South Florida Golfers Guide Featured Course Stories

Recently reopened in 2007, the “New West Course” at Jacaranda is acclaimed as a genial compliment to the challenges presented by the recently restored East Course. The $10-million spent to upgrade Jacaranda’s New Jacaranda Golf Club - East Course and Jacaranda Golf Club - West Courses set an extraordinary benchmark for golf course design.

The addition of Sea-Dwarf Paspalum grass to the tees and fairways has given an entirely new look to one of South Florida’s foremost golfing experiences. Over the past two summers Jacaranda has created “living works of landscape art” while retaining the playability of championship golf. Luxurious new Tif-Dwarf putting surfaces, tightly manicured collection areas, plush emerald green fairways, and bunkering have been added, designed in such a natural way that risk/reward golf has never looked so enticing. Both the par-71 East and the par-72 West have 5 sets of tees measuring from 4,923 to 7,247 yards. The goal Scratch Golf achieved was to create course design where every level of golfer is faced with appropriate challenges that make this game so intriguing. Many who have played Jacaranda since the renovations have commented “It’s a brand new course but it still feels like home.” 

The Central Park of South Florida Golf

Like a unique Wall Street turnaround firm, South Florida’s golf renewal artists are at it again. Adam Horvit and the group that has revitalized the Champions Club at Summerfield between Stuart and Hobe Sound have already spent over a half-million dollars already to breathe new life into the semi-private Palm Cove Golf & Yacht Club, turning it (to extend the metaphor) into the Central Park of South Florida golf, a welcome walk in the park now open to all who appreciate the game being played in one of South Florida’s last natural treasures.

What they’ve done in just a few short months is to grow new TifEagle greens that are rolling true, and very fast. They’ve also reshaped the bunkers and groomed the Chi Chi Rodriguez-designed course into a condition that indeed makes it feel like a daytime ride (in new carts, too) through a botanical garden.

Great Getaways That Aren’t Far Away Great Getaways That Aren’t Far Away

There is the Florida we’ve all heard about and visited many times before; destinations that roll off our tongue and memories that come quickly to mind. There is, howeve, another Florida that for many remains a mystery. We're talking about places where the same beauty and adventure await, but without the sense of “been there, done that.” Perhaps then, now is the time to meet those parts of the Sunshine State.

It could be as short as an overnight excursion, or a mid-week surprise. How about a weekend near the water, or a week-long opportunity you’ve put off way too long? Whatever the trip, Florida’s backyard is waiting, with great golf values and Stay-and-Play packages that can make your summertime getaway a whole lot more about relaxation and a lot less about relocation!