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Any chance of playing private courses in Florida?


Osmond
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I'm visiting West Palm Beach and struggling to find genuinely good golf courses. Is knowing a member the only way to play a private course around here? By googling, at least, it seems that the private courses are so much better than the public courses that it's not even funny anymore. I was told Florida is a paradise for golfers but I'm not so sure anymore.

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IF you know a club pro in your area, tell him you're interested in playing a private course in Florida. The PGA guys know about play possibilities at private clubs.

The private clubs, or course, don't advertise the tee times - but, some clubs will let in outsiders who have tapped the "exchange" network.

You might search around here on TheSandTrap. I believe we had a thread on this topic a couple of years back.

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True... Many private Clubs/Developments opened in the "boom times" of 10-12 or more years ago. Not all were able to keep up the "Private" part. The economy tanked, houses didn't get built, members dried up. They will allow outside play, they just don't advertise or get involved with GolfNow or those other sites. You can sometimes just do a cold call to find out if they are available. Now- for those clubs who have established history and REAL money behind them, that might be a different story. You will need some way "in" to get to play.
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Thanks, guys. Any suggestions what courses might be worth a phone call - within a 50 mile radius of West Palm Beach, for example?


@Osmond , I'm going to have Preston PM you. He's a good dude, a 5SK Instructor (and AimPoint, and he can sell you a copy of LSW), etc. He is in the area right now.

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@Osmond, I'm going to have Preston PM you. He's a good dude, a 5SK Instructor (and AimPoint, and he can sell you a copy of LSW), etc. He is in the area right now.


Sounds perfect, thanks.

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If you are a member at a private course, check out Boxgroove.com, it can get you access to private courses around the country.  It's free if you're a member at a Private Club.

There are 12 courses that come up in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Pompano Beach Beach area

Palm Beach Polo & Country Club

Wycliffe Golf & Country Club

The Club At Admiral's Cove

Broken Sound Club

Bear Lakes Country Club

Boca Pointe Country Club

Breakers Rees Jones Course

Eastpointe Country Club

Fort Lauderdale Country Club

Golf and Racquet Country Club at Eastpointe

Indian Spring Country Club

Sherbrooke Golf & Country Club

-Jerry

Driver: Titleist 913 D3 (9.5 degree) – Aldila RIP 60-2.9-Stiff; Callaway Mini-Driver Kura Kage 60g shaft - 12 degree Hybrids: Callway X2 Hot Pro - 16 degree & 23 degree – Pro-Shaft; Callway X2 Hot – 5H & 6H Irons: Titleist 714 AP2 7 thru AW with S300 Dynamic Gold Wedges: Titleist Vokey GW (54 degree), Callaway MackDaddy PM Grind SW (58 degree) Putter: Ping Cadence TR Ketsch Heavy Balls: Titleist Pro V1x & Snell MyTourBall

"Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots but you have to play the ball where it lies."- Bobby Jones

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I'm visiting West Palm Beach and struggling to find genuinely good golf courses. Is knowing a member the only way to play a private course around here? By googling, at least, it seems that the private courses are so much better than the public courses that it's not even funny anymore. I was told Florida is a paradise for golfers but I'm not so sure anymore.


I live in Broward, just South of you. Tons of good courses in Palm Beach. Some public. Emerald Dunes comes to mind. There is one that Nicklaus redid (muni) that many of my friends enjoy. I think it's West Palm Beach CC, something like that. I'll look up some more but you should be able to find some fun stuff. That area, especially including Jupiter, has some of the best golf ever. Unlike this hole called Broward.

However, it's probably not a fair comparison to private because some of the most exclusive clubs around are up there. Medalist, Jupiter Hills, Loxahatchee, Seminole, etc...Just a lot of wealth up there. Still plenty of accessible golf it seems. Good luck dude!

Edit: The muni I was talking about is North Palm Beach. Nicklaus course. Also, I played Osprey Pointe the other day. West Boca, end of Glades Road. $50. 3-nines, REALLY good shape. Enjoyable.

2nd Edit: Also heard the Palm Beach Par 3 course is super neat and fun, and pretty (right by the Ocean).

