A Hole-by-Hole Guide to Panther National ahead of The Skins Game

In just a few short weeks, all eyes will be on Panther National in Palm Beach County, Florida as The Skins Game returns to its rightful place in golf fan's Thanksgiving Weekend agendas. At 9am ET on Black Friday (Nov. 28), Amazon Prime will broadcast The Skins Game for the first time since its 25-year run ended in 2008. Many courses have hosted the iconic four player money game—PGA West, Bighorn Golf Club, Indian Wells Resort—but this will be the first time the event is played on the east coast. What's more, it'll be played on the never-before-seen-on-TV Panther National, co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and Justin Thomas.

Credit: All images provided by Panther National

The course opened in 2023 in a resort-style residential community founded by former professional alpine ski racer Dominik Senn. It has been kept fairly exclusive, with hints of its unique layout featuring an island green à la TPC Sawgrass and expansive 8,000-yard stretch from the tips. Nicknamed "Big Cat" the Nicklaus Design website calls it a course that "defies traditional design boundaries."

When we finally got a look at the course, we understood the assignment. Panther National uses dramatic elevation changes, steep dunes, sandy waste areas and wind exposure to create a layout unlike that of what Florida golf traditionally offers.

*Editor's Note: Select yardages listed provided from Panther National scorecard that includes the following tees: JT, Black-Senn, Silver, Golf, Blue, Green, white. The official yardages for the Skins Game have yet to be announced. The course layout and yardages below reflect a typical layout of Panther National.

1 — Par 4 — 431 yards (JT Tees) | 402 yards (Black-Senn) | 402 yards (Silver)

The round begins with what looks like a straightforward mid-length par 4, but plays shorter thanks to its downhill, often downwind tee shot. Drives favoring the left half of the fairway open up the approach to a gentle two-tiered green. It's a welcoming start, but the sloping ground lets you know this course was built with movement, not flatness.

2 — Par 3 — 230 yards (JT Tees) | 215 yards (Black-Senn) | 190 yards (Silver) |

A visually intimidating par 3 framed by deep bunkers and sandy waste areas. Many players instinctively steer away from the two deep right bunkers, choosing to land left and let the contours feed the ball toward the surface. The green is large, but the target feels narrow. Players must commit to a full mid- or long-iron and remove doubt early.

Above: No. 2 at Panther National

3 — Par 5 — 575 yards (JT Tees) | 532 yards (Black-Senn) | 518 yards (Silver)

This one is for the long hitters to place among the center fairway bunkers for the preferred angle up to the small green. Laying up brings the water into play on the right or more threatening bunkers on the next shot. If theme of boldness paying off hasn't revealed itself yet, this strategic Par 5 will confirm it—and provide a pop quiz on how well you know your carry distances.

4 — Par 4 — 490 yards (JT Tees) | 435 yards (Black-Senn) | 405 yards (Silver)

This par 4 requires the tee shot to carry the cross bunkers to avoid a big number. A deceptively roomy landing area left of the bunkers seems safe, but comes with a tougher angle into the green and seemingly lengthens the hole.

5 — Par 4 — 403 yards (JT Tees) | 376 yards (Black-Senn) | 333 yards (Silver)

The shortest par 4 on the front nine, but don't let that fool you into thinking this is a bye. Water guards the left, bunkers guard the right...and the green? On an island. Each shot on this hole serves as its own inflection point early in the round. You may have already guessed it, but this hole was inspired by the island green on 17 at TPC Sawgrass where JT tied the course record in 2025 and won in 2021.

Above: Nos. 2, 4, 5

6 — Par 4 — 470 yards (JT Tees) | 425 yards (Black-Senn) | 415 yards (Silver)

A standout hole unlike most terrains you'll experience on the golf course in Florida. An uphill tee shot and a big downhill second shot sit before a dune that hides part of the green depending on your angle. A bold drive hugging the bunker on the right provides the cleanest view. The terrain messes with your depth perception, elevation changes are everywhere—and this hole proves the architects meant it.

7 — Par 5 — 575 yards (JT Tees) | 547 yards (Black-Senn) | 515 yards (Silver)

Often downwind, the seventh is among the most reachable par 5s on the course. The fairway tilts and funnels toward water left and bunkers right on the second shot. The green is small and pitches right-to-left, creating tricky up-and-downs when missed on the high side. It deceptively appears as a birdie hole from the tee—as long as you choose the right line on that second shot lined with bunkers.

