If your idea of the perfect “green” has a tropical backdrop, then be prepared to bring your “A” game to The Palm Beaches – Florida’s Golf Capital®. 

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Stay at PGA National Resort for a golf escape like no other. Anchored by five championship courses, and recognized as the renowned home of the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic and the legendary Bear Trap, PGA National  boasts a world-class golf experience, augmented by restaurant facilities, and a private state-of-the- art sports and racquet club. 

DAY ONE

Get out early and hit the links. Enjoy a fresh breakfast in a casual setting at Birdie’s Diner and choose from “Sweet start” options and “Eggs &More.” After fueling up, head to your choice of any of the on-site courses. Each of the pristine courses at PGA National is sure to delight golfers of all handicaps. Enjoy a round on The Champion, The Palmer Course, The Fazio, The Squire or The Estates course. If you are up for a challenge, make sure to test your skills on The Champion course. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, this course is not a place for the weak-hearted, specifically conceptualized to test a golfer’s skills. It has been recognized as one of the toughest golf courses in The Sunshine State according to the PGA Tour. Holes 15, 16 and 17, known as the Bear Trap, are some of the hardest holes in the game. Make sure to document your visit by snapping a selfie with the iconic Golden Bear before you go.

After the round, head down the street to mid-town at The Gardens, a place fit for locals, snowbirds and vacationers. A visit to The Cooper restaurant will have you drooling over the menu options as you enjoy the comfortable, modern farmhouse feel from inside its chic interior or from the all-weather-friendly patio.  The top-notch mixologists and friendly staff add to the ambiance of this farm-to-table restaurant. Pull up a seat to enjoy the restaurant’s rotating drink menu, and savor local favorites such as beer-braised mussels, a wide assortment of field green salads, The Cooper burger and grilled double-cut pork chop. 

Taking the drive down PGA Boulevard, you will find unique boutiques and shops at The Gardens Mall and Downtown at The Gardens. Continue driving and head to the PGA Superstore, a golfer’s paradise for irons, shoes, apparel and more. 

Follow with dinner at The Woods Jupiter, Tiger Woods’ very own restaurant (if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of him as he occasionally frequents his namesake establishment). Located in Harborside Place, a quaint shopping and dining district along the Intracoastal Waterway, The Woods is the perfect place to relax your swing muscles and enjoy a sunset over the water.

DAY TWO

Continue seeing what makes The Palm Beaches Florida’s Golf Capital with a jaunt down south. Enjoy breakfast with an oceanview at Al Fresco, on the historic Palm Beach Island. Located on the second floor of the Palm Beach Par 3 ’s Club House, enjoy sweeping views overlooking the rolling greens to the turquoise waters of the Atlantic. Play a round on this short but challenging course, which has a unique landscape, with one set of nine holes facing the Atlantic and the other set of nine facing the Intracoastal.

Resume your journey with a drive past the jaw-dropping homes of Palm Beach on your right and the stunning ocean views on your left.  Head further south to Lake Worth, where you can enjoy the artistic side of The Palm Beaches, paired with lunch at Benny’s on the Beach, a casual dining experience situated on the Lake Worth Beach Pier. Add to your unforgettable experience by ordering your choice of a one of their casual cocktail selections to your order, such as the “Big Kahuna”, a literally smoking beverage! Draft beer, wine or caffeinated selections are also available for the thirsty.

If you find yourself visiting in late February, make sure to head to one of the biggest events held in The Palm Beaches, The Honda Classic. At this event, you can watch some of the most notable golfers in the world tee off, or just socialize in one of the many sponsored hospitality tents.

Should your visit not align with the event, and there is still light in the day, continue to Sandhill Crane Golf Club, a public golf course that is the only course in Florida to wind through the Loxahatchee Slough and wetlands areas. Natural beauty comes to you in an entirely different way throughout this scenic course. This is a great way to experience two completely different courses in one day, both within a 30-minute drive of one another.  

1000 North is the spot for dinner – complete with stunning sunset, water and lighthouse views. The fine-dining restaurant was developed by part of the team that designed The Bears Club in Jupiter, so it comes as no surprise you can see some of the athletes and golfers that call The Palm Beaches home mingling here. Enjoy a cigar from the grand humidor that can be found in the middle of the dining room, a glass or wine (of your choice or selected by the restaurant’s sommelier), along with satisfying seafood and steak dishes. 

DAY THREE

The Palm Beaches has over 160 golf courses making it easy to fill your stay with award-winning courses, whether for just a few days or several weeks. On day three, begin your morning at Johan Joe, a Swedish coffee house boasting pastries and fresh brew straight out of Sweden. Enjoy the true simplicity of Scandinavian living in this contemporary space that pays homage to Swedish culture, coffee and cuisine. Once you are ready, head to the recently opened Drive Shack, an entertainment venue that offers virtual reality golf simulations from courses around the globe in 90 temperature-controlled, open-air bays, along with restaurant, lounge bar and arcade. Located on Palm Beach International Airport property, the venue provides a nice activity for the day or as a place to wait for your flight and store your luggage after checking out. Enjoy testing your skills and getting competitive with the games offered on the private screen in your party’s private bay. 

Eat lunch while practicing at Drive Shack or take a short drive to downtown West Palm Beach’s Grato, a restaurant founded by local celebrated Chef Clay Conley. Do not miss out on the mushroom pizza! Post-lunch, get your blood pumping, with a walk around downtown West Palm Beach’s Antique Row, a collection of more than 40 unique shops and galleries. Once ready, head back to PGA National to soak up the amenities before your return home. There are endless options, including tennis, golf, workout classes, and on-site dining. Finish your last night in the destination as the professional golfers do, with dinner at Food Shack. Known as one of Rickie Fowler’s favorites, the vibe is always lowkey, with live music jamming throughout the weekend and fresh, local catches on the menu. Tip: ask for extra dressing because it is always a hit, and don’t skip out on dessert. They’re both too good to fore-go!