North Palm Beach Country Club

When it was redesigned and the gates thrown open to the public in 2006, the 18-hole layout at North Palm Beach became only the second Nicklaus Signature municipal course to open for play in all of the USA.

For the Golden Bear, who has lived in the area since 1970, it was his way of giving something back to the local golfing community so he charged only $1 for his services.

The upgrading work involved the installation of a new irrigation system, the total re-grassing of all playing surfaces, the construction of new greensites and improvements to fairway surface drainage.

In September 2014, the course was included in Florida Department of State’s Historic Golf Trail program, celebrating a golf heritage that began in the 1890s and featuring historic, publicly accessible golf courses that can still be played today.

“With nearly 1,300 golf facilities in the state, employing more than 167,000 Floridians and generating $13.8 billion in economic impact, golf is a huge component of Florida’s overall tourism industry,” said Will Seccombe, president and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA at the launch of the initiative.

Jack Nicklaus commented as follows:

"North Palm Beach Country Club was built in the late 1920s and was one of the last courses designed by Seth Raynor. Since that time, most, if not all, of Seth Raynor's influence has disappeared. When I was asked to design a golf course, I was asked to do a course that would fit this 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”.

“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. We ended up with a par 71, playing just under 7,100 yards from the back tees. 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 and there are several lakes on the golf course to add to the strategy and overall look”.