North Palm Beach CC

[Steve_ Shaffer]

from golftransactions.com:

 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"

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 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 close to 40 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.

[John_Cullum]

I drove by last week and noticed the water had been cut off and some earth was being moved on the southwest part of the course.

For those who haven't seen it, it has about 800 yards of frontage along the river, and the land gently slopes down toward the river.

I never played the existing course so I can't comment further.

[john_stiles]

Never played the course, but saw some old aerials, and listened to the enthusiasm of John M. and George Bahto more than once.

North Palm Beach, Seth Raynor (NLE)

Some were hoping the old Seth Raynor could be brought back.  Guess nothing beats the sex appeal to the majority of golfers and city officials,  not to mention much higher income potential, of a Jack Nicklaus signature course.

Best wishes to NPB folks, John M, and the Jack's team.

[rgkeller]

IN recent elections, NPB incumbents who favored the golf course renovations were defeated by newcomers who wanted Nicklaus to leave the course alone.

I guess elections don't mean that much any more.

[George_Bahto]

North Palm CC (a muni):

There are about 15-30 courses from east coast to Hawaii and from Milwaukee to  So Carolina and GA/TN often “claim” to be Raynor’s last design.”

This is his last design - not clear who actually built finally it (Banks? or a foreman?)

The early aerial is very interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seth died in Palm Beach during the period when Everglades was celebrating the opening of their second nine (finally).

Everglades was the dream course of Paris Singer.

Singer (and partners probably) also owned this No Palm property and had SR design the course during the Everglades last nine opening.

It was originally called the Winter Club (a seasonal situation). It worked for a while and the changing of ownership began (Singer went to jail for land fraud for while)

Along the way 9 of the holes were used by an owner for his personal equestrian sport and an adjoining property was added to the course and 9 new holes were added.

More on this in the “Raynor-book) - a very interesting story

I had been working closely with people involved for well over a year, hoping returning the course to a classic design would be the goal (rather than another FL course - which I’m hoping will not happen).

JN (a play-hero of mine for many many years) donated design fee but it sounds the town will spend well over 4 mil on the project.

Shoot, wouldn’t most of us would donate a design fee to garner a 4 mil-plus job?   duh