Sure, the 2,000-acre property has been the centerpiece of trendy Palm Beach Gardens since it opened in 1980.  But since it was acquired by Brookfield Asset Management (for a reported $233 million) in 2028, the 339-room resort has undergone a renovation that has lifted it from a sterile golf resort factory to a vibrant, guest-friendly resort that exudes the high-end lifestyle of the “Gardens,” north Palm Beach County and all of South Florida. 

“I had never been here until this past February,’’ said Sherrill, who came to PGA National after nearly six years at Silverado Resort, another Troon-managed property, in the Napa Valley.

“I knew Palm Beach County was a mecca for golf. And I knew about the Honda Classic (now the Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour)  and the Bear Trap on the Champion Course as having some of the hardest holes on the PGA Tour. But I didn’t know much about the resort, so it’s been interesting to hear stories from members about what things were like 10 years to now with all the renovations.’’

It’s sometimes difficult to identify where all the money goes when a resort undergoes a $100 million renovation. At PGA National Resort, however, Brookfield can put those dollars in the category of “dollars well spent’’ with a bright lobby design, new front entrance, renovated guest rooms, two celebrity-chef-driven restaurants, and potentially game-changing golf course designs.

The resort has six golf courses — the Champion, Fazio, Palmer, Match, Staple and Estates.  The Jack Nicklaus-designed Champion course (7,045 yards, par 72) gets most of the attention, but the most significant changes to the resort’s golf operations has been the creation of the Staple and Match courses. Designed by Andy Staples, each course is a testament to ownership’s commitment to a family-friendly environment.

The Staple, a nine-hole layout, might be the world’s most informal golf course. No hole is more than 160 yards long; players are guided to the next hole by the directions of Adirondack chairs, and there are no formal tee markers. If a player wants to only chip and putt around the greens, that’s fine. If he or she wants to play as far back as possible, that’s fine, too. Staples designed the course (walking only) with just enough nuances for golfers of every skill level.

The Match, meanwhile, offers players the opportunities to basically tee it up anywhere they choose on the course and play any way, any format they desire, while experiencing some of the classic design works of Donald Ross, Seth Raynor and Charles Blair MacDonald.

“We have one of the more challenging courses on the PGA Tour in the Champion. It’s on everyone’s bucket list,’’ Sherrill said. “But what’s really intrigued me about the re-invention of the Squire course into the Match and Staples courses.

“The Match is very forward thinking. It’s not rated, so whatever you shoot is what you shoot. It still hasn’t caught on big yet, but some golfers say it was their favorite course on their trip. The Staples course is a great way to get the family — or beginners — out there.’’

Luxury resorts often are graded on their food and beverage offers, so give PGA National an “A.” With celebrity chefs, Jeremy Ford (The Butcher’s Club) and Lindsay Autry (Honeybelle), the resort, over the past three years, has elevated its F&B offerings to be among the best in South Florida. 

This past December, Sushi by Bo?, a popular, fast-growing Omakase restaurant, joined the portfolio that also includes Birdie’s Diner near the resort’s pro shop. Sushi by Bo? is an intimate venue with chefs preparing dishes right in front of you, so make sure to make a reservation.

“It’s really important for a resort such as PGA National to have a high-end steakhouse,’’ said Resort Director of Food and Beverage Ruwan Silva. “Other resorts I’ve worked at – Sea Island and Greenbrier – each have a high-end steakhouse. It’s part of a resort’s ambiance and experience.’’

At Honeybelle, Autry, a North Carolina farm girl and three-time James Beard Award nominee, serves up her outstanding fried chicken, along with other Southern favorites, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

 PGA National Resort recently added six new pickleball courts to bring its total to 12.

“When I got here three years ago, we had only two pickleball courts and two others painted on the tennis courts,’’ said  Alexandru Pop-Moldovan, the resort’s racquet sports director.  “Now the program has grown so fast that we have 200 active members playing weekly. We have lessons and leagues and round-robin tournaments. Our biggest round-robin day is Sunday, when we get 70 people.

Pickleball lessons, Pop-Moldovan said, are available to the public, along with PGA National members and resort guests, but only members and resort guests may access the courts at other times.

