ESCAPE STAYCATIONS
RESORT, Reimagined
WHETHER YOU’RE READY TO HIT THE LINKS OR LOUNGE IN LUXURY (OR DO A BIT OF BOTH), PGA NATIONAL RESORT IN PALM BEACH GARDENS HAS YOU COVERED By Kristen Desmond LeFevre
S
ure, the big draw at Palm Beach Gardens’ PGA National Resort has always been the fact that it plays host to the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic. But a recent overhaul of the property—which first opened in 1980—has transformed this small-town stopover into a sophisticated must-stay with a boutique-like feel. Whether you visit for a bite to eat or a weekend away from it all, check out our favorite new features. RAISING THE BAR Enter under the resort’s soon-to-be iconic orange-and-white-striped awnings and you’re greeted by the lobby’s focal point (and the heart of its not-to-be missed happy hour): the bar. At its center stands a modern take on a banyan tree, illuminated by more than 1,500 LEDs. Score a bar-side seat and sip on a classic
COURTESY OF PGA NATIONAL RESORT
Clockwise from left: The focal point of the PGA National Resort’s lobby is its bar with a modern interpretation of a banyan tree, illuminated by more than 1,500 LEDs; the resort entrance; a guest room; The Butcher’s Club dining room.
cocktail (their old-fashioned is on point) while you plan your stylish staycation. EAT YOUR HEART OUT For breakfast, hit up Birdie’s Diner, serving comfort food with a retro vibe. Snag a booth and order the brioche bun egg sandwich with
smoked bacon, caramelized onions, and garlic aioli as you watch early birds addressing the first hole. Need something sweeter to start your day? The banana mudslide pancakes with banana brûlée are a can’t-miss. For fancier fare, reserve a table at The Butcher’s Club. Helmed by chef Jeremy Ford—Top Chef season 13 winner and executive chef of Miami’s wildly popular Stubborn Seed—this swank space offers elevated dining formerly unavailable in Palm Beach Gardens. Go for the gooey black truffle jalapeño poppers from the appetizer offerings, the tuna coconut ceviche from the raw bar, and the smoked 18-ounce prime rib eye as an entrée. HIT THE LINKS In addition to 90 holes of championship golf across five courses, the resort now features two new courses designed by Andy Staples. Encouraging match versus stroke play, The Match course offers a novel canvas for players of all abilities in a nontraditional setting. The Staple is 9 short holes (between 60 and 130 yards) that feature a variety of creative challenges—ideal for plenty of afterhours play and practice options. (pgaresort.com) « FORTLAUDERDALEILLUSTRATED.COM | JULY/AUGUST 2022
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