HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 Nicklaus (The Art of Renovation Magazine)ACK'S
FINGERPRINTS
on the formation of the
PGA Tour as it is today
FALL 2008
ENJOY THE GAME OF LIFE
RE,T\TOVATION
The m. r ciesi uei puLs
,.0new polish on.s e old gems
PIECES
OF JACK
Touring pros share
their Golden Bear momentos
HE ART OF RENOVATION
THERE IS PROBABLY no private club in Palm Beach County
that is home to more talented golfers and has been home to
more high -profile tournaments than Bear Lakes. It has hosted
the finals of the PGA Tour National Qualifying Tournament,
as well as U.S. Open qualifiers, countless marquee amateur
events and mini -tour stops. With a high reputation came
high stakes when the club decided to reno-
vate all 36 holes. And like any good golf hole,
the reward is often worth the risk.
The dramatic redesign of the Lakes
Course in 2003 and the Links Course in
2007 netted two award -winners. The Lakes
Course, known for its tournament -tested layout since first
opening in 1985, was voted by Golf Digest as one of the
"Top 10 Best New Remodels in America." And once the
new look of the 20-year-old Links was unveiled, the course
quickly earned a nod from Golf Inc. as one of the top two
private courses in the magazine's "Renovation of the Year"
competition. Ironically, the top spot went to Scioto Coun-
try Club, the course on which the Golden Bear grew up
and on which he collaborated with Mike Hurdzan for the
award -winning renovation.
With increasing membership numbers resulting
from two renovations in four years, Bear Lakes continues
to attract good players with close to 170 single -digit
handicap players among its over 500 members. Those
members include 30 touring professionals who compete
on various men's and women's tours, from the PGA Tour,
Champions Tour and developmental or
mini tours.
"The renovation is being very well
received by the membership," said Ted
Strelec, director of golf at Bear Lakes
Country Club.
BEAR LAKES
COUNTRY CLUB
WEST PALM BEACH
WWWNICKLAUS.COM
The Links course has become a model for Nicklaus'gE
W
innovative thinking, as it embraces its name with a
rolling, seaside links -style design amid the skyline of
West Palm Beach (see photo of Hole No. 7 above). A
total re -grassing of the course included a change on the g
greens from Tifdwarf to MiniVerde, which has been rated
as the top Bermuda grass for putting greens. Nicklaus ti
was so impressed with the result that his home course at
The Bear's Club just completed a renovation that in-
cluded the change to MiniVerde on the greens.
7b7s-45e s-aeve.aa
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Die: Januan. 19 Z`
Jac�lauS
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Above: North Palm Beach
former Mayor Dave Norris
pays Jack a $1 redesign fee.
Right: Renovating hole No. 5.
THE NUMBERS are staggering: 335
Nicklaus Design courses and grow-
ing; 32 countries; 39 states; 60 past
and present Top-100 designs; 87
courses worldwide that have hosted a
professional tournament. Then
there's little ole No. 3. As in the number of municipal courses bear-
ing Jack's signature. The first was Breckenridge Golf Club (see Page
94) in Colorado, which opened over 20 years ago to rave reviews and
remains one of the state's most successful public -access courses. Then
there was Old Works (see Page 96), the much -acclaimed, Top-100
design in Anaconda, Mont., that was once an abandoned copper -
smelting plant. Now, there is North Palm Beach Country Club.
Originally designed in 1926 by Seth Raynor, North Palm Beach
underwent an extensive redesign by Jack Nicklaus that included new
irrigation, total re -grassing of all playing surfaces, new green con-
struction, and improved fairway surface drainage. It now bears the lofty
status of a Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, minus any lofty price tag.
Try $1. "It was a labor of love," said Nicklaus, who donated his design
services to the place he has called home for over 40 years. "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. This was my way to
give a little something back to the community
and the people who have given me so much."
With an immediate increase in member-
ship after the renovation opened for play in
November 2006, jumping from 350 to 500
members with a waiting list of 80 residents,
the club capped membership at 375 during
the 2007-08 season with a 40-percent increase
in fees. Still open to the public, the capped
membership number combined with "walk-
in" play created a perfect balance, and accord-
ing to North Palm Beach officials, the
highest revenues in club history.
It's a new day at North Palm Beach,
and a new generation of members is emerg-
ing and embracing the stunningly unique and challenging design
that rests atop the same dune structure as world -ranked Seminole.
"We have more of a world -class golf course now," said Mike
Gray, head golf professional at North Palm Beach Country Club.
"[Since the redesign,} we've seen a different clientele, a more
serious golfer playing the course."
In addition, a recent study showed that while most areas in
Palm Beach County had significantly dropped in the value of real
estate, North Palm Beach, particularly the homes surrounding the
golf course, have held their value.
NORTH
PALM BEACH
COUNTRY CLUB
NORTH PALM BEACH