Palm Beach/Miami golf - Seminole, Jupiter Hills, Indian Creek, etc. rankings

[Niall Hay]

What are the best golf courses in the Miami/Palm Beach/Jupiter corridor? Regardless of access issues (private/public), as far as a pure golf course design, layout and conditions and with no bias towards old masters vs. new school design, which are the best?

Is Seminole clearly the # 1 course? How do Jupiter Hills or Indian Creek compare?

Or some of the relative newer layouts of Floridian, Loblolly. Bears Club, McArthur, Trump, etc.?

What is generally considered the best course in that region? How does Old Marsh, Medalist Pine Tree compare….there are a ton of options…and from an architectural standpoint without taking any social associations how do they rank?

[Patrick Kiser]

Niall,

I would suggest doing a little searching for threads on this.

I use the Google advanced search feature and that seems to work pretty well.

In the Miami area, I think the consensus is Indian Creek is THE most attractive option.  Anything after that is going to be a distant second.

I'm very intrigued by that Flynn course.  Getting on though sounds like another matter.  Could be difficult unless you're connected.

Then there's Seminole up the road.  There are others there too like Boca Rio, which has a profile on this site, but again it's in the rear view mirror when compared to Seminole.

Good luck.

[Niall Hay]

Thanks Patrick.

There do seem to be many threads on pieces here and there, but no consensus on anything outside of Seminole and maybe Indian Creek for Miami....

It's not as if this board is lacking opinions.....particularly when it comes to FL golf....outside of the 2 above the others have not been mentioned as much....

[C. Sturges]

Niall,

Of the courses you mentioned I would look at the Medalist and McAurthor.  They are both enjoyable courses and very different from many of the other Florida courses.  Old Marsh is very challenging off the tee with the marsh in play on most holes.  It is amazing that a course was able to be built there.  I have not played Seminole or Indian Creek, but those would be the best from everyone I know in the area.
Have a great time and hope the weather warms up down there!

[Lester George]

Seminole is the best.

Country Club of Florida (Boynton Beach) is nearly as good.

Everglades, Jupiter Hills, Gulfstream, Pine Tree are also very good.

Lester

[Niall Hay]

Is there anyone that has exposure to the Floridian? How it compared to say Loblolly and Jupiter Hills?

[Anthony_Nysse]

Seminole is the best.

Country Club of Florida (Boynton Beach) is nearly as good.

Everglades, Jupiter Hills, Gulfstream, Pine Tree are also very good.

Lester

Lester,
  CC of FL nearly as good as Seminole?!? Do you think that might be a little bit of pride talking? 

[Lester George]

Tony,

Absolutely!!!  It is prideful to put CCF in the same category as some of the great courses.

But objectively, CCF has many strong qualities of routing, green variations and shot values that I find closely comparable to those at Seminole.  It is an opinion I formed after I discovered how strong CCF was from working on it for close to 3 years.  No, it doesn't have the ocean, but it does have the terrain and other really good qualities that over time distinguish it as one of my top 5 in Florida.

Lester

 

[Niall Hay]

so what are your top 5 for this area?

[Lawrence Largent]

I've played Seminole, Indian Creek, Floridian, Medalist, McAruther, and Emerald Dunes.  My ranking would be and I'm taking into consideration the whole experience. 

Tie 1st Seminole and Indian Creek
2nd McAruther
3rd Medalist I really wish I had the chance to play it before Norman screwed it up.  I heard it was amazing before hand.
 4th Emerald Dunes

Pine Tree and Jupiter Hills are really a must play I hear.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Is there anyone that has exposure to the Floridian? How it compared to say Loblolly and Jupiter Hills?


Niall,

The Floridian is a nice golf course in a nice setting, but, I wouldn't put it in the same category as Jupiter Hills.

I don't think you can go wrong playing any of the courses you cited, but, I'd throw Boca Rio into the mix as well.

[Robert Emmons]

My thoughts;

Seminole
Jupiter Hills
Pine Tree
Bear's Club
Mcarthur
Dye Preserve
Floridian
Loblolly
Medalist
Loxahatchie
Ritz Carlton-Jupiter
Old Marsh
Trump Int.

[Niall Hay]

I've played Seminole, Indian Creek, Floridian, Medalist, McAruther, and Emerald Dunes.  My ranking would be and I'm taking into consideration the whole experience. 

Tie 1st Seminole and Indian Creek
2nd McAruther
3rd Medalist I really wish I had the chance to play it before Norman screwed it up.  I heard it was amazing before hand.
 4th Emerald Dunes

Pine Tree and Jupiter Hills are really a must play I hear.

Tie 1st Seminole and Indian Creek, wow so you rate Indian Creek that high?

And McArthur as the next best?

Thanks for the feedback.

