The infamous Bear Trap is a three-hole stretch at PGA National Resort's Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. If you’ve ever watched the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic in the spring, you've seen this brutal gauntlet firsthand. This article will break down what makes the Bear Trap one of golf's most formidable challenges, walk you through each hole, and give you practical, coach-approved advice for navigating it without losing a sleeve of golf balls.
The Bear Trap is not for the faint of heart. It comprises the 15th, 16th, and 17th holes of the Champion Course, a design masterpiece originally crafted by Tom and George Fazio and later renovated by the Golden Bear himself, Jack Nicklaus. It was Jack who aptly coined the name, and a plaque near the 15th tee bears his warning: "It should be an easy Par. All you have to do is hit three perfect shots, splashdown is not out of the question here... It's all about nerve and BITE."
This is not just marketing fluff, it's a candid assessment from one of the greatest minds in golf. What makes these three holes so punishing? It’s a relentless combination of several factors:
The "Bear Trap" name is a perfect fit. It beckons you in, full of confidence, and then springs its trap when you are at your most vulnerable. It relentlessly tests your ball-striking, your course management, and, most importantly, your mind.
Simply knowing which holes make up the Bear Trap is one thing, understanding how to survive them is another. Let's walk through each hole from a coach's perspective, focusing on smart, playable strategies that give you the best chance for success.
You step onto the 15th tee and the challenge is immediately apparent. You're facing a par 3 where the shot is almost entirely over water to a green that runs diagonally from front-left to back-right. The wind, which often blows from right-to-left, pushes your ball toward the water. To make a tough shot even tougher, a large bunker guards the green long and a runoff area protects the left side.
The pin position dictates the difficulty. A front-left pin is accessible but brings the water fully into play. A back-right pin demands a long, precise iron shot over the deepest part of the water hazard.
This is not the time to be a hero and go flag-hunting. Your single mission on this hole is to land your ball on the fat, central part of the green. Forget the flag exists.
Many consider Hole 16 to be the most demanding hole in the Bear Trap. It's a sharp dogleg-right par 4 where water flanks the entire right side from tee to green. Your tee shot needs to be long enough to clear a collection of fairway bunkers and aggressive enough to cut off some of the dogleg, but any ball that leaks right is gone.
And then there's the approach. Assuming you've found the fairway, you are faced with an intimidating mid-to-long iron shot entirely over water to a green protected by sand. There is virtually no baill-out room, you either hit the green or you're wet.
This hole rewards conservative, intelligent play. Trying to overpower it is a recipe for a big number.
By the time you get here, your nerves are probably frayed. To finish the trap, you are faced with another daunting par 3. The yardage can vary, but it's another long carry over water to a small, exposed green. The wind feels like it’s howling, and tired swings lead to mishits. There's a bailout bunker to the right, but it leaves an incredibly scary sand shot back toward the water.
The visual intimidation is immense. It's you, your ball, and a whole lot of trouble. This is the final exam of the Bear Trap.
You’ve made it this far. The strategy is the same as the 15th, but the mental challenge is intensified. This is a gut check.
The Bear Trap at PGA National's Champion Course, encompassing holes 15 through 17, is one of golf's most thrilling and punishing stretches. Survival hinges less on power and more on precision, nerve, and intelligent course management, requiring a clear strategy to avoid the water that dominates every shot.
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