than half a century, it’s actually value a go to on any journey. The five-star complicated incorporates a whole of 5 world-class programs and a state-of-the-art driving vary with an LED lighting system, which was one of many first of its type.

Go to Golfbreaks.com to search out your subsequent US golf holiday.