Panther National Golf Club
5th Hole, 403 Yards, Par-4
6th Hole, 470 Yards, Par-4
Architect: Jack Nicklaus / Justin Thomas (November, 2023)
Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA
Panther National is the first new private golf community to open in 20 years in Palm Beach County.
The 2023 Jack Nicklaus / Justin Thomas design is the central emphasis for the 382 acres that encompasses the site.
Originally, the land was dead flat but the Nicklaus / Thomas effort has created a finished layout that provides sufficient movement in tandem with varying challenges which can be dialed up or back depending on the skill levels of the player.
The routing is the core strength of Panther National. Each hole moves in a different direction and thereby mandates golfers adjust accordingly as called upon.
That skillset can be seen specifically with the back-to-back 5th and 6th holes.
The 5th is the shortest par-4 on the outward side ranging from 403 to 200 yards.
The two-shot hole plays in an easterly direction and the strategy commences as soon as you arrive at the tee.
Players must avoid water located down the entire left side. A series of fairway bunkers dot the landscape on the right side of the drive zone.
The fairway length ends at roughly 343 yards when played from the extreme rear tee area. The green is situated on an island and players have to properly gauge the needed distance for the approach.
On days where the wind is benign that approach shot can be a good bit less testing. But when the wind velocities ratchet up the wherewithal to control both the distance and trajectory on the second shot can be unnerving.
The optimum approach angle comes from the left but securing that position is challenged by the aforementioned water located on that side.
When the pin placement is positioned on the right side the player must account for a solitary bunker that fiercely protects that side. The putting surface is split into two sections and while the green is 34 yards deep the overall visibility of the landing area can make it appear smaller than it actually is.
The 6th that follows is a stout two-shot hole. Ranging in length from 470 to 270 yards. One of the more eye-catching visuals comes as soon as you stand on the tee. The 6th features a blind drive over a significant rise in the land that is rarely seen on courses in southeast Florida. The most advantageous line of play is down the right side. However, the visual element presented makes players believe there’s more room to the left.
The 6th has a generous landing area in the fairway. And those playing down the right side reap the best approach angle. Those on the left side encounter an elevated mound that guards and blocks the view of a substantial portion of the green. The putting surface runs on a slight diagonal from upper left to lower right and is 37 yards in length. There are also two different sections with the deep left pin placement the most challenging.
Complicating matters is the general prevailing headwind out of the south/southeast direction when playing the hole.
The Nicklaus / Thomas effort is an engaging end product. Positioning one’s golf ball occupies the central focal point in whether success or failure occurs. The 5th and 6th are sure fire examples of that.
