The PNC Father/Son Challenge returns to Orlando for a showdown at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes Dec. 13-16

One of Orlando’s signature golf tournaments is returning after a four-year slumber.

The PNC Father/Son Challenge will be held Dec. 13-16 at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes. The resort, comprised of The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels, will welcome golf legends Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, among many other celebrated champions, for the the family-oriented, 36-hole tournament.

The Challenge was held for 14 years from 1995-2008 at several Orlando-area golf courses before the struggling economy forced sponsors to back off. The field boasts a combined 492 PGA and European Tour wins and 67 major championships. Defending champion Larry Nelson, playing alongside his son, Josh, will look to retain his title on Grande Lakes’ Greg Norman design (pictured above).

The 18 teams will compete in a 36-hole scramble format over two days for the $1-million prize purse. The winning team will take the Willie Park Trophy, named after Willie Park and his son Willie Park Jr., who combined to win an unprecedented five British Opens. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies in Orlando.

The 2012 PNC Father/Son Challenge Field is stocked with familiar fathers: Steve Elkington/Sam Elkington (son), Nick Faldo/Matthew Faldo (son), Raymond Floyd/Robert Floyd (son), Hale Irwin/Steve Irwin (son), Lee Janzen/Connor Janzen (son), Bernhard Langer/Christina Langer (daughter), Davis Love III/Davis Love IV “Dru Love” (son), Sandy Lyle/James Lyle (son), Larry Nelson (defending champion)/John Nelson (son), Jack Nicklaus/Gary Nicklaus (son), Mark O’Meara/Shaun O’Meara (son), Arnold Palmer/Will Wears (grandson), Vijay Singh/Qass Singh (son), Dave Stockton/David Stockton (son), Curtis Strange/Tom Strange (son), Lee Trevino/Daniel Trevino (son), Lanny Wadkins/Tucker Wadkins (son), and Fuzzy Zoeller/Gretchen Zoeller (daughter).

The 582-room Ritz-Carlton and 1,000-room JW Marriott Hotels are offering special packages, ranging from $219 and up. Besides attending the tournament, guests can explore nature with the Grande Lakes Outfitters program, which includes kayak and canoe eco-tours and a fly-fishing school. Grande Lakes also offers the culinary mastery of award-winning Chefs Norman Van Aken and Melissa Kelly, new total-wellness inspired treatment programs at The Ritz-Carlton Spa and Golf Digest Schools’ golf instruction.

For more, visit the tournament Web site here, or the resort Web site here.