This week the PGA TOUR returns to PGA National Resorts Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for the Honda Classic, where GCSAA members John Andersen, CGCS, director of agronomy for the resorts five courses, and Blair Kirby, superintendent of the Champion Course have made some competitive enhancements in preparation for the event.
Hole 14 - enlarged fairway bunkers
South Florida is in a drought and the South Florida Water District has the area observing Phase III water restrictions, meaning a 45 percent cutback in monthly allotments for PGA National Resort and weekly monitoring of water usage.
Andersen and staff are micromanaging their turf care more than ever, taking advantage of irrigation technology for special programming and scheduling of hot spots on the golf course, doing more hand watering of putting surfaces, and using historical data of problem areas to proactively treat dry locations. Very timely rains the last two weeks have been very helpful in tournament preparations for Andersen and staff, as well as their efforts to capture water for future use.
Andersen points to holes 15, 16 and 17, from a strategic standpoint, as a key point which could make or break a golfers’ round. The par 3-4-3, known as the Bear Trap (Nicklaus design), each have water come into play and usually face into the wind.
COURSE STATISTICS
| Yardage | Par | Rating | Slope | |
| Ladies | 5984 | 72 | 69.9 | 129 |
| Regular | 6721 | 72 | 73.3 | 144 |
| Championship | 7048 | 72 | 75.3 | 147 |
COURSE CHARACTERISTICS
| Primary Grasses | Height of Cut | |
| Fairways | Bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass | 0.450' |
| Greens | Bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass; Poa trivalias | 0.115' |
| Rough | Bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass | 3.5' |
COURSE NUMBERS
| Stimpmeter | 10.6 feet | |
| Sand bunkers | 78 | |
| Water Hazards | 26 |
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