PGA Village GR
Port St. Lucie, FL (north of West Palm Beach/Miami)
T&L Golf, 2002
Golf Magazine
TwoGuysWhoGolf.com
54 holes: 1999, Pete Dye; 1996 Tom Fazio
Dye: 7150, 133
Ryder: 7026, 133
Wanamaker: 7076, 141
'10 Fees: May $45 March $109, tee times accepted 46 days in advance
Fat Guy Review, Dye Course: Pete Dye wants you to be precise when thinking about where you're hitting it when you stand on the tee here. Most of the holes have a pot bunker, dot bunker, blowout bunker, waste bunker, and/or water infringing on one or more preferred tee ball lanes, prompting forethought as to the proper line for your ball and your chosen set of tees. It feels a little like this course was originally formed from raw dough, and a giant Pete Dye kept sticking a massive thumb in the fairways to see if they were fully cooked. Two holes (#s 7 & 18) resemble islands that Navy pilots used for bombing practice, with fairways and green complexes pockmarked by random sand splash pits. There are enough links elements to term it as links style, but only as Pete Dye could do it. Crazy rolling green complexes feature shaved down collection areas, particularly behind greens, which encourage bump and run chips.
Dye does give players a buffer here though, with what I termed "bumper golf". Elevated fairways (similar to those employed at Dye's Kiawah Island Ocean Course) are lined on one or both sides by ribbony crushed-coquina bunkers which also double as cart paths, giving this course a unique look. Those bumper bunkers are fairly hardpan, so you'll get some roll in them and could still lose a ball to the surrounding vegitation or water if you hit a low screamer in there, and it's tougher to get good contact off the coquina than you might think. Water is used sparingly relative to the Florida norm, although the risk/reward diagonal cape carry over water on #4 is a fun exception. A couple of the par-3's are pretty deadly. There is some housing surrounding the course and a couple spots where the cart path crosses a street, but in total the surrounding housing doesn't crowd in on the course oppressively.
All in all, a fun, mostly fair track with memorable holes in good condition. The tees and greens were in great shape, but the brownish, near-crusty fairways were about 3 weeks removed from aeration when we played in early May.
With 3-1/2 great courses here, PGA Village is easily worth putting it on your buddy trip destination list.
Dye Course #18
I should also mention the value here. We played 36 on May 2010 weekend rates. Less than $60 for a primetime AM round, plus a replay rate of $31 in the afternoon. Two rounds at PGA Village on a Pete Dye course for an average of $45 per round? Can't beat it. The service was also consistently good and friendly, from the cart guys to the starter to the pro shop to the wait staff at the grill (mostly retirees, with their hometowns on their name tags, providing plenty of conversation starters).
Other PGA Village course descriptions from the course website, accompanied by reviews from TwoGuysWhoGolf.com:
Wanamaker #18
Wanamaker Course
Designed by Tom Fazio, the first golf course named in honor of Rodman Wanamaker, who in 1916, inspired the birth of The PGA of America. A classic Florida layout, Fazio's Wanamaker Course, is set against a backdrop of wetlands, palm trees and palmettos, and is considered one of Florida’s most beautiful courses.
Per TwoGuysWhoGolf.com, The Wanamaker Course is recognized by many as the most challenging layout at the PGA Golf Club, with a top slope rating of 140 - and also is considered one of the most beautiful courses in Florida. The raised green complexes with undulating putting surfaces protected by deep-lipped bunkers and rolling mounds and swales are the main obstacles for those hoping to score well. Water is visible on nearly every hole, with the hazards affecting tee shots and approaches on at 10 or 11 holes. There are also 90 high quality sand bunkers situated along the fairways and greenside - many intricately designed and oversized in nature. The combination of sand, water and tropical foliage make for a visually stunning - and challenging golf experience. The four par threes are particularly beautiful.
Ryder #7
Ryder Course
Designed by Tom Fazio, the Ryder Course is named in honor of Samuel Ryder, the namesake and founder of the Ryder Cup, the pre-eminent event in golf. With its rolling hills, majestic pine trees and challenging water hazards, the Ryder Course has a distinctive Carolina-feel. With various hole locations, you could play this course every day and discover a different layout.
