The course is having some significant issues with the playing public. Unlike most GCA types, many people cannot deal with the green contours.
...and that's too bad.
I played with a resident/member who was very involved with the course renovations and he told me that many people absolutely hate the greens as they are simply not good enough to figure them out, and some who can, don't enjoy them. It is my understanding that they bulldozed practically the entire thing and created all of the elevation changes. I played it last Fall and it was still in need of maturing but clearly the potential was there. However, the price turned me off. It was somewhere around $125 and I thought that was steep considering it is still a muni and it felt like a muni. I also played the Links at Madison Green which was much less in cost, better conditioned, and a fun track. Binks Forest, which is a Johnny Miller course that was just renovated, is also much less and while not my favorite, is certainly a better value.
Jerry, I understand that is the perception of some members. However, I must point out that this is a "one ball" golf course where you have to really mess up to lose a ball. For South Florida, I'd say the course is pretty easy tee-to-green, at least from a balls lost standpoint. The bunkers are a challenge, but you can always play it.
As for the greens, man they are rolling true. I buried some nice putts on the back nine because I committed to lines and played aggressively. Yes I three-putted some, but those three putts are a result of poor approaches. I guess an element of their constituency likes a low-end, basic course. The world needs those too, but this is a gem.
You mention price. As I see it the course is an affordable daily-fee in the summer and operates as a
de facto private club in the winter. Residents can join and it is reasonable. The three people I was paired with think it is a bargain. Of course, none are old codgers that don't care where they play and want to spend $17 a round.
Similar issues have been discussed by the governments involved with Bethpage, Harding Park, and Torrey Pines. Boca Raton has a piece-of-crap low-end muni (I'm told...haven't seen it), I consider it a good thing that North Palm has a gem of a course that compares favorably to Pine Tree. Actually, because of the undulation it is probably more interesting. A dead-ahead Fazio it's not. And yes, I'm aware that the golfing public prefers Tom Fazio's work to anyone else's.
At $40, which is about the afternoon weekend summer rate, does your opinion change? I've seen Madison Green. Didn't play, but I went around in a golf car. I thought it looked great. I'd love to play it. If I lived there I'd be happy to play it all the time. Still, I've seen North Palm Beach and Madison Green is no North Palm.
Two of the residents I was paired with said, "it is so nice to hear that!" when I gushed about the course. They mentioned that so many longtime members have complained about the redo. One said, "a lot of the older members don't like having to step down to get into a bunker." I understand they feel that way, but geez...to heed that is beyond dumbing design down to the least common denominator.
I'm sorry the golfing public hasn't been more receptive to NPB CC. That's very sad actually, since it makes it less likely that other communities will try the same.
