PGA National Champion Course
For years the PGA Tour stop on Florida's southeast coast, the Champion Course is best known for the Bear Trap, the brutal three hole stretch of the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth that has wrecked countless rounds. A George and Tom Fazio design from 1981, reworked by Jack Nicklaus in 2014, it is a par 72 of just over 7,000 yards of water, wind and Bermuda rough.
Photo: PGA National Members Club via Google.
The verdict
The Champion opened in 1981 to a George and Tom Fazio routing and was toughened into a modern tournament test by Jack Nicklaus, the Golden Bear, whose 2014 redesign sharpened the greens and bunkering. For well over a decade it hosted the PGA Tour every winter, and it has staged a Ryder Cup, a PGA Championship and almost twenty Senior PGA Championships, a serious championship pedigree.
Its calling card is the Bear Trap, the run of the par 3 fifteenth, par 4 sixteenth and par 3 seventeenth, where water and wind off the Florida coast turn a good round sour in minutes. It is resort golf with genuine tournament teeth, immaculately conditioned, and a must play for travelling golfers who want to test themselves on a course they have watched the best players in the world struggle around on television.
The Champion at a glance
- Opened
- 1981
- Designer
- Fazio, then Nicklaus
- Type
- Championship resort
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,045 yds
- Green fee
- Around $450
Designer, opening year, par and championship history verified June 2026 from PGA National Resort and leading course databases. The Champion opened in 1981 to a George and Tom Fazio design and was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 2014, a par 72 of about 7,045 yards. It hosted the PGA Tour for many years and is home of the Bear Trap. The green fee is indicative, around 450 US dollars in peak season for resort guests plus a forecaddie fee. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Champion is a strategic test from the start, water in play on most holes and the Bermuda rough and wind off the coast asking constant questions. It builds quietly toward the stretch that made it famous, where the round is won or lost.
The Bear Trap begins at the par 3 fifteenth, a long iron over water to a shallow green, then the par 4 sixteenth bends along the hazard, before the par 3 seventeenth fires across the water again. Three holes, two of them short, that have ruined more contenders than almost any stretch in tournament golf.
The par 5 eighteenth offers a closing chance to make up ground, but water guards the green and the wind rarely helps. The Champion rewards the disciplined golfer who plays the percentages through the Bear Trap and keeps the ball dry, and it gives back the rare thrill of testing yourself where the professionals do.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course; play is reserved for guests of PGA National Resort |
| Green fee | Around 450 US dollars in peak season for resort guests plus forecaddie fee (indicative, 2025) |
| Booking | Booked as part of a resort stay; rates dip in the summer heat |
| On the day | Mandatory forecaddie, carts available, smart golf dress; the Bear Trap demands respect |
| Getting there | In Palm Beach Gardens, about 20 minutes from Palm Beach International Airport |
| Best months | November to April for the most comfortable Florida conditions; summer is hot and humid |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The Champion is reserved for guests of PGA National Resort, so a stay is the way on. The resort wraps several courses, a renowned spa and a cluster of restaurants around the golf, making it an easy, self contained base for a Florida golf week without a long drive between rounds.
Palm Beach Gardens sits in the heart of southeast Florida's golf country, with the beaches of the Palm Beaches and the wider Treasure Coast a short drive away. It is one of the most reliable winter sun golf destinations in the United States, with a deep roster of courses within easy reach of the resort.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Champion.
Build a Florida golf trip
We secure the Champion Course and the Bear Trap, pair it with the rest of PGA National and southeast Florida's best, and book the resort and transfers around it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Champion questions
Who designed the PGA National Champion Course and when did it open?
The Champion Course opened in 1981 to a design by George and Tom Fazio, and was significantly redesigned by Jack Nicklaus, the Golden Bear, in 2014. Nicklaus reworked the greens and bunkering to sharpen it into a modern tournament test.
What is the Bear Trap at PGA National?
The Bear Trap is the feared three hole stretch of the par 3 fifteenth, par 4 sixteenth and par 3 seventeenth, where water and wind have wrecked countless rounds. It is named after Jack Nicklaus, nicknamed the Golden Bear, who redesigned the course.
How much does it cost to play the Champion Course?
Indicative 2025 green fees are around 450 US dollars in peak season for resort guests, plus a mandatory forecaddie fee. Rates drop in the summer heat and change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play the Champion Course?
The Champion is reserved for guests of PGA National Resort and cannot be booked by the general public, so a stay at the resort is the way to play it. Book well ahead in the busy winter season.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and championship history verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.