3rd and final edit!: Totally forgot Abacoa. That place gets a lot of attention lately. Apparently very nice and public. That would probably be my first choice.

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3 Wood: Diablo 13 degree, Stiff Shaft
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Thanks again, guys. North Palm Beach I have played, it's one of my favourites along with Westchester, President CC, Atlantic National and Winston Trails. However, I'm looking for something even better.

I've heard good things about Polo Trace and Abacoa, I think I need to give them a shot as well. Osprey Point I haven't heard of, maybe I'll try that as well. How about PGA Village? Has anyone played it? It's a bit further away but maybe worth the drive?

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I've already posted about Abacoa. I haven't played but everyone is saying it's great.

I've played Polo Trace many times dating back to high school (don't ask!) Love the front nine but the back follows this unsightly ravine and just doesn't seem as impressive to me. Fees are always quite high there. I would take Osprey Point over that.

My golf group has taken many trips to PGA Village and are doing so again in May. They seem to really like it. I heard they just took over another course nearby so they have 4 now. Dye course apparently quite difficult, so no surprise there. My group is fairly particular so if they keep going back like they are at PGA, then it's probably pretty good for the money.

In my bag:

Driver: SQ 9.5, Graphite Stiff Shaft
3 Wood: Diablo 13 degree, Stiff Shaft
2 Hybrid: SQ 18 degree, Steel Stiff ShaftIrons: MP-30, 3-PWSW: 56* Vokey Copper spin-milledFW 52* VokeyFlat Stick Zing 2Ball: Pro V1x

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Definitely play Abacoa--it's fantastic.  One of my college buddies lives on the course; I went to visit him last year over Memorial Day and we played it twice.

I've only been to the area once, but it seemed to me like a golfer's paradise.  My buddy was telling me that the entire county essentially empties after Memorial Day and between June and September you can play pretty much any course you want (except for the super-exclusive ones like Seminole, etc.)

Driving the local highway that runs between Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens we passed at least 20 courses, and all of them looked fantastic.  I'm not sure there are any bad choices there.

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have played the North Palm muni...its a decent track..wind was a tad tough that day and its a bit narrow...i got lucky my in-laws live in Jupiter and it allows me to have access to a few of the private clubs...played Medalist and a few others...PGA was a tough challenge...overall the Fla courses i have played have been nice...the courses where I play at home are similar in conditions and its fairly windy here also...so not a whole lot different...

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Future reference - teetimesusa.com. A bit pricey, but a decent amount of real private courses are on there.

I am a member of boxgroove - havent used it yet because it looks like I have to plan too far in advance and those surprise times I have to play are always last minute.

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Chris, although my friends call me Mr.L

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Yeah, I haven't used boxgroove yet either.

I have used this one a couple of times, my Dad uses this one quite a bit for his golf in Orlando.  http://www.teeoff.com/

-Jerry

Driver: Titleist 913 D3 (9.5 degree) – Aldila RIP 60-2.9-Stiff; Callaway Mini-Driver Kura Kage 60g shaft - 12 degree Hybrids: Callway X2 Hot Pro - 16 degree & 23 degree – Pro-Shaft; Callway X2 Hot – 5H & 6H Irons: Titleist 714 AP2 7 thru AW with S300 Dynamic Gold Wedges: Titleist Vokey GW (54 degree), Callaway MackDaddy PM Grind SW (58 degree) Putter: Ping Cadence TR Ketsch Heavy Balls: Titleist Pro V1x & Snell MyTourBall

"Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots but you have to play the ball where it lies."- Bobby Jones

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  • 3 weeks later...

I will be in Jupiter next month most likely...will have no golfing buddies to tag along...PM me if your in that area as i prefer to play with another player or 3...i have access to several courses in the area...no green fees...i'm at 14.2 handicap right now so if your hacking like me thats even better..

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I will be in Jupiter next month most likely...will have no golfing buddies to tag along...PM me if your in that area as i prefer to play with another player or 3...i have access to several courses in the area...no green fees...i'm at 14.2 handicap right now so if your hacking like me thats even better..

Hi I've unfortunately already come back to Europe. I won't be back until January. Thanks for the reply and enjoy your golf in Jupiter. If you have a chance to play Abacoa, do it. It was the best one I ended up playing.

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