Grade “A” Architecture – Panther National

The two most striking dimensions at the newly opened Panther National are the overall scale of the property – 400 acres — and the bold ownership move for no interior housing intruding upon the golf experience.

The tried-and-true formula for much of Florida golf development stretching back over 50 years has been maximizing frontage of housing in abutting the golf course – sometimes on both sides of the fairway. The primacy of real estate was dominant – the golf subordinate.

Dominik Senn, Founder and President, was keenly aware of the typical Florida golf experience and was determined to give the property a more meaningful and impactful connection. One where the totality of the golf experience never takes a backseat.

In short – no clutter.

Golf is the headliner – always.

The 18-hole layout is situated on 190 acres with ground breaking occurring in the spring of 2022. Over three million cubic yards were moved creating a finished product that provides a rolling landscape with a routing that engages various wind directions throughout the round.

Interestingly, the routing allows golfers to return near the clubhouse after each three-hole sequence on the outward side.

Panther National does have holes where the avoidance of penalty areas is a central element. However, the intersection with water is not a perpetual “swim or sink” situation with forced carries carried out to the point of mindless overkill.

Nicklaus and Thomas smartly added sufficient width on nearly all the holes at Panther National and this element was a wise choice given the varying wind velocities that emerge daily.

Sandy areas of varying shapes and sizes dot the landscape. Nicklaus and Thomas also smartly sculpted into the terrain a number of waste areas providing the property an enhanced natural character and hole separation.

In keeping with a “links style” design, Nicklaus and Thomas sculpted numerous sandy areas into the terrain providing the property an enhanced natural character. The sand, in concert with Bahia-grass areas, which dot the landscape and separate each hole, presenting great challenges while still offering golfers a level of recovery options.

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