PGA RESORT: A Golfer's Paradise And More
If you find yourself in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, get a set of golf clubs and head to the PGA Resort and Spa, just west of the Florida Turnpike on PGA Boulevard.
This is not your typical country club; it is a golfer’s paradise. The Resort’s biggest and most challenging course has also played host to the Professional Golf Association’s Honda Classic tournament for the past two years. It was deemed in 2007 the “third toughest course on the PGA Tour,” according the course overview for the 2008 Honda Classic. You can try your luck at the “Bear Trap,” holes 15, 16, and 17. Redesigned by Jack Nicklaus (as was the entire course), these three holes have given PGA tour professionals grief in previous years. Water hazards and sand traps rule this course, especially these holes. Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, and Davis Love III have all played it. The resort has also hosted Davis Cup tournaments and a PGA Championship in its 27 years.
If the Champion course intimates you a little, there are other courses to choose from, such as the Palmer course (designed by, you guessed it, Arnold Palmer). There are a total of five golf courses to choose from, so a multiple-day stay at the resort may be an order to cover them all. After a day of play, wind down at the 19th Hole with a sandwich and a beer and check the stocks. Or, if you prefer something a bit more elegant, hit the Ironwood Grille for an extensive wine list and American cuisine. There are also five other restaurants to choose from; there is no reason to pack a lunch at this resort.
Of course, the Resort is not all about golf. Okay, it is mostly about golf, but it showcases more than top-notch golf courses. The resort also features a European spa for those who would rather relax with a massage than with a golf club. The Spa, which has been renovated in recent years, features a full service salon and a wide menu of spa services and packages. Whether you want a mud wrap or a manicure, a pool for laps or a pool with water from the Dead Sea, the Spa has got your covered. In between that deep cleansing facial and the reflexology treatment, you can work out at the resort’s fitness center or have a quick match of tennis at the Health and Racquet Club.
The resort itself brings up a feeling of modern mingling with Old World. The rooms feature Asian maple dressers and tables that remind you of well-polished items you would see during a stay at your grandmother’s. It is not until you spot the flat-panel TV hanging on the wall that you remember where you are; the resort-wide free Wi-Fi highlights the unique combination of old and new as well. The resort looks to be designed so that, no matter which room you are in, you will see some highlight of the resort, be it a golf course or the seven pools. The hospitality is also something to smile about, with service workers circulating throughout the resort to ensure that all questions are answered and needs met.