Municipal Palm Beach Golf Course Bests Resort Options on Florida Golf Vacations
By Craig Better
Courtesy of Golf Vacation Insider
In a recent tip about the newly renovated PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, we praised the marquee Champion Course but advised that there are better, off-resort options compared to the four other Palm Beach golf courses there.
We mentioned that there is, "an intriguing, stunningly remade muni just five miles away," and that muni is North Palm Beach Country Club (village-npb.org). If you can put up with the sometimes heavy municipal crowds on your Florida golf vacation, we highly recommend it over the bland, "other" courses at PGA National Resort & Spa.
Despite its proximity to PGA National Resort, the North Palm Beach Country Club, now a Jack Nicklaus design, seems like a world apart.
Nicklaus transformed the overplayed, poorly conditioned layout into an aesthetically appealing municipal jewel — the rolling, even hilly, terrain is a treat for Florida golf vacations. Although a neighborhood surrounds the course, neither houses nor streets run through it. Likewise, you are spared the monotony of lake- and lagoon-lined fairways hole-after-hole, which is so common on Florida golf vacations.
Rather, this Palm Beach golf course provides a links-style game with an expansive feel and its many elevated tees present inviting and exciting downhill shots to wonderfully wide fairways. During our visit, the course was in splendid shape, too, except for several bunkers that needed raking.
Be advised, however, that this is a long, tough Palm Beach golf course. The par 71 routing now stretches to 7,071 yards, nearly 800 more than before. Wind is usually a factor, the rough can be thick, and the undulating greens often induce three-putts.
Non-residents on Florida golf vacations can reserve tee times up to five days in advance. And while the green fee has increased significantly since the Nicklaus redesign, at $55-$125, including cart, NPBCC is still a bargain compared to other Palm Beach golf courses.
Why so reasonable? As a labor of love for his home county and the game, the Golden Bear worked on this Palm Beach golf course free of charge.
(Sept. 2006) "North Palm Beach Country Club was built in the late 1920s and was one of the last courses designed by Seth Raynor. It was done when it was sand-dunes property that extended into the Seminole area. Since that time, most, if not all, of Seth Raynor's influence has disappeared, whether it was the affect of the years or the renovations that have taken place at different points and times. When I was asked to design a golf course, I was asked to do a course that would fit this piece of property. As for the property, it is located right on US Highway #1, and is situated in the center of North Palm Beach and in the center of a largely populated area. It is not a large piece of property, probably less than 125 acres in total. But, the property was pure sand, with different varieties of sand--white, gray and orange sand. The orange sand turned out to be some of the best bunker sand we have found in the state of Florida, from what we call a 'fried egg standpoint.' It's very angular sand.
"As for the design itself, I felt the property deserved a strong golf course from the back tees, a very user-friendly and forgiving golf course from the member and senior tees, and an enjoyable golf experience for the women. That's what I tried to do. We ended up with a par 71, playing just under 7,100 yards from the back tees. When we started, the course was a par 72 and 6,300 yards. For the first 180 to 200 yards off the member tees, it is very wide, so there is plenty of room off the tee, thus making it very user friendly for the seniors and members. The better golfer you are and the farther you hit the ball, the more you have to play golf. The greens have nice movement to them. There are several lakes on the golf course to add to the strategy and overall look. I think this golf course will be an interesting golf course from a visual standpoint and it will be a very photographed course. From the member and visiting golfer's perspective, it should be a fun golf course to play. Overall, I think North Palm Beach Country Club will be a great addition and showcase course for the Palm Beaches...and, as a bonus, built under budget.
"I have lived in North Palm Beach for more than 35 years. I feel that it's a good community, a community that has supported me and my family. This was my way to give a little something back to the community and the people who have given me so much. If I am able to do that with a very good, modestly priced golf course for the people of the Village, that brings a certain sense of satisfaction. This has been a fun project, and one of which I am very proud."
--Jack Nicklaus |
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Hole
#2 progress |
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April 2006 |
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June 2006 |
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July 2006 |
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August 2006 |
Course
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Video |
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Ground Breaking |
Audio |
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Jack talks about his design
at North Palm Beach CC.
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