Long-time resident Jack Nicklaus to lead
renovation and redesign of North Palm Beach CC
Legend and world's pre-eminent designer wants to "give back to community"
05/03/06, NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla.-- Hundreds of residents, community leaders and dignitaries, including North Palm Beach's own Jack Nicklaus, gathered Wednesday at North Palm Beach Country Club for a ground-breaking ceremony to celebrate the renovation and redesign of the 50-year-old course. Nicklaus is overseeing the renovation and redesign, which will result in a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course that the municipal facility will be able to showcase by year's end.
The work that began April 24 will include a new irrigation system, total re-grassing of all the playing surfaces, new greens construction, improved fairway surface drainage, and redesign work that will result in a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Most of the construction should be completed by mid-August, with a re-opening of the course scheduled in November.
Jack Nicklaus has called North Palm Beach his backyard for parts of five decades, and by year's end, North Palm Beach residents will be able to say that they have a little bit of Jack Nicklaus in their backyards.
"We're delighted and excited about what is happening to our facility," said Village Mayor David Norris. "To have golf's greatest player and the world's leading golf course designer overseeing the renovation and redesign of our golf course is special in and by itself, but the fact Jack donated his design services to the project, demonstrates the kind of man and resident we have all respected for so many years. This is a great day in the history of and for the future of the Village of North Palm Beach."
Although Nicklaus has designed close to 250 golf courses around the world, and his firm Nicklaus Design has almost 300 courses open for play in 28 countries and 37 states, having the opportunity to put his name on a course just minutes down the street from the same home he has lived in since 1970 was significant to the Golden Bear.
"I have lived in North Palm Beach for 41 years, and this gesture was a means for me to give back to the community that has meant a great deal to my family and me," Nicklaus said. "It is my hope that we will create a very playable golf course that is aesthetically pleasing and stands as a showcase piece for North Palm Beach, and something of which all residents and golfers can be proud. This community has embraced our family for so long, and I am delighted to be involved."
North Palm Beach Country Club will represent only the second municipal golf course designed by Nicklaus. The first was Breckenridge Golf Club in Colorado, which opened over 20 years ago to rave reviews and remains one of the state's most successful public-access courses. Breckenridge features 27 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf--the last nine being built and opened in 2001 to accommodate the demand for play at the course.
Due to its elevation--the clubhouse sits at 9,324 feet above sea level--Breckenridge has a playing season of a little more than four months. Yet over 133 playable days in 2005, the course established revenue bests of $2,047,790 and 27,130 rounds played.
The Colorado Golfer (the state golf newspaper) has named Breckenridge as state's Best Mountain Course for 10 straight years, and Golf Digest, in its "Places to Play" issue, rates Breckenridge as a 4-Star Award Winner and one of their top "Upscale Places To Play" in the nation. The Rocky Mountain Golf Writers Association, a 50-member organization of print and broadcast journalists who cover golf in the western states, voted Breckenridge the No. 1 Public Mountain Course in the State.
The Village of North Palm Beach Country Club is hoping to enjoy similar success with its Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.
"Having been with the course since it opened in 1985, in my professional opinion, I can say that the Nicklaus name and design features have greatly contributed to the success of the Breckenridge Golf Club," said Breckenridge Head Golf Professional Erroll Miller.
(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 photos |
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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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