[Niall Hay]

My thoughts;

Seminole
Jupiter Hills
Pine Tree
Bear's Club
Mcarthur
Dye Preserve
Floridian
Loblolly
Medalist
Loxahatchie
Ritz Carlton-Jupiter
Old Marsh
Trump Int.

Pine Tree seems to be very well received on this board too.

What about Loblolly?

[JC Jones]

Is there anyone that has exposure to the Floridian? How it compared to say Loblolly and Jupiter Hills?


Niall,

The Floridian is a nice golf course in a nice setting, but, I wouldn't put it in the same category as Jupiter Hills.

I don't think you can go wrong playing any of the courses you cited, but, I'd throw Boca Rio into the mix as well.

I just read Ran's profile of Boca Rio; looks like a fun course and I like the fact that it is golf centric.

[Niall Hay]

Has anyone played Loblolly and if so what was their take on how it compared to the others in the area?

What makes Seminole and/or Jupiter Hills clearly superior to Loblolly or the Floridian?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Has anyone played Loblolly and if so what was their take on how it compared to the others in the area?

It's a good golf course.
There are so many others in the area and south, that it's hard to make a comparison, other than to say it's a good golf course.

What makes Seminole and/or Jupiter Hills clearly superior to Loblolly or the Floridian?

The terrain.

In addition, Seminole had a pretty good architect and it's right on the Ocean.
That's a pretty strong combination

[JC Jones]

In addition, Seminole had a pretty good architect and it's right on the Ocean.
That's a pretty strong combination[/b][/size][/color]

Of course scenery has nothing to do with good architecture, right?

[Patrick_Mucci]

In addition, Seminole had a pretty good architect and it's right on the Ocean.
That's a pretty strong combination[/b][/size][/color]

Of course scenery has nothing to do with good architecture, right?

JC, just when I thought you were making great progress and begining to learn, you have a relapse.

The Ocean is mostly invisible to the golfer as he plays Seminole.

The Ocean at Seminole brings those great winds that buffet the golf course, enhancing, exponentially, the challenge.

And I had such high hopes regarding your progress.
Oh well, let's try, try again.

[JC Jones]

In addition, Seminole had a pretty good architect and it's right on the Ocean.
That's a pretty strong combination[/b][/size][/color]

Of course scenery has nothing to do with good architecture, right?

JC, just when I thought you were making great progress and begining to learn, you have a relapse.

The Ocean is mostly invisible to the golfer as he plays Seminole.

The Ocean at Seminole brings those great winds that buffet the golf course, enhancing, exponentially, the challenge.

And I had such high hopes regarding your progress.
Oh well, let's try, try again.

I've highlighted the relevant part.  The ocean brings more than just wind.  When playing West Palm Beach 2 weeks ago we had quite a bit of wind that affected the playability and made it fun.  Sure that wind is related to it's proximity to the ocean, but I wouldn't bring up the ocean when talking about West Palm Beach. 

Just when I thought you wouldn't keep contradicting yourself, there you go again.

edit: West Palm Beach is public so I can't compare it to Seminole.

[Patrick_Mucci]

In addition, Seminole had a pretty good architect and it's right on the Ocean.
That's a pretty strong combination[/b][/size][/color]

Of course scenery has nothing to do with good architecture, right?

JC, just when I thought you were making great progress and begining to learn, you have a relapse.

The Ocean is mostly invisible to the golfer as he plays Seminole.

The Ocean at Seminole brings those great winds that buffet the golf course, enhancing, exponentially, the challenge.

And I had such high hopes regarding your progress.
Oh well, let's try, try again.

I've highlighted the relevant part.  The ocean brings more than just wind.  When playing West Palm Beach 2 weeks ago we had quite a bit of wind that affected the playability and made it fun.  Sure that wind is related to it's proximity to the ocean, but I wouldn't bring up the ocean when talking about West Palm Beach. 

You get a nice breeze out at WPB, you get WIND at Seminole

Just when I thought you wouldn't keep contradicting yourself, there you go again.

edit: West Palm Beach is public so I can't compare it to Seminole.

The terrain is dramatically different

If I recall correctly, there's a nice little course,probably 9 holes in the Boca Raton Area that's right on the ocean.
I believe it's public, but, I don't know if play is restricted to town or county residents

[JC Jones]

Pat,

I'll have to check it out next time I take a ride across the swamp.  Hopefully they'll let me on, I'm in the county next door.

I would guess that the wind is significantly stronger at Seminole than at WPB. 

[Robert Emmons]

Pat,

Do you mean the Palm Beach par three south of town which was just redone by Floyd? I think your friend T Paul does...RHE

[Patrick_Mucci]

Robert Emmons & JC Jones,

No, this looks like a nice little nine holer right on the Ocean, it's called, "Red Reef Golf Course"

[JC Jones]

Info is here; looks like a Par 3 course

http://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/rec/golf/redreefexec/