Honda Classic Hopes Fazio Design Draws Stronger Field On A Florida Golf Course
If Tom Fazio builds it, will they come?
Honda Classic officials hope the world's best PGA Tour pros will turn out next March to see what kind of test Fazio has designed at The Country Club at Mirasol. The famed architect has built more than 200 courses around the world, but Mirasol's new Sunrise Course is the first of his designs that will be home to a PGA Tour event.
Mirasol unveiled its Sunrise Course during a media day on Monday. It opened to club members for play last week. The unveiling for tournament play comes March 11-14, when the Honda Classic plays host to its annual PGA Tour event.
``I hope players will find it fun to play and challenging,'' Fazio said in a telephone interview. ``I think what makes it special is the wonderful feel. Sometimes, when you build courses for real estate developments, the homes give you this boxed-in feeling. On parts of this course, you feel like you are out in a nature preserve.''
The Honda Classic left its home at the TPC at Heron Bay in Coral Springs and moved to Mirasol in north Palm Beach County last spring. Mirasol's Arthur Hills' designed Sunset Course was the temporary home last March, and Tour pros scorched the short course with Justin Leonard winning at 24 under par.
Fazio's Florida golf course should stand up better to Tuesday's long-hitting pros and the newest distance technology. The course rating is 76.8 with a slope of 150. The course pros will play will measure more than 7,400 yards from the tournament tees, but its first line of defense are Fazio's giant, elevated and undulating greens.
The Florida golf course should offer a precise second-shot test. With numerous decks within these enormous greens, players must accurately hit to pins in certain sections of the greens or watch the undulations carry their errant shots away. With shaved banks leading to collection areas around the greens, a creative short game will be rewarded.
``I don't think it's a Florida golf course where a long hitter's set up to always win,'' Honda Classic Executive Director Cliff Danley said. ``There's a premium on the short game. Guys are going to miss greens and have to get up and down, and it's not going to be easy in tournament conditions.''
The 18th hole of the Hills' Sunset Course will continue to serve as the tournament's finishing hole because of its suitability for spectator seating and luxury boxes. At 476 yards, it's also a challenging closing hole. Fazio reconfigured the green to fit the rest of his design.
The Honda Classic's last two homes came under significant criticism from Tour pros. The TPC at Heron Bay and the TPC at Eagle Trace were panned for various reasons. Danley's optimistic players will warm to Fazio's test.
``There are 144 players in a field,'' Danley said. ``Some will like the course, some won't, but I think they all hold Tom Fazio in high regard and I don't think you'll find a lot of the negativity we've suffered in the past. I think it's a fair golf course.''
With the course sprawling out across the property like a links design, the walks for spectators will be long. Shuttles will be used to transport spectators to the 10th tee, which is located on a far end of the property.
Danley believes the overall venue is the best the Honda Classic has ever offered.
The new clubhouse opens Thanksgiving week. The state-of-the-art practice facility is close to player/family dining, day care and the spa and locker rooms. The clubhouse will be home to corporate functions and other events tournament week.
``We think this is as good as it gets from a presentation standpoint,'' Danley said.
Honda Classic officials hope the world's best PGA Tour pros will turn out next March to see what kind of test Fazio has designed at The Country Club at Mirasol. The famed architect has built more than 200 courses around the world, but Mirasol's new Sunrise Course is the first of his designs that will be home to a PGA Tour event.
Mirasol unveiled its Sunrise Course during a media day on Monday. It opened to club members for play last week. The unveiling for tournament play comes March 11-14, when the Honda Classic plays host to its annual PGA Tour event.
``I hope players will find it fun to play and challenging,'' Fazio said in a telephone interview. ``I think what makes it special is the wonderful feel. Sometimes, when you build courses for real estate developments, the homes give you this boxed-in feeling. On parts of this course, you feel like you are out in a nature preserve.''
The Honda Classic left its home at the TPC at Heron Bay in Coral Springs and moved to Mirasol in north Palm Beach County last spring. Mirasol's Arthur Hills' designed Sunset Course was the temporary home last March, and Tour pros scorched the short course with Justin Leonard winning at 24 under par.
Fazio's Florida golf course should stand up better to Tuesday's long-hitting pros and the newest distance technology. The course rating is 76.8 with a slope of 150. The course pros will play will measure more than 7,400 yards from the tournament tees, but its first line of defense are Fazio's giant, elevated and undulating greens.
The Florida golf course should offer a precise second-shot test. With numerous decks within these enormous greens, players must accurately hit to pins in certain sections of the greens or watch the undulations carry their errant shots away. With shaved banks leading to collection areas around the greens, a creative short game will be rewarded.
``I don't think it's a Florida golf course where a long hitter's set up to always win,'' Honda Classic Executive Director Cliff Danley said. ``There's a premium on the short game. Guys are going to miss greens and have to get up and down, and it's not going to be easy in tournament conditions.''
The 18th hole of the Hills' Sunset Course will continue to serve as the tournament's finishing hole because of its suitability for spectator seating and luxury boxes. At 476 yards, it's also a challenging closing hole. Fazio reconfigured the green to fit the rest of his design.
The Honda Classic's last two homes came under significant criticism from Tour pros. The TPC at Heron Bay and the TPC at Eagle Trace were panned for various reasons. Danley's optimistic players will warm to Fazio's test.
``There are 144 players in a field,'' Danley said. ``Some will like the course, some won't, but I think they all hold Tom Fazio in high regard and I don't think you'll find a lot of the negativity we've suffered in the past. I think it's a fair golf course.''
With the course sprawling out across the property like a links design, the walks for spectators will be long. Shuttles will be used to transport spectators to the 10th tee, which is located on a far end of the property.
Danley believes the overall venue is the best the Honda Classic has ever offered.
The new clubhouse opens Thanksgiving week. The state-of-the-art practice facility is close to player/family dining, day care and the spa and locker rooms. The clubhouse will be home to corporate functions and other events tournament week.
``We think this is as good as it gets from a presentation standpoint,'' Danley said.
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