Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA
Architect: Jack Nicklaus and Justin Thomas (November, 2023)
Official Opening: November 17, 2023
Ratings Guide: Birdie+
Golf course development in southeast Florida is experiencing an unbelievable surge that has no peer in the rest of the USA.
Both new properties and those substantially being updated are continuing ahead in laying the groundwork for a “new” Sunshine State golf renaissance in the 21st century.
Among the new entrants is Panther National which opened November 17, 2023. The 400+ acre community is bordered by a 2,400-acre conservation site in Palm Beach Gardens and situated 18 miles northwest of the West Palm Beach International Airport.
The founder and president of Panther National is former professional Alpine skier Dominik Senn. He is the CEO and Chairman of 4SENN, one of the world’s leading integrated sports marketing agencies and represents numerous PGA Tour golfers, including major champions and multiple PGA Tour winners. Panther National is the first new private golf club to open in Palm Beach County in two decades.
The 57-year-old Swiss native smartly engaged the likes of 18-time major championship winner / architect Jack Nicklaus in tandem with two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas.
The scale of Panther National is truly an eyeful. The detailing and amenities cover all the bases. There’s an engaging short course and a comprehensive practice facility which has become de rigueur for 21st century golf properties.
While the course can stretch to nearly 8,000 yards, the par-72 layout includes a thoughtful elasticity where multiple teeing areas and angles of attack can be altered as called upon — with length ranging from 4,492 to 7,864 yards.
Playing from the most appropriate tees is essential. Those seeking to test themselves to the max will find a layout that offers no quarter — the course rating from the appropriately named “Black Senn” tees comes to a 78.7 rating and 147 slope.
The 85-year-old Nicklaus has designed over 280 courses and his effort at Panther National showcases the cumulative wisdom the Golden Bear has collected over such a long architectural career in tandem with a distinguished playing record.
Three pillars are crucial elements in assessing any golf design.
The first is the actual land site. Panther National is an expansive site but like much of Florida was in need of shaping and the Nicklaus / Thomas construction team effort in this area was quite skillful. No doubt when you see rises and dips in elevation you are seeing the finished efforts of man’s handiwork. The pitch and roll of the property is done sensibly and places a premium on shotmaking execution.
The second dimension is the overall routing. How an architect makes the most out of a given site is a key emphasis issue. Making sure players are adjusting to varying wind directions and velocities.
The routing at Panther National is exceptional. The front nine features three three-hole sequences that return to the clubhouse area. For some facilities such an inclusion can be forced upon the finished product and look out of place. Not so at Panther National.
There are a number of holes that move in a north/south and south/north direction. But the design makes sure there is enough differentiation so players have to be ready with adjustments as called upon.
The four par-3s all play in different directions and collectively are a strong quartet. Each can also be set to play a wide variety of lengths and playing angles as called upon. The par-3 15th is a brilliant example in terms of overall elasticity, playing angles and pin locations.
The one aspect that indicates a bit of repetition Nicklaus has done elsewhere is having a penalty area used as a separator for two different holes. The long par-4 9th and 18th are each extremely challenging holes with each nine concluding in strong fashion.
The third dimension is how does the course bring out the best qualities of shotmaking. Panther National has wide landing areas but the optimum landing area needs to be attained in order to secure the optimum approach angle into the daily pin location.
A good example of this is the uphill par-4 6th that features a blind landing area. The best position is on the right side but many players will likely head more left than is preferred. Those on the left side encounter a greenside mound that obscures the green that sits behind it. The optimum angle is from the right side of the fairway.
Panther National benefits from two additional elements.
Housing is often the bane of golf architecture in the Sunshine State. Far too often various properties have golf as the secondary consideration with an array of housing intrusions upon the golf experience.
That’s not the case at Panther National. The 18-hole experience is free of the clutter and this only promotes the golf to optimum results.
The second aspect that often holds back golf in Florida is the overreliance on using water as a strategic element. Far too many courses in the State use water to the point of overkill. In some inane cases – you can have penalty areas bracket fairways.
Panther National does have water situated on various holes but the ubiquitous theme demonstrated at the vast preponderance of courses in Florida is not carried out here. Players do have to be mindful when penalty areas are front and center but the Nicklaus / Thomas design does so thoughtfully and with appropriate bailout areas for those opting for the safest route in playing such holes.
The ending quartet of holes at Panther National brings the round to a memorable conclusion. The par-3 15th has been already mentioned. The short par-4 16th mandates careful thinking between taking on the risk with a big tee shot or opting for a more conservative approach.
The penultimate hole is an engaging par-5. Players can opt to drive the ball down the right side but the slightest error off the tee can easily find water. Those in the “go” area can attempt to fit a second shot through a small recess area or use the blind landing area which feeds balls down to the green. The 17th shares a common putting surface with the short par-3 8th.
The finale at Panther National is rigorous. Water runs parallel to the drive zone and bunkers must be avoided too. Complicating matters is a prevailing wind pattern that can actually lengthen the 501-yard par-4. The green is a devilish target to reach in the regulation stroke. Those scoring at max a four will have plenty to celebrate when they reach the 19th hole.
Overall, Panther National is a clear contender for a very high position in the Sunshine State rankings. Undoubtedly, the competition is clearly competitive and the movement between courses can certainly be volatile. Panther National was created to provide a golf experience that will linger in one’s memory long after the round concludes. True greatness in golf course architecture is measured via such a lasting impression.
Panther National does that and more.
***
Ratings Guide
Double eagle — Compelling architecture of the highest order. Your heart will be pounding with exhilaration.
Eagle – Flies high in the clouds, consistent variety with strategic holes of note.
Birdie+ – Engaging design with occasional moments of memorable triumph.
Birdie- – Quality architecture with only momentary lapses in standout holes.
Par – Enjoyable to play but generally vanilla in overall character.
Bogey – Shows fleeting promise but offers pedestrian holes that rarely rise above mediocrity.
Double-bogey – A total mistake – in need of upgrades on hole design and related conditioning snafus.
Triple-bogey – A mess – avoid wasting time and money.
