PGA National reopens Nicklaus-renovated Champion Course

PGA National Resort & Spas acclaimed Champion Coursethe Jack Nicklaus-designed host of the PGA Tours Honda Classic and home of the famous Bear Traphas reopened after a major re-grassing with cutting-edge Celebration Bermuda, and renovation of the 14th hole.

Celebration Bermuda grass is now on fairways, green surrounds and tees of the Champion Course, making the popular layout even more eye-catching and playable. The new turf should be embraced by the worlds best golfers who annually play in The Honda Classicone of the top events in professional golfas well as the thousands of resort guests who play the course.

In addition to hosting seven Honda Classic tournaments, the Champion Course has been home to the 1983 Ryder Cup, 1987 PGA Championship, and 18 Senior PGA Championships, and this year will host the final stage of the Web.com Tours Q-school.

The Celebration Bermuda will provide us with major-like conditions, said Lukus Harvey, PGA National Resort & Spas Director of Agronomy. The Honda Classic field is perennially on par with golfs four majors, and now we have the turf to provide similar conditions. Our resort guests and club members will love it because it provides a better year-around product, including upgraded irrigation. The grass is so dense you wont get a bad lie.

With the new turf, The Champion Course will no longer require over-seeding during the off-season, allowing for faster, firmer conditions that golfers enjoy.

We can all use an extra 20 yards of roll, Harvey added.

Four of The Champions greensNos. 1, 9, 15 and 17have been expanded to their original size, creating more exciting pin locations for the event that kicks off the PGA Tours Florida Swing. The greens remain TifEagle, one of the worlds truest putting surfaces.

The Bear Trap Evolves

The Champion is well known as home to the legendary Bear Trap. The daunting 15th, 16th and 17th holes are considered one of the more challenging three-hole stretches in the game, with water prominently in play on each hole. USA Today called The Bear Trap one of the toughest stretches in golf.

As part of the renovation, Nicklaus moved the green on the 14th hole, which leads into the feared Bear Trap, 17 yards to the right, bringing water into play on the approach shot. The tee also was moved back 10 yards, and bunkers were built in front and behind the green to further strengthen the 465-yard hole.

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PGA National reopens Nicklaus-renovated Champion Course