Palm Beach Illustrated

We have Worth Avenue, CityPlace and sunny beaches. But deep down, this is a golf town. The Palm Beach Illustrated golf staff teed up all over the county and identified 18 of the best holes from Boca to Jupiter. We are pleased to present the "Palm Beach 18," found at beautiful resorts, exclusive golf enclaves and a few daily-fee courses.

FRONT NINE

Aberdeen Golf & Country Club, #4, Par-5, 608 yards, Boynton Beach

 Course designer Desmond Muirhead named this hole "Beauty and the Beast": "beauty" for the island in the dogleg right's water and "beast" for the narrow mainland fairway and extensive bunkering. "Going for the island leaves you much shorter to the green than playing left," says head pro Jim Nucherino. The creative par-72, 7,094-yard course has holes laid out in the shapes of dragons, mermaids and other legendary images.

Emerald Dunes Golf Club, #4, Par-3, 169 yards, West Palm Beach

 This par-3 -named "Emerald Falls" for its waterfall behind the green - is marked by a water hazard front and right, and a deceptive teeing area which may trick you into hitting it far left. Tom Fazio, architect of the par-72, 7,006-yard course, calls it "one of the most outstanding golf courses of new age design." It is highlighted by the SuperDune, a peak from which players can enjoy views of the course.

The Club at Admirals Cove, East Course, #7, Par-4, 426 yards, Jupiter

 The hardest hole at the par-70, 6,692-yard course - one of four designed by Robert von Hagge at this private club - presents quite a tricky approach shot. A long-iron must be elevated the ball over a huge pine tree guarding the right-front of the green, while also avoiding the left-side lake which runs across the front of the putting surface. Don't hit it too far, as additional bunkers and mounds guard the back of the green.

Old Marsh Golf Club, #5, Par-4, 362 yards, Palm Beach Gardens

 Huge green-fronting mounds make for a difficult, blind approach to a putting surface guarded by bunkers and water. But Pete Dye, the diabolical, 6,914-yard layout's diabolical designer, can make you smile nonetheless; he's installed a bell behind the green allowing golfers to alert trailing foursomes it's safe to approach. An accompanying plaque reads: "Ring the bell for my dad, Paul F. Dye, who loved his family and everything about the game of golf."

Hunters Run, North Course, #5, Par-4, 423 yards, Boynton Beach

 This long par-4 is the toughest hole on the par-71, 6,764-yard course for good reason: The drive must be struck short of the water that crosses the fairway 270 yards from the tee, but long enough to leave a reasonably short approach to the green, which is protected by water right and a trio of bunkers left. The recently renovated course, one of three at Hunters Run, annually hosts the U.S. Open regional qualifying tournament.

Seminole Country Club, #6, Par-4, 383 yards, North Palm Beach

 Golf legend Ben Hogan called the sixth hole "the best par-4 in the world." In typical Donald Ross design style, this hole follows the land's contours, incorporates plenty of bunkers and demands precise shot-making. The rest of this par-72, 6,787-yard course, ranked among the world's 20 best, is just as brilliant, with the final two holes playing alongside the Atlantic Ocean. Donald Ross' nonpareil résum´ also includes Pinehurst #2, site of the 1999 U.S. Open.

Palm Beach Country Club, #6, Par-4, 455 yards, Palm Beach

This 85-year-old, 6,155-yard, par-70 course is another perfect example of Donald Ross' design, with elevated tee boxes necessitating exacting accuracy and low-lying fairways requiring skilled iron shots to elevated greens. This punishing dogleg right has a narrow fairway and a green guarded by a quartet of bunkers. A successful - albeit risky - drive over 50-foot banyan trees along the right side rewards players with a short-iron approach and perhaps a birdie.

Mizner Country Club, #9, Par-3, 147 yards, Delray Beach

The shortest hole at this 6,734-yard, Arnold Palmer-designed layout is the trickiest, with an island green and a pair of green-fronting bunkers. It is short enough to be reached by all players, but dangerous enough to make double-bogey possible. "I want to build courses for players of every skill level," says Palmer. "That doesn't mean we won't put trouble out there and create obstacles to avoid, but we still try to keep it playable."

Breakers West Country Club, #9, Par-4, 435 yards, West Palm Beach

 Keep it dry. Both the drive and approach on this par-71, 6,905-yard course's most difficult hole must carry over water, with the second shot often requiring a long iron or even a fairway wood to reach the flag. The green provides little relief, as a three-tiered putting surface can make four-putts a reality. The course was designed by William Byrd and recrafted by Ken Green of West Palm Beach, a tour pro.

BACK NINE

Abacoa Golf Club, #13, Par-3, 235 yards, Jupiter

 An intriguing par-3 with four teeing tiers, which allow the hole to play from a manageable 138 yards to a threatening 235 yards. The hole requires a shot carved over a pond to a bunker-protected green that slants toward the water. Club selection is difficult, as the hole generally plays into the prevailing wind. The palms reflect beautifully off the clear waters here, and enhance the entire daily-fee, par-72, 7,200-yard course.

Boca Raton Resort & Club, Resort Course, #13, Par-3, 132 yards, Boca Raton

Featuring a babbling brook and a gentle waterfall, this is the prettiest of the historic course's newly redesigned holes. It requires a tough shot over water to a well-bunkered green. Originally designed by William Flynn in 1926, the 6,253-yard, par 71 course was renovated by Gene Bates three years ago. It is dedicated to former club head pros Tommy Armour (1926-1955) and Sam Snead (1956-1969).

