Even PGA National Is Getting Into The Fun Game

Before we settle in for the Bear’s Trap references as an uninspired Honda Classic field gets around PGA National, very close by avictory for the “f word” effort is underway.

Len Ziehm explains how PGA National Resort and Spa “is undergoing a major change” by letting architect Andy Staples redo the 1983 George and Tom Fazio “Squire” course into something…fun!

One of Staples’ works will be a nine-hole par-3 course that utilizes the space that was The Squire’s first and 18th holes. The remaining 16 holes are being transformed into a shorter 5,744-yard 18-hole course. Staples calls the dual project a “reimagining” rather than a renovation.

Yes, in the name of fun. The word that used to be so scary not long ago.

Staples:

“I had said, ‘You’ve got the difficult golf.’ You can get your brains beat out in playing The Champion, then come out here (to the nearby new courses) and actually like golf,” Staples said. “The greens (on the new courses) will be challenging, but they’ll be a completely different offering than the tough golf you get on the other courses.”

The par-3 course will have no set tee markers. One hole is designed to be played with a putter or with a rescue club chip. The real eye-catcher, though, will be the designated No. 5 hole. Players will be encouraged to tee off out of a bunker, and their 50-yard shot to the green is partially over water.

Ok that’s bold, but we’ll keep an open mind. Maybe more impressive than getting a place like PGA National to embrace the fun word? The transformation is taking place on a classic real estate development.

Great for the PGA of America to have this nearby as an example of how to re-imagine something for a modern game more receptive to fun.

Wait, you said what? They’re moving the headquarters? To Frisco? Ok, scratch that last PGA National though.