Per TwoGuysWhoGolf.com, the Ryder Course has lakes or ponds in play on eleven of the eighteen holes, plentiful waterfowl, and native wildlife can be seen throughout the acreage. Wide sloping fairways are dotted with penal, high lipped sand bunkers - which make recoveries for par a tough proposition. Greenside these traps are also difficult to maneuver out of, especially if situated amongst many of the noticeably raised green complexes. While not as visually intimidating or numerous as those on the Dye Course, the 80 plus sand bunkers are located from tee to green. These oversized greens are quite undulating, with ridges and swales often dividing the playing surface - requiring accurate placement of approaches. Depressions, collection areas and deep bunkers often flank the green complexes, creating tough up and down situations. A good short game, including the ability to use high pitches and lobs, certainly comes in handy on this course.
Fat Guy Note: My buddy Ron played the Ryder and dubbed it more friendly and "resorty" than the Dye course.
PGA Short Course #2
PGA Short Course
Designed for beginners and avid golfers alike, the complimentary PGA Short Course offers holes 35-to-60 yards in length for your enjoyment. Junior tees are also available on all three Championship courses.
T&L Golf Review, 2002: Just north of Palm Beach county on I-95, PGA GC is a rare commodity: a favorite among hardcore golfers AND environmentalists. The Reserve, as it is known colloquially, retains "siqnature" status from the Audubon Society. A showcase for the region's topography, flora, and fauna, you couldn't do better than a day or a weekend here. It would be tough to find 3 side-by-side layouts with more distinct personalities. Warm up with the charming 6 hole par-3 course. Fazio South is arguably the most scenic of the three 18-holers, also slighty longer and tighter than the North, which has a Carolina feel. The Dye course has links-inspired touches including tightly textured fairways, pot bunkers, and some revetted faces. You must also negotiate copious waste bunkers and the lush FL vegetation flanking the holes. With high season greens fees of $79 (and $65 for a reround), you'll never get more for less.
Further Distractions: The Professional Golfer's Association is based out of here, so you golf junkies can peruse the PGA Historical Center, Probst Golf Library, and the PGA Golf Pro Hall Of Fame.
Where To Stay: Rent one of the on-site time-share condos ($209-$419/night, or 3 night packages @ $474-$745 pp, Kolter Resort @ PGA Village, 877-519-6766) and play 36 a day, walking the 1st 18 and riding the 2nd. Mid-scalers should stay at the Hilton Garden Inn PGA Village ($110-$169/night, stay-&-play packages $215-$255/night, www.hiltongardeninn.com).
Hilton Garden Inn PGA Village
Best Bar Nearby: Enjoy a post-round cold one under the vaulted ceilings and natural light of the on-premisis 61st Hole Grill, a Golf Magazine fave with excellent midscale food. Order the blackened mahi mahi or grilled chicken sandwiches. Golfers also gravitate towards Sam Snead's Oak Grill Tavern at the Hilton Garden Inn PGA Village.
Gentlemen's Club: Body Talk Sports Bar (8259 US-1). A small locals joint with decent talent per The Ultimate Strip Club List.
Where To Grub: Head to Norris' Famous Place for Ribs (772-464-7000) in Port St. Lucie to discuss why your game sucks over the best barbecue baby-backs in the region. For more eating with a bib, there's Smoky's Real Pit Bar-B-Q (1002 SE St. Lucie Blvd, Bridge Plaza, Port St. Lucie; 561-337-6365)--a symphony in Formica and bright enough for a police interrogation, but the ribs are great. For wings, locals recommend Lefty's (1034 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd), or Chris' Hurricane Grill, a great hole-in-the-wall with a 10-seater bar.
When To Go: All those Snowbirds from the Northeast don't come and go from Florida on a whim simply to get back to visit family. The Florida heat and mosquitos/No-See-Ums begin to get bad in May, and can be unbearable by July, not to mention the brief but consistent near-daily Florida summer afternoon T-bangers. High season for golf runs from January through early April (basically anytime it's too cold to play up north), but summer greens fees can be half (or less) than high season for some great quality courses, and airfares to and from Orlando and Miami are cheaper as well. If you're liquid, enjoy the balmy winter temps in Florida. If you're on a budget, bring the SPF 50, some industrial-strength Off!, white golf shirts and hats, and a case of bottled water.