“When we had fewer (pickleball) courts, our members were on them all the time,’’ Pop-Moldovan said. “Now with the 12 courts, we’re full with members and resort guests, so everyone is happy.

“We have created corporate events packages for pickleball and tennis,” Pop-Moldovan says. “We’ve had some large parties and girls’ weekends. People are driving from as far away as Miami to stay and play.’’

PGA National’s 40,000-square-foot spa is one of the top destination spas in the Southeast. It features such amenities as a couple’s treatment room and two Himalayan salt rooms. Don’t miss the Spa’s “Waters of the World’’ mineral pools.

The spa offers a comprehensive menu of restorative treatments designed to nurture an openness to healing, balance and growth.

“The first thing I did when I came here (in 2022) was really work with the therapists,’’ said Spa Director Brian David Douglass. “I think we have a strong team now. I’ve put a lot of emphasis on education. So, I started with that core foundation to make sure they are highly skilled and highly trained. Then, we started elevating all the experiences.

“I don’t want a massage just to be a massage,” explains Douglass. “So, whether it’s scrubs or massages, I really want to elevate each of the services to a higher level.’’

Put all of this together and you have one of the nation’s top golf resorts right in South Florida’s backyard.

The post Destination Golf: PGA National Resort appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

Ernest Hemingway’s home (and museum), for example, is a short walk from Pier House. Yes, the descendants of Papa’s six-toed cats still roam the premises. President Harry Truman’s “Southern White House’’ also a popular attraction. A stroll – day or night – up Duval Street – is 1.25 miles of pure Key West – a combination of decadence and entertainment that can only be found on Florida’s southernmost point.

Pier House Resort & Spa is a luxurious respite from the maddening crowds that make Key West… well, Key West.  The resort’s Spa Junior Suites  each offer outstanding accommodations, including porches that are perfect for people watching. Want something even more luxurious? Try a  Oceanfront Luxury Suite that overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. 

At the resort’s center is the aptly named One Duval restaurant,  led by Executive Chef Maria Manso. Like most residents of Key West, Manso came from somewhere else. Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Manso grew up cooking next to her mother.

“In my household, we cooked Spanish food,’’ said Manso, whose culinary career has taken her from Southern California to South Beach and 11 years ago to Key West. “My mother loved to cook. I learned a lot from her, especially about tasting everything. That way, you can find the right balance.

“Cooking always involves finding the right balance of ingredients. Sometimes I’ll taste something and remember cooking it with my mom.’’

Overlooking the water with great views of ships coming in and out of Key West, One Duval serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a good idea to try at least one of each – if not more – during your stay. A large One Duval breakfast, for example, features coconut pancakes; don’t pass on the fish tacos for lunch; for dinner, Chef Manso’s Blackened Grouper with blue crab and sun-dried tomato cream sauce is a delicious, white and flaky, top seller.

And for those who want beef, don’t pass on the filet mignon with a side of lobster mac and cheese.

“Key West cuisine is kind of like a melting pot of the Caribbean,’’ Manso said. “We have influences from Puerto Rico… the Bahamas… Jamaica. A lot of the ingredients we use are from all the Caribbean.’’

The description sums up Key West, which is a four-to five-hour drive south of Miami on the Overseas HIghway.  Along the way, there is plenty to see and do – from snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo to visiting the sea turtle hospital in Marathon.

The best, however, is at the end – at One Duval Street – where Pier House Resort & Spa makes a visit to the Conch Republic as easy and flavorful as a piece of Key Lime Pie.

Photo Courtesy of Pier House Resort & Spa

The post Experience the Perfect Getaway at Pier House Resort & Spa in Key West appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

“We’re very food and beverage centered,’’ said Resort Vice President and General Manager Shane Allor. “We have menus that are ever-changing (at Bourbon Steak Miami) and a great brunch at Corsair.

“You have to keep people engaged.  We’re always reinventing to stay ahead of the game. We do a lot of locals at Bourbon Steak, as well as a lot of members and guests.’’

