Can You Play PGA National Champion on GSPro? Here's How

The Champion Course at PGA National is best known for the Bear Trap – holes 15, 16, and 17 – a three-hole stretch on the back nine that decides the Honda Classic every year. Jack Nicklaus renovated the course in 2014, and the result is a Florida resort course that demands precision from every tee.

On GSPro, PGA National Champion is available as a LIDAR community build. It is the closest you will get to playing a Tour stop in Florida without the air temperature and the humidity.

Finding PGA National Champion on GSPro

Search for “PGA National” or “Champion Course” in the GSPro course database. The LIDAR version is available in the community section.

The LIDAR Quality

Florida courses are famously difficult for LIDAR capture because the terrain is flat. There are no elevation changes to make the data interesting. PGA National is no exception. The LIDAR data shows a flat property with water hazards, bunkers, and palm trees.

What makes the build work is the water. The course has water in play on 16 of the 18 holes, and the LIDAR captures the water boundaries accurately. The forced carries, the island green on 17, and the water-lined finishing holes are all present and correct.

The Bear Trap

The defining feature of PGA National is the Bear Trap, and it translates well to the sim because the challenge is purely about execution.

The 15th hole is a par-3 over water to a green protected by bunkers. The 16th hole is a par-4 with water left and a green that runs toward the water. The 17th hole is the famous par-3 island green that demands a precise carry.

On GSPro, the Bear Trap plays exactly the way it looks on TV. You need three good swings to get through it. One bad swing ruins your round. The pressure is the same whether you are playing for a PGA Tour check or a round with your friends.

The Rest of the Course

The front nine at PGA National is less dramatic than the back. It is a solid Florida layout with water, palm trees, and bunkers, but the holes do not have the same character as the Bear Trap.

The 18th hole is a strong finishing par-5 with water down the left and a green that requires a precise approach. It is a risk-reward hole that can give back strokes if you get aggressive.

Verdict

PGA National Champion on GSPro is worth the download for the Bear Trap alone. The rest of the course is solid Florida resort golf, but the closing stretch is one of the best three-hole runs in Tour golf. The LIDAR build is functional rather than beautiful, but the shot values are accurate and the course plays the way it should.

For a full guide on everything GSPro offers, read the best courses on GSPro guide.