As I read through the book, I was especially interested in seeing what Arnold had to say about Florida courses. He had selected five Florida courses with some of his favorite golf holes, all of which (I had thought) I had either played or visited in years past.

 

For a top Par 4 pick he chose #18 on the Doral Blue Course (at the Doral Resort & Spa), still played today in the World Championship series in Miami each year. Arnold says this was a tough hole then. He should play it now. Since it has been lengthened and the green made even tougher, it really is a monster. Stay at the resort and play this one.

 

For the next Par 4, Mr. Palmer selected the 18th at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens. He described the hole as 421 yards and on the East course. This confused me. I had been to PGA National many times and filmed a video for VISIT FLORIDA there recently. Since they have 5 golf courses, I wasn’t sure which one this was. I had never heard of an “East” course there. I placed a call to Jane Broderick, Director of Golf Operations at PGA National, whom I had meet during our video shoot, to ask her which course Mr. Palmer was referring to. She surprised me with the fact that he was actually talking about the old JDM East course which for a brief period of time was the PGA National and is now a private country club known as BallenIsles. I have not played nor believe I’ve even seen this hole, but if Arnold Palmer says it’s a good one, I’ll take his word for it.

 

Arnold’s favorite Par 3 in Florida is, not surprisingly, the 17^th at Bay Hill in Orlando. We had also recently filmed a video there with Mr. Palmer and I played the 17^th again. A challenging shot over the lake to a shallow green makes this a tough, but fair hole. Arnold began his love affair with Bay Hill many years ago and this hole is one of the reasons. Each year the PGA Tour plays their event there. Visit the Bay Hill Club & Lodge and enjoy a round at Arnold’s course.

 

For a Par 5, Arnold picks the 15^th at Rio Pinar CC in Orlando. I had played this track a few years back and thoroughly enjoyed it. The host of the Florida Citrus Open on the PGA Tour for many years, this course was a favorite of many pros who were happy to be playing in the warm Florida sun early in the Tour season. It is a private club, but with the right call from your local golf professional you may be able to arrange a round of golf there.

 

The final Florida hole selected by Mr. Palmer was Seminole Golf Club’s Par 5 #15. It is a top layout (designed by one of my all time favorite architects, Donald Ross, in 1929). When I worked at the Ben Hogan Co. in Fort Worth, TX, I recall that early each year Mr. Hogan would ask us in R&D to prepare some test clubs for him to take on his annual sojourn in Florida where he always played and practiced at Seminole GC. This was a habit he had begun years ago when he was still an active player on the Tour. He’d leave the often cold and windy weather of Fort Worth to tune up his game in warmer Florida so that he’d be ready for the season’s first major – The Masters. With the Atlantic Ocean just over the sand dunes at Seminole, Mr. Hogan still got plenty of wind practice, but the Florida sunshine sure was a much nicer environment in which to play golf. You may have a difficult time setting up a visit there unless you know a member of this private club, but if you are able, do it.

 

I’m sure that Mr. Palmer now has hundreds of favorite golf holes in Florida, but it was interesting to read about his choices from thirty years ago. They are all still marvelous golf holes today.