Ironhorse Country Club, #15, Par-4, 340 yards, West Palm Beach

 The narrow 15th hole at this par-72, 6,855-yard course may be short, but it is long on difficulty. Though only 340 yards from the back tees, the sneaky hole features a postage-stamp green, which is raised several feet and obscured by a steep, 8-foot mound. A high, arching shot over the mound is necessary - don't even bother trying to chip it - if the golfer wishes to reach the putting surface.

PGA National Resort, Champion Course, #15, Par-3, 179 yards, Palm Beach Gardens

The start of the course-concluding stretch, nicknamed "The Bear Trap," is named for Jack Nicklaus, who redesigned the par-72, 7,022-yard layout. The par-3 plays longer than it looks with a tough-to-reach green jutting into water right - perfect for the Golden Bear. "What's the hardest hole on the course?" asks Nicklaus. "It usually should be the one that you're playing right now." The course has hosted the PGA and PGA Seniors' Championships and the Ryder Cup.

The Breakers, Ocean Course, #16, Par-3, 230 yards, Palm Beach

The Ocean Course is back with bite. A long shot over a new water hazard, which wraps around the front of a sloping green, makes par difficult to achieve. Playing it dry to the landing area left is no guarantee of success, since it leaves a treacherous chip-and-putt for three. The original Alexander Findlay ocean-side design of this, one of Florida's most historic courses, was reshaped last year by Brian Silva to its current par-70, 6,146-yard layout.

Trump International Golf Club, #17, Par-3, 215 yards, West Palm Beach

 This hole, the grand signature to Donald Trump's 7,300-yard, par-72 course, presents lush tropical landscaping, a bridge echoing St. Andrews and a towering 30-foot waterfall. "The 17th appeals to all of your senses," says head pro Bruce Zabriski. "It attracts your sense of sight with the beauty around you, your sense of smell with the fragrant flowers, and your sense of sound with the splash of the waterfall. It really is a fantastic hole."

Palm Beach Polo & Country Club, Cypress Course, #17, Par-5, 641 yards, Wellington

 This fascinating par-5 has all the golf course design signatures of the father-son architectural team of Pete and P.B. Dye: a long bunker hugging the fairway's left side, railroad ties on a large bunker's embankment and - just for fun - a plank leading off the green and into the water left for golfers to walk after succumbing to the hole's difficulties. Approaches from every angle are difficult, especially with a half-dozen massive sand bunkers looming.

Woodfield Country Club, #17, Par-3, 160 yards, Boca Raton

 Since this par-3 often plays into the wind, the tee shot to the island green plays longer than it appears, a testament to this tricky but enjoyable 6,650-yard, par-72 course, designed by Joe Lee. "It's a fun golf course where you can take some chances," says PGA Tour star Bernard Langer, a Woodfield. "But it is also a place where club selection is important and where you have to play smart."

BallenIsles Country Club, East Course, #18, Par-4, 425 yards, Palm Beach Gardens

 Take a risk or play it safe at the finish to this par-72, 7,097-yard course. A long-iron directly to the green requires a carry over water into the prevailing wind, while a safe play to the right around the water makes for a tough up-and-down for par. In the 1971 PGA Championship, Jack Nicklaus nailed the green with his approach and put the finishing touches on the ninth of his 18 Grand Slam titles.

SIDEBAR

COMING DOWN THE FAIRWAY

Choosing the best 18 golf holes is no easy task - especially considering the county is home to approximately 150 courses, many of which are world-class. And so, we've assembled another nine private country clubs and daily-fee gems that didn't make our first cut, but will certainly whet your golfing appetite.

The Bear's Club, Jupiter

Par 72, 7,162 yards

This private club has been hailed as perhaps the best design work in Jack Nicklaus' golf architectural career.

Binks Forest Golf Club

Par 72, 7,065 yards

A highly popular Johnny Miller-designed course highlights this public-access golf complex.

Boca West Country Club, Boca Raton

#1 Course: Par 72, 7,160 yards; #2 Course: Par 72, 6,728 yards; #3 Course: Par 71, 6,482 yards #4 Course: Par 71, 6,542 yards

This private club's quartet of brilliant and diverse courses were designed by Desmond Muirhead (#1 and #2), Bruce Devlin/Robert von Hagge (#3) and Joe Lee (#4).

Broken Sound Country Club, Boca Raton

East Course: Par 72, 6,510 yards; West Course: Par-72, 6,895 yards

Splendid examples of Florida golf architecture can be seen at both of the private country club's Joe Lee designs.

Cypress Creek Golf Club, Boynton Beach

Par 72, 6,808 yards

A daily-fee club presenting a great test of golf, designed by Robert von Hagge.

Ibis Golf & Country Club, Palm Beach Gardens

The Heritage: Par 72, 7,058 yards; The Legend, Par 72, 7,228 yards

A pair of Nicklauses: Jack Sr. designed the challenging Legend and Jack Jr. crafted the exciting Heritage at this private club.

Mirasol, Palm Beach Gardens

Par 72, 7,298 yards

The private club's brand-new Arthur Hills course, opening in November, will be joined by a second championship layout and a Golf Digest teaching facility.

Polo Trace Golf Club, Delray Beach

Par 72, 7,105 yards

A magnificent daily-fee experience on Karl Litten's supremely challenging layout.

West Palm Beach Country Club, West Palm Beach

Par 72, 6,759 yards

A Florida golf legend, this water-free Dick Wilson-designed public course opened in 1947.

         -- T.C.