Getting To Know: PGA Golf Club

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Adriana Vizcaya who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
One of America's top-ranked resorts, PGA Golf Club at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla. features 54 holes of pure championship golf as well as acclaimed instruction at the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance. Highlighting this world class facility are courses designed by the legendary Pete Dye and Tom Fazio, as well as a six-hole short course created especially for families and beginners.

Providing the ultimate learning environment for players of all levels, the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance is a 35-acre, leading-edge golf park that offers practice areas for shots of all types. As the home of PGA of America Golf Schools, it employs world-class technology - such as the Sirgul Golf Simulator, LinxTracker/PGA PAR System and TrackMan Shot Performance game analysis programs - and pairs these with innovative training solutions from the PGA Center for Fitness and Performance.

Rounding out the on-site offerings is the state-of-the-art PGA Club Performance facility, which provides expert club repair and fitting.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Located an hour north of West Palm Beach, PGA Golf Club at PGA Village serves as a pure golf destination for players of all abilities. Here, you can enjoy 54 holes of award-winning championship golf on a trio of world-class golf courses masterfully laid out by design legends Tom Fazio and Pete Dye; the very best in golf training and teaching at the 35-acre state-of-the-art PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance; and of course the history of the PGA's storied existence including all of the romance and intrigue of Ryder Cups and PGA Championships past and present at your fingertips at the PGA Museum of Golf; and all within one spectacular golf resort.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
These are large, resort-style golf courses that are designed for the big hitter in mind. However there are very few forces carries from any of the five sets of championship tees which makes the courses accessible for players of all skill levels. Like all good courses, good shots are rewarded and errant shots can be penal. Challenging but always fair, these courses give you opportunities to score and do not bully you for 18 holes.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
"75 Best Golf Resorts in North America" - Golf Digest; 30th Best Public Golf Course - "2009 Readers Choice Awards" - Golf World

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Ryder Course - No. 18 - Great finishing hole, dogleg right, par-4 which requires a good drive and an even better iron to the green.

Wanamaker Course - No. 6 - No bail outs on this par-3. An elevated tee shot to a large green is guarded by water.

Dye Course - No. 2 - A brutal par-4 right out of the gate measuring almost 500 yards in length. This hole demands two great shots if you hope to be anywhere close to the green.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
Ryder Course - No. 4 - A tempting risk vs. reward hole with water along the right side. This short par-5 is reachable in two but you can walk off the green with a double bogey if you get too greedy.

Wanamaker Course - No. 18 - Bunkers left and right shrink the fairway and the undulating green is guarded by sand and water.

Dye Course - No. 7- Classic Pete Dye. There's more sand than grass on this intimating par-5. Get past the visual and you'll discover a large fairway. The serpentine fairway narrows as you approach the green.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Champions Grill in the Clubhouse at PGA Golf Club offers a full menu throughout the week. My favorite is the Rachel Sandwich with tender pastrami on marble rye, served with swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing and chips. We also recommend unwinding at the bar with daily drink specials. Surround yourself by PGA memorabilia and relics one might only expect to find in a golf museum.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Hugo Leon shot a 62 on the Wanamaker in 2009 during the first round of PGA TOUR Qualifying School.

Back Tee Stats
Par: Wanamaker - 72, Ryder - 72, Dye - 72
Yardage: Wanamaker - 7123, Ryder - 7037, Dye - 7279
Slope: Wanamaker - 144. Ryder - 134, Dye - 147
Rating: Wanamaker - 74.8, Ryder - 73.9, Dye - 75.9

More Information
PGA Golf Club
1916 Perfect Drive
Port St. Lucie, FL, 34986
800-800-GOLF
www.PGAVillage.com