PGA (Wanamaker) - Florida - USA

The PGA Wanamaker course is part of a 54 hole complex in Port St. Lucie, FL. I highly recommend it over it’s sisters down in West Palm Beach. A lot fewer people, better pricing and better courses!

The first hole is extremely welcoming, a short reachable par five slight dogleg left. Favor the right side off the tee to avoid the left bunkers. It has a narrow back to front sloping green but danger lurks to the right with a long greenside bunker. The 2nd hole is a bear, long uphill par 4. Favor the right off the tee as everything will trundle left. Take an extra club on your approach. The short par 4s 3rd and 5th are great birdie opportunities provided you hit a decent tee shot in the fairway. The 6th is a tricky little par 3. The green slopes hard left towards the water hazard. My high hook failed to hold. The par 5 7th looks much more intimidating than it is. Big hitters can get home, but the risk reward is stacked against them. A water hazard runs the length of the hole on the left along with several bunkers. Still favor the left off the tee to give you the best angle to choose your preferred distance on your 3rd shot. The short par 4 8th has two greens. As a hooker, I preferred the left green alternative. The long par 4 9th has a large landing area with a green that slopes hard left to right toward the water hazard. Favor the middle of the green.

The 12th is a short uphill par 4 that provides a good birdie oppty. The green is well protected by bunkers on compass quadrants. The par 5 13th is definitely reachable, but you will earn it. Water all down the right with a BAB on the left corner. Ideal drive is over that bunker. This then gives you a long carry over two more left BABs to a redan green. I woosed out and hit a short iron right to give me a wedge to the green. The 15th is a fun cute little (pick your adjective) par 4. Depending upon your tees, you can go for it, hit a hybrid or long iron off the tee. The short par 5 16th is also a fun hole (unless you were in our group, 3 bogeys and a double). Reachable in two it has water all down the left with a plethora of sand. Favor the right off the tee as everything will roll towards the water. If you are going for it in two also favor the right side. On the left all you have are bunkers and water. I was delighted when we played the last par 3. The Wanamaker did not have the classic, i.e. boring Florida par 3 all carry over water. The 17th is uphill, so take an extra club with a bunker left and a false front right. The dogleg right, around a water hazard, par 4 18th is a super finishing hole. Additionally, there is a BABs BAB on the right side, supposedly 2 acres in size. If you hit this green, tread lightly as everything rolls hard towards the water hazard.

The Wanamker is a good course. I think it is under-rated. It has s0me demanding holes but some really neat fun holes. Lot of bunkers and the greens are TOUGH.