PGA National Defies Record Cold for Cognizant Classic

Course conditions remain pristine despite recent freezing temperatures in South Florida

Feb. 24, 2026 at 10:06am

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Despite a record-breaking cold snap that hit Palm Beach County in February, the PGA National golf course is in 'better than ever' condition for the upcoming Cognizant Classic PGA Tour event. The course's use of winter rye grass overseed has helped it withstand the extreme cold, with temperatures dropping as low as 27 degrees on site.

Why it matters

The PGA National golf course is a key venue for the Cognizant Classic, one of the premier PGA Tour events in South Florida. Maintaining pristine course conditions is critical for attracting top players and providing an enjoyable experience for fans, even in the face of unusual weather challenges.

The details

PGA National's director of agronomy, Keith Einwag, said the course team took precautionary measures ahead of the cold snap, including watering the night before to ensure the grass was hydrated. The rye grass overseed proved resilient, thriving in the cold temperatures that would have damaged other common Florida grasses like Bermuda. The overseed also impacts player scoring, making the course a bit more forgiving with wider fairways and higher rough.

  • On February 1, temperatures at Palm Beach International Airport dropped to an official low of 30 degrees, shattering the previous daily record of 36 degrees set in 1909.
  • At PGA National, temperatures fell to 27 degrees during the cold snap.

The players

Keith Einwag

Director of agronomy at PGA National Resort.

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What they’re saying

“With the combination of high wind and cold, our team actually watered the night before the cold arrived to make sure everything was hydrated beforehand.”

— Keith Einwag, Director of agronomy

“Thankfully, the cold snap we recently experienced didn't significantly PGA National Resort courses because of our use of winter rye grass.”

— Keith Einwag, Director of agronomy

“Fans should not expect to see any difference in course conditions due to the cold snap. In fact, the Champion looks better than ever.”

— Keith Einwag, Director of agronomy

What’s next

The Cognizant Classic at PGA National is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, with top PGA Tour players expected to compete on the pristine Champion course.

The takeaway

PGA National's use of winter rye grass has proven to be a game-changer, allowing the course to withstand extreme cold weather and maintain exceptional playing conditions for the upcoming Cognizant Classic. This resilience highlights the course's ability to host premier golf events even in the face of challenging environmental factors.