Survive the Bear Trap
Holes 15 through 17—known worldwide as the Bear Trap—have broken Tour pros and weekend warriors alike. Wind, water, and Nicklaus’s devilish greens make this notorious stretch the nerve center of the course’s legend.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
PGA National Resort – Champion Course
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Established
1981
Architect
Tom Fazio & George Fazio (original), Jack Nicklaus (1990/2002/2014; 2022 renovation)
Access
Resort
Par
Par 72
Length
5,061 – 7,081 yds
Green Fees
$$$$
The verdict
Florida's Tournament Proving Ground
PGA National's Champion Course is a crucible built for the game's toughest tests, home to championship moments and the infamous Bear Trap. It’s a bucket-list destination where your nerve is always in play and every shot is a story waiting to be told.
Course DNA
Difficulty
94
Scenery68
Conditioning88
Shot Variety84
Walkability57
Green Complexity81
Wow Factor83
Design Quality84
At a glance
Quick facts
Bear Trap Holes
Famed 15–17 stretch recognized as one of the most intimidating on TOUR
Ryder Cup Host
Site of the 1983 Ryder Cup, a classic U.S. win
Annual PGA Tour Stop
Home of The Honda Classic (now Cognizant Classic) since 2007
Recent Renovation
2022 Nicklaus Design project rebuilt all bunkers, improved playability
Water Hazards
Over two dozen holes with water in play
Multiple Tee Sets
Six distinct tees, 5,061 to 7,081 yards
Resort Atmosphere
Open to resort guests and public play by booking
The design
The architecture
PGA National’s Champion Course is a showcase of championship design principles: demanding precision, rewarding intelligent play, and punishing mistakes mercilessly. Nicklaus’s design evolution—especially in the Bear Trap—creates make-or-break moments propelled by water, wind, and high-stakes green sites. The 2022 renovation enhanced strategic clarity and improved playability, especially for mid-handicappers, while preserving the relentless test for elite players. Wide corridors, numerous forced carries over water, and well-contoured greens keep every shot in the spotlight from start to finish.
Jack Nicklaus’s reshaping of the original Fazio work turned the Champion into an iconic nerve test, and his involvement in several renovations (most recently the 2022 playable-bunker overhaul) means today’s course is pure tournament DNA—modernized for daily resort play but still a true championship crucible.
Defining features
- The Bear Trap: world-famous three-hole gauntlet
- Extensive water hazards on more than two-thirds of holes
- Repurposed bunkering for improved strategy post-2022
- Firm, fast, and closely mown greens complexes
- Strategic doglegs and risk/reward par 5s
- Tournament-caliber tee and approach demands
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 15
The Bear Trap (Start)
PAR
4
YARDAGE
462 yds
The opening salvo of the Bear Trap, this long par 4 demands a pinpoint tee shot to avoid water right and a steely approach over yet more water to a narrow green. It's the hole where many championship dreams fade before the finishing stretch.
Play it smart
Favor the left center off the tee to open up the green, and don't bite off too much on approach—you can’t recover from a watery miss.
Where it bites
Water guards both the landing area and green; bail left and deep or risk a round-crushing big number.
Course management
Shots to think about
Opening tee shot on #1
Ease into your round—favor the center and avoid chasing a hero line, as trouble lurks early.
Approach on #3 par 5
Resist temptation: focus on fairway placement over distance to set up a high-probability third.
Bear Trap tee shot #15
Play for the fattest part of the fairway; erring left is far better than flirting with water short or right.
Bear Trap par 3 (#16)
Aim safe—if you're long, it's a tough chip, but missing right means re-tee or drop.
Closing approach on #18
Only attack if you must—laying up short left gives a comfortable wedge. Don’t let adrenaline lead you into the water.
Challenging green surrounds all day
Keep chips and pitches below the hole—the greens are slick and falling away in multiple directions.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Tournament-level firmness and speed, upgraded bunkers and turf after 2022 renovation.
