Course Overview
PGA National's Champion Course is home of the Honda Classic and features the most famous finishing stretch on the PGA Tour — 'The Bear Trap,' holes 15-17 designed under the supervision of Jack Nicklaus. The three holes combine water hazards, narrow fairways, and demanding par-3s that regularly produce drama at the Honda Classic. The course is a South Florida classic: Bermuda fairways, tropical rough, and year-round golf.
Build the Swing PGA National — Champion Course Demands — Before Your Round
GOATY AI coaches your swing in real time — watching your body through your camera, speaking cues while you swing, and measuring the exact biomechanics that PGA National — Champion Course will expose.
Try a Free Live Lesson with GOATYor upload a swing for instant analysis
🏌️ Signature Hole
Holes 15-17 — 'The Bear Trap.' Hole 15 is a par-3 over water; 16 is a par-5 with water guarding the left side throughout; 17 is a par-3 to a peninsula green surrounded by water on three sides. Making par through all three is considered a great achievement — making birdie anywhere in the Bear Trap is celebrated.
⚠️ Key Challenge
PGA National's Bear Trap demands total commitment to each shot. On 17, the peninsula green, calculate your yardage to the center of the green — not the pin. A shot 20 feet from the hole in the center of the green is a made-putt opportunity; a shot 5 feet from the pin in the water is a dropped stroke.
🎯 Strategy Tip
At the Bear Trap, always take more club than feels right. The water draws your eye and creates an instinct to swing harder — resist this. More club, softer swing, center of green. One at a time through the Bear Trap.
PGA National's water hazards demand mental precision and mechanical consistency. GOATY builds the reliable mechanics that perform under the pressure these holes create. Book a free live lesson before your PGA National — Champion Course trip — see your own metrics in real time and fix the specific pattern that will cost you the most strokes on this course.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the par and yardage at PGA National — Champion Course?
PGA National — Champion Course plays to a par of 72 and 7,243 yards from the championship tees. It was designed by Tom Fazio & Arnold Palmer and established in 1981.
What is the best strategy for scoring well at PGA National — Champion Course?
At the Bear Trap, always take more club than feels right. The water draws your eye and creates an instinct to swing harder — resist this. More club, softer swing, center of green. One at a time through the Bear Trap.
What is the most famous hole at PGA National — Champion Course?
Holes 15-17 — 'The Bear Trap.' Hole 15 is a par-3 over water; 16 is a par-5 with water guarding the left side throughout; 17 is a par-3 to a peninsula green surrounded by water on three sides. Making par through all three is considered a great achievement — making birdie anywhere in the Bear Trap is celebrated.
How can I prepare my swing for PGA National — Champion Course?
PGA National's water hazards demand mental precision and mechanical consistency. GOATY builds the reliable mechanics that perform under the pressure these holes create. GOATY AI provides real-time biomechanical coaching during your practice sessions — the exact preparation PGA National — Champion Course demands. Try a free live lesson today.