Here’s a closer look at what’s coming to Bourbon Steak Miami:

Summer Prix Fixe

Through September, Resort members, guests and locals can experience an exclusive prix fixe dining experience at Bourbon Steak. Available daily, the menu features an array of Chef Michael Mina favorites for $98 (excluding tax and gratuity). Start the evening with the restaurant’s classic trio of fries, continuing with a choice of starter, including coconut and curry lobster bisque, kale salad, or mushroom risotto. Entree options include prime filet mignon, blackened ora king salmon, or Amish roasted chicken. Top the evening off with either tropical key lime pie or Valrhona chocolate devil’s food cake. Advance reservations are required.

If you’re looking for something unique to pair with your meal,  try A5 Wagyu Fat-Washed Smoked Old Fashioned.

Looking farther ahead, Bourbon Steak Miami on Sept. 19 and Oct. 17 will host a Sip ‘N Stir Cocktail Class, where guests will learn the art of crafting cocktails from expert mixologists while also enjoying Bourbon Steak’s signature Duck Fat Fries. The experience will include two complimentary libations (including one handcrafted by guests), Duck Fat Fries and an additional 20 percent off food and beverage purchases for the duration of the evening. Each Cocktail Class will begin at 5:30 pm. Advance reservations are required.

On Oct. 10, the restaurant’s “Local Eats’’ Series will feature Chef Cesar Zapata and Ani Meinhold of Phuc Yea, a Miami-style modern Vietnamese restaurant. This collaborative event will include a paired, four-course collaboration celebrating creativity and bold flavors. Advance reservations are required. 

Meanwhile, Bourbon Steak Miami’s exclusive off-menu offerings are terrific for “in the know” guests. Diners can embark on an exclusive culinary adventure; the only caveat is that they must ask for them. The secret menu concept was developed by Executive Chef Mario Beabraut to reflect Bourbon Steak’s vibrant atmosphere and modern aesthetic. The menu can be ordered by asking for the “secret menu” item at any time and is available at the bar.

The post Bourbon Steak Miami Among Top-Rated Steakhouses in South Florida appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

“I think we check all of the boxes that we’ve been trying to check,’’ said Brian Conley, general manager of The Park West Palm Beach. 

Let’s take a look:

An outstanding Gil Hanse/Jim Wagner/Dirk Ziff designed course? Check.

One of South Florida’s top public course practice facilities? Check

A dynamic youth golf program? Check

Lighted par-3 course? Check

Caddy program? Check

12-minute tee times? Check

Food and beverage options? Check

Easy access to all areas of Palm Beach County? Check

Hanse and his team pay homage to golf’s “golden age’’ of design – with a good amount of Australian Sandbelt tossed in, particularly on the par-3, 11th hole, where sand protects the green on all sides except in the front, thus allowing players who miss short the opportunity to play the ball on the ground to get on the green.

Many of the green complexes at The Park have that “low mow’’ design that gives players the option playing the ball on the ground or in the air.

“We do not have a water hazard features anywhere,’’ Conley said. “A lot of the inspiration did come from the Sandbelt. When the ball can be advanced and played on the ground, the game is more enjoyable. And it’s faster.’’

Those “low mow’’ areas, along with 12-minute tee times, help explain the 41,000 rounds played in The Park’s first year.

Located on the footprint of the original West Palm Beach Golf Course, The Park West Palm Beach is a $55 million project funded by individual donations, including Tiger Woods. Former PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh was a vocal proponent of the project. The PGA itself is not involved in The Park, although its South Florida Section headquarters is located on the property. 

It can be argued that The Park’s business roots go back to 1990 and original concept for Emerald Dunes. Located only a few miles to the west, Emerald Dunes, designed by Tom Fazio, was born with great fanfare. One, it was marketed as the 1,000th golf course in Florida; and two, it was supposed to be at the vanguard of a state and national boom in high-end, daily fee golf.

That boom was a bust.  But is The Park West Palm a reincaraation of that five-decades old idea? Maybe. But it’s better armed, better planned and better at owning its identity.

“We’re still very much a new business and new golf course,’’ Conley said. “There is a learning curve we all have encountered. We came out of the ground from a high-end, daily fee perspective, but there’s a learning curve in educating people as to what that is and what it looks like.

