The Park is a 192-acre redesigned facility in West Palm Beach that includes a hilly, 18-hole golf course, nine-hole short-course, driving range, clubhouse, restaurant, and training facilities.
The Park is the culmination a year-long effort which saw the hopes for this facility rise and fall, only to rise again.
The course was built on the site where the Dick Wilson designed West Palm Beach Golf Course once stood. It opened in 1947, and it had been considered to be one of the most affordable and best municipal courses in America. The course declined after a failed redesign. It closed in 2018.
Five years later, city officials see The Park as the crown jewel of the area that will attract golf-crazy tourists from all over the country.
The peak in demand for golf was during Tiger Woods’ era in the late 1990s to early 2000s. Woods personally visited The Park late March in order to introduce the course, and hit the first teeshot. After a slight drop in demand, the golf industry exploded again. This was partly due to the coronavirus epidemic, which closed many industries and businesses, but not outdoor golf, despite its distance. The National Golf Foundation reports that golf rounds increased by 45 percent between March 2020 and March 2021. This was during peak COVID.
What is the result? The result?
The Park West Palm Beach in West Palm Beach Florida on Monday, April 17th, 2023. (Photo: Thomas Cordy/USA TODAY)
The Park rates will vary from $80 up to $200 depending on whether you are a city resident or an out-of-state visitor during peak season.
These rates are comparable to some of Palm Beach County’s best-rated public golf courses, such as Abacoa ($65 summer low to $165 winter peak rate) and North Palm Beach Country Club (from $55 summer to $160 in winter).
Abacoa’s Golf Shop reports that golfers must book two weeks in advance to secure one of the $165 morning tee time.
Palm Beach County is one of few places in America where you can play golf from November to March. Palm Beach County, with 160 golf courses, has the highest number of golf courses in the United States, out of all the counties in Florida. Many of these are private golf courses that are not open to public.
A caddie will be required by the Park for all play prior to noon. This is something that is usually reserved for private golf courses. This will, of course require an additional fee.
The beautiful facility was the result of a public-private partnership described by the city. It began with a handshake agreement between Mayor Keith James, and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. Waugh said he had raised over $55 million for the rebuilding and endowment of the facility.
Waugh estimates that a large portion of the money raised – between $15 and $20 million – will be used as an endowment fund, which can be used if the facility does not break even each year.
There are some questions about how much money Waugh claims to have raised. He refused to reveal who donated, saying The Palm Beach Post the donors didn’t contribute to the project in order for them be publicly acknowledged. Waugh stated that the donors backed the project’s goals of boosting youth-golf and establishing a world-class golfing venue in West Palm Beach.
The 192 acres of the Park are owned by the City, while the golf course is open to the public. The Post asked the city for names, dates, and amounts of donations made to rebuild and endow this facility. However, the city had no records of these donors.
The Post has yet to receive a response from Brian Conley, manager of The Park. This information was requested by The Post .
Waugh stated that a foundation would be created to oversee the facility. The foundation board will have 10 members. Two of these will be appointed by the city. Waugh said that the foundation will likely hold fundraisers periodically to raise funds for specific projects or to increase its endowment.
The Park’s landscape is expensive to maintain.
The cost of building, maintaining and staffing golf courses is high. Cost drivers include water, landscaping, and fertilizer.
Lone Pine Golf Course, in Riviera Beach which closed on Sunday, 16 April 2023 after decades of being a budget-friendly course loved by weekend and beginner golfers, highlights the financial challenges that some courses face.
These challenges can be particularly difficult to overcome if money from expensive membership fees cannot be re-invested in operations, as was the case at The Park.
Waugh stated that The Park will not offer memberships. However, the facility offers several advantages over other facilities. First, it’s quality.
Early golfers have raved about the course. It was designed by Gil Hanse. Gil Hanse is a famous course architect who has restored courses like Baltusrol, in New Jersey, Winged Foot, in New York, and Southern Hills, in Oklahoma. These courses have hosted championships such as the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and others.
Hanse also designed golf courses in Thailand, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates. He has also created nearly 20 in the United States. He designed Jonathan’s Landing in Jupiter and Streamsong Black, both in Polk County.
Waugh stated that The Park would be on many people’s bucket lists. It’s going be a wonderful amenity. There are many things that will attract people here. “But we don’t offer a lot of public golf.”
Waugh stated that The Park’s financial stability will be maintained by its other benefits, including a world-class golfing environment.
The Park West Palm Beach will have an outdoor seating area during the grand opening on April 17, 2023 of its new public golf course in West Palm Beach. (Photo: Thomas Cordy/USA TODAY)
He said, “We are not in debt.” “We don’t pay rent.” We don’t have to pay any property taxes, because the city owns it and there is an endless demand. It’s difficult to imagine that the city would have any liability in this case.”
James, who gave Waugh 15 months to fulfill his promise to raise money for the rebuilding of the facility, laughed at the idea that The Park might go the same way as Lone Pine.
When asked if residents of the city should be worried that The Park might eventually close like Lone Pine, the mayor replied “Really?”
“Has Lone Pine received private donations of $55 million for the renovation of its golf course, construction of a community center, training facility, and enhanced junior golf programs?”
Joe Gerlach owns Lone Pine along with his four siblings. He said that The Park has significant financial benefits, such as the lack of tax on land.
Gerlach said, “That is huge.” They can pass on the savings to golfers.
What will the cost be?
The Park is not a budget-friendly course, despite its many financial benefits.
Conley stated that greens fees for West Palm Beach residents are expected to be between $50 and $80 during the busy season, roughly from November to April. Cart fees will be $60.
The fee structure is similar to other top public golf courses, with rates increasing for residents of the city, state or out-of-state.
Conley stated that green fees for Florida residents living outside of West Palm Beach will range between $120 and $180. They can reach up to $200 at busy times.
Conley said that out-of-state residents would pay the highest price to play The Park – between $180 and $280, or even more if the market allows.
Conley said that The Park doesn’t aim to be the cheapest course on the market.
He said, “You will spend money in The Park.” This is not a place where you can play for $15. If you spend money at The Park you are supporting the local community.
Waugh said that he expects “people to fly down to The Breakers and stay there to play The Park.”
James has said that he is “not concerned” about The Park being too expensive for average golfers.
He said: “I’m confident that The Park won’t have a lack of golfers who are interested in playing the track.” There is also a lack of public golf courses in the region. In the peak season, it is very difficult to book a tee-time at a golf course near you.
The mayor has reacted to the idea that The Park will not be affordable.
He said that the Park’s green fee is affordable for West Palm Beach locals, with rates starting at $60 for 18-holes. “Florida resident fees will be on par with high-end course fees and rates for golfers from out of state will be comparable with destination public golf facilities.”
The Park’s pitch offers someone who does not enjoy the amenities offered by the many upscale private clubs in Palm Beach County the chance to play a course immaculately maintained as if it were a professional.
West Palm Beach Commissioner Christina Lambert whose district includes The Park said that she is also confident that the facility will be affordable for the average golfer.
She said that golfers would soon discover that The Park lives up to its hype.
She said, “I’m always telling people that it is everything we promised and more.” “I am very confident that this will be a huge success.”
