PGA Village - A True Golfer's Paradise

Earlier this season, I was privileged to get the opportunity to visit and play PGA Village in St. Lucie Florida, and what an experience it was.  Prior to my arrival, I was already somewhat familiar with the three world-renown golf courses (Wanamaker, Ryder & Dye), but I had no idea the depth and magnitude of all the additional amenities found within 'The Village'.  What they've created at PGA Village is an experience unlike I've seen at any other golf resort.

Someone recently asked me "Does it get increasingly difficult for you to come up with unique content when reviewing golf courses?"  Good question... It's true, some golf courses have a lack of distinguishing features; thankfully, there are facilities like PGA Village, where I could easily write weekly articles for a year, and never struggle to find something uniquely fascinating to discuss. In addition to their 54 holes of golf on the three world-class golf courses, PGA Village is a true golfer's paradise which also offers:

•  PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance - This 35 acre facility is where golfers of all skill levels can take advantage of some of the most advanced golf training and instruction the sport has to offer.  Included in this area is series of sand bunkers, each containing a different type of sand mimicking the conditions from golf courses around the world.  
• PGA Museum of Golf - Including the Professional Hall of Fame, if you love golf history, you will be mesmerized by the experience of visiting the PGA Museum of Golf and taking a journey through some of golf's most memorable moments.
• 6 Hole Family Short Course - The perfect place to introduce youngsters and beginners along with being a great way to warm up or wind down.

Already you can see how PGA Village has done a fantastic job creating a complete golf experience, unlike any other resort, and we haven't even got to the best part... the golf courses.  All three courses have been recognized on a variety of 'top courses in America' lists, including recently being ranked No. 30 in GolfWorld's inaugural 'Reader's Choice Awards – Top 50 Public Golf Courses.' In addition, the resort as a whole ranks 51st on Golf Digest’s list of the '75 Best Golf Resorts in North America'. Each of the courses have also earned Audubon International “Signature Sanctuary” status for maintaining and enhancing the habitat by conserving wildlife, water and energy through sustainable maintenance practices.

Here's a short into to the three courses at PGA Village:

The Wanamaker

The first golf course named in honor of Rodman Wanamaker, who in 1916, inspired the birth of The PGA of America. A classic Florida layout, Fazio's Wanamaker Course, is set against a backdrop of wetlands, palm trees and palmettos, and is considered one of Florida's most beautiful courses.

The Ryder Course

The Ryder Course is named in honor of Samuel Ryder, the namesake and founder of the Ryder Cup, the pre-eminent event in golf. With its rolling hills, majestic pine trees and challenging water hazards, the Ryder Course has a distinctive Carolina-feel. With various hole locations, you could play this course every day and discover a different layout.

The Dye Course

Emphasizing the native surroundings and Dye's uninhibited style for creative design, the Dye Course features pine straw roughs, vast coquina waste bunkers and grass-based bunkers. A links-style course that weaves by the 100-acre 'Big Mamu' Wetlands, the Dye Course offers pure Florida surroundings, with hints of design from the older British Isles' courses for flavor.

If you haven't been, PGA Village is definitely one to add to your 'bucket list', which I plan on crossing off over and over and over again! If you're visiting from out of town, I would highly recommend checking out the 'Stay and Play' packages available at the Hilton Garden Inn.  For more information about current 'Stay and Play' packages, visit: http://www.pgavillage.com/index.cfm?page=hilton_garden_inn 

For more information about PGA Village:

• Visit them online at: www.PGAVillage.com
• Connect with them on Facebook: www.fb.com/pgavillage
• Follow them on Twitter: @PGAVillage