Palm Cove Golf & Yacht Club |
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The Central Park of South Florida Golf
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. A round of golf at Palm Cove quietly serpentines through a completely developed neighborhood along the St. Lucie River, separated from the course by numerous natural wetlands and preserves, lakes and ponds. Rodriguez, a Palm Cove resident, brought his unique understanding of the lifestyle of the area, the climatic conditions, the terrain, vegetation, weather patterns, even the seasonal sun angles and incorporated them into his design.
Water, water, everywhere! You’ll get the theme of Palm Cove on the very first hole, a picturesque, mid-length par-4 with water on both sides. You know Chi Chi’s flair for the exciting wouldn’t allow a conventional layout. Palm Cove is a par-71 with a short par-34 front nine featuring three par-3s, and a longer par-37 back side that finishes with five holes alternating between par-5s and par-3s. And it off ers a variety of shot-making decisions you won’t find very many other places. After that water-edged opening par-4, players face a 9-iron or wedge-length par-3 that’ll play differently with every different hole location, and every change in the capricious breezes off the St. Lucie River. The par-4 third is the longest par-4 on the course, yet the key to success on the hole isn’t length, but accuracy off the tee. And it also epitomizes the decision-making opportunities at Palm Cove. A drive that tempts the right side hazard can create a shorter approach over the water while a play left is drier, but forces a longer second shot. There’s another decision to make at the short par-4 fourth—to try to drive the green or play two easier shots, though you still have to avoid the ever-present water, this time on the right side of the hole. Following a mid-range par-3 with only the back tee having water to carry all the way is the lone par-5 on the front side, the challenging dogleg-right sixth that requires a tee shot out of a narrow chute, over wetlands, with out-of-bounds left and the water and marsh framing the right side of the hole. Once you get to the green, you’ll find it one of the most undulating on the course. There’s a left turn involved in the par-4 seventh, with a menacing bunker on the left and even more diabolical water on the right, wrapping around a well-bunkered green. The longest, and toughest, par-3 at Palm Cove is the eighth with a wetlands carry, a pair of bunkers to deal with, and only a small landing area (some might call it a “bail-out” opportunity) short and right of the elevated green.
Making the turn, the 10th is another rightbender with trouble on both sides, bunkers and out-of-bounds left, trees and marshland right, with the added attraction of an elevated tee and green. #11 is the shortest of the par-4s, but keep the driver in the bag. The smart play is hybrid, then a short iron to play between OB and a marsh that overlooks open water to the right. The breezes play a signifi cant role in shot selection, never more than at the wonderful 12th, the longest par-4 in this stretch that typically plays into the wind with trees and out-of-bounds right and water left. And the options at the 13th tee range from driver to 5-iron off the tee. The hole is short, but treacherous, with a small landing area and a wetlands carry to a green surrounded by seven (go ahead and count them) bunkers. The finishing stretch is pure Chi Chi. Unpredictable, to say the least. 5-3-5-3-5 reads the scorecard for the fi nal fi ve holes. The two par-3s each have plenty of water to deal with, yet are remarkably diff erent shots. #15 deceivingly tries to steer you into aiming to the landing area to the right side of the green. The 17th is a little shorter, but with a huge bunker fronting an enormous green and very little bailout room. Each of the par-5s is progressively longer. The 14th is potentially reachable in two, if you hit the tee ball close to the bunker on the inside of the dogleg left. #16 is long and straight and usually into the wind, and also uphill off the tee, then downhill to the green. The 18th is a gambler’s delight. You can try to cut the corner of this dogleg left, but there’s much trouble near the green, with water on the right hand side and three bunkers at the green. But if you’re down headed to the final hole? Press and give it a rip! Palm Cove isn’t long, but the necessity to shape your shots adds up to a solid 130 slope from the 6,226-yard tips, yet a comfortable 123 from the 5,700-yard black tees. Four sets of tees are available to suit anyone’s game. The breezes off the St. Lucie River off er a variety of shots every time you play. A new drainage and sprinkling system keeps the course in peak condition and very playable no matter when it just rained. Palm Cove features an excellent driving range with a complete chipping area and practice putting green outside a brand new pro shop that can compete with the discounters on pricing your favorite clubs and accessories. The Golf Academy at Palm Cove off ers instruction sure to improve your game, under the direction of lifetime PGA member Chris Locker. The Grille Room is a delightful gathering place before or after a round, with breakfast, lunch and snacks available for groups of up to 150 inside, or out on the covered terrace that overlooks the 18th green and first tee.
Located less than 30 minutes from West Palm Beach to the south and Vero Beach to the north, Palm Cove Golf & Yacht Club might be in a perfect spot to become your next golf home, or centerpiece of your own rotation of great places to play. For the latest information or tee times, call |
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 
When he finished his masterpiece in 2002, he remarked that he’d hoped his vision and experience had created a course that was “fair and fun to play, but challenging to all levels. In addition, the course highlights the unique natural beauty of the existing environment.” And how!
The finishing hole on the front side begins a string of five straight par-4s, yet each of them presents a diff erent challenge, or should we say diff erent opportunity? The ninth is one of the few straight non-par-3s at Palm Cove, but requires an over-the-water approach to a green with a natural, almost jungle-like backdrop behind the green.
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