West Palm Beach Golf Course

West Palm Beach Golf Course
A challenging 200+yard uphill tee shot, 9th hole

If Florida has the most golf courses of any state in the union (1200+) then Palm Beach has got to have the record by county.  Despite the endless amount of golf that can be played, many of the options are disappointingly similar.  Much of the dissapointment, especially in South Florida, comes from a somewhat standard “look” to the bunkers and maintained areas of the golf course.  

Sharp, clean bunker edges and manicured collars around the fairways and greens is a common style for golf courses of this region.  There has to be some extra cost associated with maintenance of the is caliber (Doral Blue).

The West Palm Beach Golf Course shows its true colors by highlighting a sandy wide open expanse for golf.  With an assist from Mark McCumber in 2009, the original Dick Wilson design was renovated by scraping away dozens of acres of maintained turf and overgrowth in the roughs.  Uncovered is a public golfing oasis tucked in-between the ocean, just 2 miles east and I-95, which runs adjacent to the front nine.  There is still a great natural setting despite the brief distraction of the highway (not every golf course is blessed with perfect location).  With constant ocean breezes that sweep across the entire layout there is always a challenge to negotiate.

Rough edges seemlessly blend with the surrounding landscape while sandy ground and scrubby plants dot the areas bewteen fairways.

For a $40 green fee one should certainly enjoy an afternoon here.  The experience was such a nice change of pace to what I have come to expect from Florida golf.  There is no water, no O.B., and hardly any bermuda rough!  West Palm Beach has got an inland links of its own, who knew?!