PGA Nation: The match, Palm Beach, Florida

Above: Opening hole on The Match

Now I will say upfront that I did have the choice of playing the back nine of the Stadium Course twice as PGA National were undertaking some work on the front nine, but I was intrigued by the new The Match course. Originally designed as The Squire back in 1983 by Tom and George Fazio, the redesign was undertaken by Andy Staples.

As I pull up next to one of the marshals of the course he explains the thinking behind the new design. There are no set teeing options, it is up to the winner of the previous hole – the choice on the 1st would be whoever wins the toss to start – to decide where they want to tee from between two tethered posts, which in some cases can be over a 150 yard difference.



Left to right: 2nd, 4th and 9th holes


Take the 1st hole; you can choose between playing the hole at 427 yards or as short as 269 yards. There is also no par, because you are not playing the course you are playing your opponent. Some of the tees have also been intentionally designed to give a downhill, uphill or sideways lie. The idea is to play to your strengths or your opponents weaknesses.

The greens have to be some of the most unique I have putted on, there are so many ridges, tiers and green complexes, the Enigma code breakers would have their work cut out. So if you're a great putter and your opponent isn’t you will want to get to the green as soon as possible so you would probably choose the minimum teeing option giving you a chance to get close with your tee shots to chip and putt.


You can also turn the par 3s into a chipping contest. The beautiful 2nd measures 163 yards and has a bunker wrapped around the front of the green that has small sleeper ties as a face. Now if your wedge play is better than your mid-irons and you won the first hole, you can now play from 69 yards out and turn this hole into a chipping competition.

The same with the stunning 4th hole that has a stream running down the right of the hole and comes very close to the left hand side of the green and from the back tees that measure 166 yards you have to play over part of that stream. Again if you won the previous hole and you fancy your wedge game you can make the hole 84 yards.



Left to right: 10th, 13th and 16th holes

The front nine comes to a close with a wonderful hole that has water running down the left and can be played from the 403-yard post or as short as 238 yards or anywhere in between. But it's the green that will have your eyes popping with its ridges, complexes and a wall of death that some of those daredevil bike riders would enjoy.

This is my first time here so I don’t really know the changes that were made to the actual Squire course, but I love the layout and the aesthetics of the course. It is a very pretty course, it’s Florida but unlike yesterday it’s fairly flat.



Left to right: The beautiufl 12th hole

The 11th is another wonderfully designed hole played over bunkers with short sleeping ties and water. You tee over water at the 12th which has whispery grass surrounding more bunkers with sleeper ties and is played to a raised green. The course is fairly open but does have a lot of trees that not only shape the holes but enhances the course's aesthetics.

The course comes to a close with another “par 3”, remember there are no pars on the course, but measures 198 yards down to 120 yards played over water to a green that basically has a valley in it. Believe me being on the wrong tier certainly brings a four-putt into the equation!

As I walk off the green my overriding feeling is one of fun. I loved the look of the course and the design, but I would certainly love to play a match-play competition here, especially a competitive one. You could really get on someone's nerves. If your opponent is a bomber you can certainly take that weapon out of their hands, by winning the first hole and have them crying in frustration by the time they walk off the 18th – yes I would certainly love to play a competitive match here!



Above: Looking back down the 17th hole



Above: The amazing 18th green, with its only valley of death!