Quick Answer
The Bear Trap takes only three holes to play, but it is the reason many golfers first put PGA National on their trip list. The better reason to stay is that the resort can follow that demanding championship round with two more approachable courses, a renovated hotel and enough on-property dining and amenities to keep a group in one place.
A PGA National golf trip is best for groups that want a recognizable PGA TOUR venue without giving up the convenience of a full South Florida resort.
Why Go
PGA National is in Palm Beach Gardens, about 17 miles from Palm Beach International Airport. That makes it one of Florida’s easier fly-in resort trips: arrive, settle into the same property for several nights and play a different style of golf each day.
The Champion is the course people travel to play. It has hosted the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship and decades of PGA TOUR golf, and it remains the home of the Cognizant Classic. The Fazio and Palmer give the trip balance. One rewards controlled positioning through a traditional Florida setting; the other creates more chances to attack.
The resort also works when not everyone wants golf from morning through dinner. The hotel has pools, a large spa, restaurants and racquet facilities, while Palm Beach Gardens and the wider Palm Beaches provide options away from the property.
The tradeoff is that this is polished resort golf, not a remote golf-only escape. Golfers looking for sandy, walking-focused architecture may prefer a different Florida golf trip. PGA National is about combining a major championship name with an easy full-service stay.
The Golf
This guide focuses on the three courses currently featured in JEL’s PGA National trip lineup: The Champion, The Fazio and The Palmer. Together they produce a better itinerary than repeating three versions of the same water-lined Florida course.
The Champion
The Champion is the priority round and the course that should determine the rest of the schedule. Originally designed by Tom and George Fazio and later reshaped by Jack Nicklaus, it is built to test approach shots under pressure. Water is involved throughout the round, but holes 15 through 17—the Bear Trap—are the part everyone remembers.
The 15th and 17th are par 3s played across water, with the par-4 16th between them. The challenge is not hidden. The misses are obvious, and wind can change the club and the target quickly. Choose a tee that leaves reasonable approaches; the course is demanding enough without forcing tournament yardages into a vacation round.
Make The Champion the centerpiece rather than the arrival round. It deserves a proper warmup and a day without travel pressure.
The Fazio
The Fazio measures 6,806 yards from the back tees and places water in play on 15 holes. It asks for accuracy and thoughtful club selection, but the experience is less severe than The Champion. That makes it a logical first round or the course to play after the group has taken on the Bear Trap.
The routing began as The Haig, PGA National’s original course, and retains a more traditional parkland character. It is a useful trip course because it gives better players enough decisions while remaining manageable for a mixed-handicap group from the correct tees.
The Palmer
The Palmer is the course for a more aggressive day. Its wider fairways and larger greens provide room to play, while water and risk-reward decisions can still punish a careless shot. The par-5 18th is the fitting finish: a hole that gives golfers a reason to consider going for more rather than simply protecting a score.
For most groups, The Palmer is the enjoyable counterweight to The Champion. It can work well as the last round, when everyone wants a course that still matters without ending the trip with another grind.
Where to Stay
Staying at PGA National Resort keeps the trip simple. The transformed guestrooms and suites have private balconies or terraces, while cottages provide more space and separation for groups that prefer a residential setup. The right choice comes down to whether the group values proximity to the lobby and restaurants or more room to gather privately.
The resort is not simply a place to sleep between rounds. The Spa at PGA National includes its Waters of the World mineral pools, along with sauna, steam and relaxation spaces. The main resort pool has cabanas and poolside service. Dining ranges from the casual Birdie’s Diner and Honeybelle to The Butcher’s Club, a modern steakhouse suited to the trip’s main group dinner.
That range matters for couples and mixed-interest groups. Someone can skip a round without being left at a golf hotel with nothing to do.
Shaping Your Trip
Three nights is enough for the core PGA National experience: one round on each of the three featured courses with time for dinner and the resort. Four nights is better if the group wants a slower arrival day, spa or pool time, or another round elsewhere in the Palm Beaches.
The order should reflect difficulty. Start with The Fazio or Palmer, place The Champion in the middle, then finish with whichever of the other two best suits the group. That avoids making the bucket-list round dependent on an arrival day and gives everyone at least one day to adjust to Florida turf, wind and water.
This is also a trip where fewer logistical moves usually improve the experience. The main advantage is having golf, lodging, dining and downtime at one resort. Adding distant rounds simply to increase the course count can work against that strength.
Best Time to Go
Late October through April is the most comfortable season for a PGA National golf trip. South Florida days are generally warmer and less humid than summer, with a lower risk of the regular afternoon storms that affect warm-season schedules. This is also the highest-demand period.
The Cognizant Classic changes activity and access around The Champion during tournament preparations and tournament week. Travelers interested in the event atmosphere may see that as a benefit; groups focused only on playing should avoid assuming normal availability around those dates.
May and early fall can provide a value-oriented alternative, but the heat, humidity and rain risk increase. Summer golf requires earlier starts, hydration and more flexibility than a winter trip.
Planning Considerations
- Treat The Champion as the must-play round and protect it from arrival-day delays.
- Choose tees for approach-shot comfort, especially on The Champion and its forced carries.
- Three nights suits three rounds; four nights allows the resort experience to matter.
- Build in time for one proper group dinner rather than leaving every evening undecided.
- Use Palm Beach International when its flight options work; the short transfer is part of PGA National’s appeal.
- Confirm the current course rotation and maintenance schedule before the golf order is finalized.
FAQ
Which PGA National courses are covered in this guide?
The JEL trip lineup covered here features The Champion, The Fazio and The Palmer. The Champion is the headline tournament course, The Fazio is the more traditional positional test and The Palmer offers the most inviting risk-reward round.
Can resort guests play The Champion?
Golf access depends on the stay and the golf arrangements attached to it. The Champion should be treated as the priority round when the trip is built rather than assumed as a last-minute addition.
How many nights do you need at PGA National?
Three nights works for three featured rounds. Four nights is better for groups that want a less compressed trip with time for the spa, pool, a relaxed arrival or additional Palm Beach activities.
Is PGA National good for a buddies trip?
Yes. The three-course rotation gives the group a recognizable championship round and two contrasting resort rounds, while the hotel, restaurants and pool keep the trip together after golf.
Is PGA National good for couples?
Yes. The spa, pools, dining and Palm Beach Gardens location make it easier to build a trip where golf is important without requiring every traveler to play every round.
What is the best month for a PGA National golf trip?
There is no single best month, but November through April is the main window for comfortable golf. Check tournament timing, course maintenance and current availability before settling on dates.
Plan Your Trip with JEL
PGA National works best when the course order, room type and trip pace are set around the group rather than a fixed package. JEL can coordinate the golf and lodging for the dates and experience you want. Start planning your PGA National golf trip.