“But even the things that haven’t progressed as fast as we’d like are trending in the right direction. So, in some instances, we’ve surpassed expectations and in other ways, we’re still learning.’’

In a way, learning is what The Park is all about. Whether that’s learning to play the game for the first time, learning the importance of being custom-fit for clubs, or even learning how to take a lesson, The Park is proving to be a template for one way (or many ways) to grow the game.

“We’re really one of one,’’ Conley said.  “Is it important for others to follow? Not necessarily. Is there an opportunity for others to follow? Sure, but it’s not a necessity.

“Golf can be consumed in all kinds of different manners. Here at The Park – whether it’s an outing on the par-3 course or playing the Hanse course, we want people to have fun.’’

The post The Park West Palm: Where Classic Golf Meets Modern Business Practices appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

I didn’t take that bet. I’m guessing most players who do will lose. At 5,800 yards, par 68, Sedge Valley is more than enough golf course for players regardless of handicaps or abilities. Doak has made sure of that with deceptively thick underbrush off the fairways and narrow, undulating greens. 

“The directive had always been to find the best greens sites,’’ said Ferrell, vice president of communications for Sand Valley parent Dream Golf Resorts.  “The goal is to explore the property (through) golf. This is very unique piece of property.’’

Sedge Valley, no doubt, ups the ante for Sedge Valley as a premier golf destination for golfers from across the country. Located in the middle of Wisconsin – less than a three-hour drive from Milwaukee and less than two hours from Madison – Sand Valley Golf Resort always has appealed to serious golfers in the Midwest and Upper Midwest. But as the popularity of high-end destination golf resorts continues to grow, so does Sand Valley’s reputation nationally. With Wisconsin’s moderate summer daytime temperatures, cool evenings and long days of summer daylight, Sand Valley is an ideal destination for South Floridians to get away from the summer heat and humidity. 

While some players might chuckle at a 5,800-yard, par 68 course, here are a couple of things to remember about Sedge Valley: One, your swing doesn’t know the difference between 5,800 yards and 7,300 yards; two, the Keiser family, owner of Dream Golf Resorts, doesn’t build golf courses just to be building them. Whether it’s The Lido at Sand Valley or Pacific Dunes at Bandon Dunes, each course is built with a purpose. In the case of Sedge Valley, that purpose was to build a sub-par 70 course that rivals the top “short’’ courses in the U.S. (par 69 Wannamoisett in Rumford, RI) and the UK (think Crail’s par 69 Balcomie Links in Fife).

Truth is, there is nothing “short’’ about any of those courses except the numbers on their scorecards.

“Each time I see (Sedge Valley) I walk away with different descriptions,’’ said Sand Valley Director of Marketing Brandon Carter. “It’s intimate and it’s brawny. It’s totally different than anything else we have here today.’’

What Sand Valley has are two large–than-life courses – Sand Valley (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw) and Mammoth Dunes (David McLay Kidd) that each sweep across the Wisconsin sand hills. The Lido is Doak’s (successful) attempt at time travel that transports players back to C.B. Macdonald’s “lost’’ classic of the early 20th century. The Sandbox, meanwhile, is Coore and Crenshaw’s par-3 course that pays tribute to the classic designs of golf “golden age.’’

All of which brings us back to Sedge Valley, which unlike Sand Valley and Mammoth Dunes, hugs the terrain like the heathland courses south of London (think Sunningdale).

With two par-four holes (Nos. 6 and 12) measuring less than 300 yards long each, Sedge Valley tests a player’s ego as much as his or her skills. The back-to-back par 3 holes (Nos. 7 and 8), with the eighth measuring 227 yards from the tips, are the highlights of the front side.

Sedge Valley’s only par-five is the 11th hole, which plays a tough 542 yards from the tips. Any final thoughts about Sedge Valley being a “short’’ course dies on the 12th hole.

Ferrell smiled and gazed toward Sedge Valley’s first tee.

“I think a lot of people will come here licking their chops and go away licking their wounds.’’ 

The post Sedge Valley Raises the Bar as a Premier Golf Destination for Golfers appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.