Pace
Expect slower rounds, especially during peak season or before/after a tournament.
Vibe
Big-stage resort buzz—anticipation, a dash of intimidation, and star-for-a-day energy.
Dress code
Standard upscale golf: collared shirts, golf pants/shorts, no denim.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Dial In Your Approach Game
Practice mid and long irons—you’ll face repeated forced carries and pins tucked behind water.
02
Expect Fast, Firm Greens
Bring your best lag putting; pace and control are essential on these championship surfaces.
03
Leave Extra Time—And Balls
Between water hazards and a busy resort schedule, expect a longer round and a few missing Pro V1s.
04
Play Forward If Unsure
Move up a tee if you’re not a scratch—scoring and enjoyment both go up.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1981
Champion Course opens, designed by Tom & George Fazio
- 1983
Hosts the Ryder Cup, won by Team USA
- 1987
Hosts the PGA Championship (Larry Nelson wins)
- 1990
Jack Nicklaus redesigns the course, creates Bear Trap
- 2002
Nicklaus refines design for modern championship play
- 2007
The Honda Classic (now Cognizant Classic) moves to Champion
- 2022
Major Nicklaus Design-led bunker and playability renovation
Stories & legends
What makes it special
A True Major Host
Few public-access venues can match the Champion Course’s resume: the Ryder Cup, a PGA Championship, and decades of elite competition. When you stand on these tees, you’re playing where golf history was made and is still unfolding.
2022 Renovation — A Modern Challenge
The recent Nicklaus-led overhaul saw every bunker rebuilt or removed, new sand and drainage installed, and the course fine-tuned for both strategy and everyday play. The test remains brutal, but the modern conditioning shines from tee to green.
A Golfer's Bucket List
Nationally recognized for its torture-test closing stretch, the Champion draws golfers from around the country eager to face the same crucible as their PGA Tour heroes. Score or fail, every round gives memories that last a lifetime.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The Bear Trap is so fearsome that a plaque warns players before they start the three-hole gauntlet.
2
The Champion’s greens use TifEagle Bermuda, ideal for tour-level speeds even in South Florida heat.
3
More than two dozen holes feature water in play, the single most recurring hazard theme.
4
The course once hosted golf's most intense matchplay—the 1983 Ryder Cup won by Team USA via clutch putts and late heroics.
5
You can stand where Jack Nicklaus, Larry Nelson, and today’s TOUR stars faced their make-or-break back nine.
Build the trip
If you’re building a Palm Beach Gardens golf road trip
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Abacoa Golf Club
Public
Jupiter’s fun, playable alternative with excellent conditioning and relaxed vibes.
Wellington National Golf Club
Public
Strong championship layout, solid for a second round within 30 minutes.
Palm Beach Par 3
Public
Oceanfront, quick, and scenic—total change-up from the Champion’s grind.
Trump National Jupiter
Private
Prestige, conditioning, and Nicklaus design pedigree—if you can secure access.
North Palm Beach Country Club
Municipal
Jack Nicklaus-designed, fun public test, great value for the area.
Palm Beach Gardens for centrality, walkability, and quick access to the Champion Course plus Jupiter and North Palm Beach.
Course DNA
If You Like PGA National Resort – Champion Course
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.4
Butler National Golf Club
Oak Brook, IllinoisDifficultyConditioning
Why it matches: Butler National Golf Club is a natural next stop after PGA National Resort – Champion Course: it asks for the same disciplined decision-making and offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Strong DNA Match8.6
Valhalla Golf Club
Louisville, KentuckyDifficultyConditioning
Why it matches: What links these two? Brings a comparable level of challenge and puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in Valhalla Golf Club's own setting.
Strong DNA Match8.4
Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands Course)
Johns Creek, GeorgiaDifficultyConditioning
Why it matches: If PGA National Resort – Champion Course is your kind of course, Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands Course) is worth a look because it brings a comparable level of challenge and puts the same premium on presentation.
Community Sentiment
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