My Town: Bernhard Langer's Boca Raton

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Courtesy Boca Raton Resort & Club

Bernhard Langer has called Boca Raton home since 2001.

Bernhard Langer started his quest for an unprecedented third Champions Tour Player of the Year honor with a dramatic playoff victory last year in his adopted hometown of Boca Raton. With John Cook on the green on the par-5 18th in two, Langer holed out a greenside bunker shot for an eagle to beat him for the first of his five titles in 2010. For Langer is was extra-special winning at the Old Course at Broken Sound, just a five-minute drive from his home at Woodfield Country Club. "It was very special, having family and friends out there supporting you. To finish it off like that was a cool experience. The way it turned out for me ranked among my top three tournament wins of all time," Langer said.

Why live in Boca Raton? I married my wife Vikki in January 1984, and she had two sisters and a brother who lived in Boca Raton. We figured as much as I travel, she needed some support when she was home alone. We looked around in South Florida and found a house there in Boca Raton. We've lived there ever since. She has family support and the weather is great for me to play and practice. I've been a full-time resident in Boca Raton since 2001. For me, it's easy to travel from there. You have three major airports in the area plus the private airport in Boca Raton as well.

GOLF COURSES

Polo Trace might be one of the better public courses in the area and Ocean Breeze Golf and Country Club is a very nice semi-private layout. ... We play our Champions Tour event at the Old Course at Broken Sound, a very nice place but you really need to know a member to play there in the winter. ... There's also Boca West and Woodfield CC, both private courses, and Adios which is another great course, but it's an all-mens club and requires a member to play there. ... One of the hidden gems in the area is the Red Reef Park Executive Course located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway. It's in a pretty cool spot.

OFF THE COURSE

When I'm home, I enjoy going to church at Calvary Chapel on Wednesdays and Sundays. There are also some great walking trails, fitness centers and I also enjoy riding my bicycle, perhaps a little soccer and tennis.

RESTAURANTS

When I'm home, I have several restaurants in particular that I like. Kyoshen is my favorite if you like sushi and a hibachi buffet. ... New York Prime is the place to go for steaks. ... The Addison is a wonderful American-style restaurant. ... Tiramisu on Federal Highway is where I go for French and Italian food and Uncle Julio's is the place if you like Mexican food.

HOTELS

The leading hotel in Boca Raton is the world-famous Boca Raton Resort and Club. It's a beautiful big pink building designed by Addison Mizner and has been known all over the world for more than 80 years. It's just a great place to stay.

ACTIVITIES

Mizner Park is a great place to spend the day and perhaps the evening. It's a beautiful setting with great shops, a Museum, concerts and plenty of places to relax and eat out -- everything. ... Town Center Mall on Glades Road is the place to go for shopping. ... Atlantic Avenue has lots of shops and restaurants and is a really nice place to go at night. It's 10 minutes away in Delray Beach. ... We also have beautiful beaches as well. Spanish River Beach and Red Reef Beach are two of my favorites. ... There's also plenty of professional golf tournaments if you are there during the winter months. ... In addition to the Champions Tour's Allianz Championship at the Old Course at Broken Sound in early February, there's the PGA TOUR's Honda Classic just up the road in Palm Beach Gardens in early March followed by the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Doral in Miami the week after.