Since its initial launch in 1983, Skins Game has gone through a series of tweaks. Different players. Different sponsors. Different broadcast networks. The venue has also changed. The event was born in Arizona and later moved to the California desert. It was last held in 2008 and is now moving again. Friday morning’s game (yes, Friday morning! 9 a.m. ET) will feature Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Keegan Bradley and Shane Lowry, and the backdrop will be Panther National, a new-faced club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Chances are you’re familiar with these players. Here’s what you need to know about the club.
this is a newbie
Panther National is a relatively new addition to the neighborhood, opening in 2023 as part of a larger residential development that is still rolling out amenities. The club bills itself as Palm Beach County’s first golf development in nearly 20 years.
This is a big-name collaboration
The course is an iconic design designed by Jack Nicklaus in collaboration with two-time major champion Justin Thomas. Thomas’ favorite hole is the par-3 8th, and he loves the green’s incredible complexity.
This is a flexible design
Ranging from bite-sized to beast-sized, layouts can range from 4,500 to 8,000 yards, with water on multiple holes and much greater elevation changes than most South Florida courses.
It has a well-organized driving range
Practice won’t make you perfect, but it will make you better. There are many opportunities here. The club’s extensive facilities include a short game area, an extensive putting green, target greens set to PGA Tour average distances, and a driving range with 27-yard-wide U.S. Open fairways running through it. There are also practice jerseys reserved for Thomas when he’s on the field.
It will help you play your wedge game
Short courses are now commonplace in top developments and Panther National is no exception. To complement its championship course, the club features a PANTHER9 par-3 layout with an island green inspired by the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.
It comes with a hefty price tag and heavyweight membership
The initiation fee is $500,000 for non-residents and $400,000 for residents. Homes in the club are listed with prices ranging from $3.5 million to $20 million. Members include professional athletes, including representatives from teams like the Phillies, Jets and Avalanche, as well as a few NHL Hall of Famers you may have heard of: Joe Sakic and Claude Lemieux. The club has also assembled a touring-focused ambassador roster that includes Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young, Victor Hovland, Nick Dunlap, Sathis Segarra, Lexi Thompson, Camilo Villegas and Morgan Hoffman.
