February 27, 2012
By PGA TOUR staff PGATOUR.COM
| Fast facts |
| Course Superintendent | Brian Sunderhaus | | Original architect | Tom Fazio (1981) | | Redesign | Jack Nicklaus (2001) | | Par value | 70 | | Number of TOUR events as host venue | 6 (including 2012) | | Course ranking | Ranked 2 (out of 51) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2011 | | Yardage history | 7,241 (2007) | | | 7,158 (2008-present) | | Grass | Bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass (tees, fairways, rough); Tifeagle bermudagrass (greens) | | Tournament Stimpmeter | 10.6 ft | | Sand bunkers | 78 | | Water hazards | 26 | | Course tour | Click here | |
| Course record |
| Player
Luke Donald
Greg Chalmers
Rory Sabbatini | Year
2008
2009
2011 | Round
1st
2nd
2nd | Finish
2nd
T22
WON | |
| 2011 Rankings |
| Most Difficult Hole |
 | The par-3 190-yard 17th Although there are eight sets of tees for recreational play, this shortest hole on the Champion is by no means the easiest. With the wind in your face or when it's blowing left to right toward the water to the right -- and a bunker long and left -- the only place to put your tee ball is on the green. With just a 30-foot landing area there, the toughest pin is middle left.
2011: 0 eagles, 28 birdies, 236 pars, 100 bogeys, 63 double bogeys, 10 others. | |
| Easiest hole |  | The par-5 538-yard 3rd Nicklaus' redesign eliminated the mid-fairway water hazard, making it a fairer hole. The second shot is a gamble for those wishing to try for the green in two. A long bunker keeps balls from rolling into the water. It's a straight shot to the green from left center of the fairway, but a bunker on the right makes a pin in the back right hard to reach.
2011: 3 eagles, 136 birdies, 238 pars, 53 bogeys, 5 double bogeys and 2 others. | |
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| PGA National | 2011 rankings | Last 5 years | | 1 | 4 | 365 | 3.961 | 16 | 3.938 | 16 | | 2 | 4 | 464 | 3.993 | 14 | 4.091 | 9 | | 3 | 5 | 538 | 4.833 | 18 | 4.722 | 18 | | 4 | 4 | 376 | 3.954 | 17 | 3.935 | 17 | | 5 | 3 | 217 | 3.05 | 12 | 3.100 | 8 | | 6 | 4 | 479 | 4.522 | 2 | 4.408 | 1 | | 7 | 3 | 226 | 3.121 | 10 | 3.113 | 7 | | 8 | 4 | 427 | 4.144 | 7 | 4.050 | 14 | | 9 | 4 | 421 | 4.087 | 11 | 4.051 | 13 | | 10 | 4 | 508 | 4.13 | 9 | 4.209 | 4 | | 11 | 4 | 450 | 4.217 | 5 | 4.192 | 6 | | 12 | 4 | 427 | 4.204 | 6 | 4.081 | 11 | | 13 | 4 | 388 | 4.133 | 8 | 4.077 | 12 | | 14 | 4 | 465 | 4.021 | 13 | 4.082 | 10 | | 15 | 3 | 179 | 3.384 | 3 | 3.314 | 3 | | 16 | 4 | 434 | 4.268 | 4 | 4.193 | 5 | | 17 | 3 | 190 | 3.526 | 1 | 3.343 | 2 | | 18 | 5 | 604 | 4.991 | 15 | 4.972 | 15 | |
| Course origins |
| One of Florida's most notable golf challenges is found on the legendary Champion course. Originally designed by George and Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus redesigned the Champion in 1990, adding the feared "Bear Trap" grouping of holes 15, 16 and 17. | | The Champion is currently the home of the PGA TOUR's Honda Classic, benefiting the Nicklaus Children's Healthcare Foundation (and an integral part of the FedExCup) and has been the site of the 1982 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, the 1983 Ryder Cup, the 1987 PGA Championship and the PGA Seniors' Championships from 1982 to 2000. It has also been the site of the PGA Junior Championships from 1980-1987, 1989-1992 and 1994-2000 and the PGA Club Professional Championships in 1980, 1982, 1983 and 1993. | | The Champion is a "must play" stop on any avid golfer's list and is included in the "Top 100" resort course rankings of several golf publications. In 2006, writer Brad Klein of GolfWeek magazine described The Champion as "an old Florida classic, core golf experience." | | The PGA of America is located on course property. | | --Source: Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America | |
| Tournament course history |
| Inverrary G&CC (East) | Lauderhill, Fla. | 1972-1983 | | TPC Eagle Trace | Coral Springs, Fla. | 1984-1991, 1996 | | Weston Hills G&CC | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. | 1992-1995 | | TPC Heron Bay | Coral Springs, Fla. | 1997-2002 | | CC at Mirasol (Sunset) | Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. | 2003-2006 | | PGA National (Champion) | Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. | 2007-present | |
The TOUR heads to the East Coast this week for The Honda Classic at the PGA National Resort and Spa - Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Learn more about this venue.