Above: No. 7

8 — Par 3 — 163 yards (JT Tees) | 143 yards (Black-Senn) | 127 yards (Silver)

The shortest par 3 on the course mailed with a postage stamp green as a reward. Wayward shots need not apply as deep bunkers and hollows loom off the short iron tee shot.

9 — Par 4 — 539 yards (JT Tees) | 485 yards (Black-Senn) | 450 yards (Silver)

The ninth is where the drama is turned way up. Par is the goal here, but that doesn't mean you should take the safe line left to avoid water. That will lead you with a long, blind shot to the green. For a shorter, downhill approach and a clear look at the green, golfers must challenge the water to the upper right side of the fairway.

Above: No. 9

10 — Par 4 — 474 yards (JT Tees) | 461 yards (Black-Senn) | 425 yards (Silver)

This tee shot plays steeply downhill into a valley, followed by a significantly uphill approach into a green that strongly pitches left-to-right. The change in elevation is thrilling. The green… not as welcoming.

Above: No. 10

11 — Par 5 — 654 yards (JT Tees) | 630 yards (Black-Senn) | 574 yards (Silver)

A monster par 5 with sandy waste areas and a dogleg that tempts big hitters to carry the corner and catch the downhill “speed slot” that can run the ball another 100 yards. The green sits on top of a hill, demanding a high, soft third. No. 11 takes both courage and precision.

12 — Par 4 — 440 yards (JT Tees) | 390 yards (Black-Senn) | 350 yards (Silver)

This tee box sits at the highest point on the property into a shorter par 4. The landing area coincides with water, begging for a lay up or trip to the fairway bunkers. This hole feels like temptation disguised as strategy. It’s fun — until you get greedy.

Above: No. 12

13 — Par 3 — 230 yards (JT Tees) | 192 yards (Black-Senn) | 165 yards (Silver)

A soft fade is the ideal shot shape on this mid-length par 3. Water and bunkers line the right, a deep fairway hollow lurks left and the softly crowned green compounds the difficulty of any missed tee shot.

Above: No. 13

14 — Par 4 — 531 yards (JT Tees) | 477 yards (Black-Senn) | 425 yards (Silver)

Double fairway design offers safety left but a tougher angle, or a narrow right side that gives a cleaner approach. Reaching the green in regulation may require long irons, hybrids, or fairway metals. The green sits in a valley and plays larger than it looks.

15 — Par 3 —246 yards (JT Tees) | 232 yards (Black-Senn) | 201 yards (Silver)

One of Panther National’s signature holes: a 70-yard-deep green divided into distinct sections, each playing like its own target. Depending on tee and pin, this hole can change dramatically from day to day. Water, bunkers, hollows, and elevation combine to create a par 3 unlike anything in Florida.

Above: No. 15

16 — Par 4 — 335 yards (JT Tees) | 306 yards (Black-Senn) | 290 yards (Silver)

The shortest par 4 on the course and drivable under the right wind conditions. Safer players take a fairway wood or hybrid down the center to avoid water and bunkers. Aggressive players can try to carry the bunker or use the left-to-right contour to feed the ball onto the green.

17 — Par 5 — 580 yards (JT Tees) | 564 yards (Black-Senn) | 537 yards (Silver)

A hole defined by choices. The ideal tee ball avoids water right and bunkers left. Long hitters can try to carry water and sand to reach the green in two, while others can use the slope of the hill left of the hazard to feed their second shot forward. A chance to finish strong — but only if you trust the line and commit.

Skratch's Dan Rapaport had the opportunity to play No. 17 recently with Bushnell Golf and had to get a little creative playing into some fierce winds to avoid putting up a big number on the long par-5, predicting "some of these holes are going to be won with pars if it's this windy during The Skins Game."

18 — Par 4 — 498 yards (JT Tees) | 456 yards (Black-Senn) | 420 yards (Silver)

A championship closing hole. Water left, bunkers right, and a fairway that demands one last committed drive. Those in the fairway can attack the green or play a running shot around the center bunker, using the right-to-left slope to feed the ball on.

Above: No. 18

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