Friday, February 24, 2012

IGM Maintained Jack Nicklaus Signature Offers Golfers Unique Challenge

IGM upholds the high standards of the
Nicklaus Signature status
If you’re looking for the perfect place to play your next round of golf, your search just might come to an end at North Palm Beach Country Club.

The club features a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course — one of only two such municipal courses in the U.S. — and was rated the top “Local Public Course” in a Palm Beach Post online reader poll conducted last November.

“The course is very unique to South Florida because there is a lot of elevation change and it really plays like a links course,” said Lee Stroever, North Palm Beach Country Club’s head golf professional. “It is also very well maintained and is always in excellent shape.”
The golf course sits atop the Seminole Ridge (an area that many of the great local private courses are built on) and features a picturesque layout that was artfully designed by Nicklaus to work in harmony with the natural terrain.
The course also rests alongside the Intracoastal Waterway, which Stroever says not only makes for beautiful views, but allows players to enjoy a nice breeze, due to their proximity to the water.
While the course is “generous from tee to green,” according to Stroever, he says the real highlights are the greens.
“I would put our greens up against any in the area, including private and resort courses. They are very fast and true, even in the summertime, and have quite a bit of movement,” said Stroever. “The character of our greens make this a unique and fun place to play.”
The golf course is fair but challenging to players of all skill levels because while there are several hazards, including water and 86 bunkers, there are no forced carryovers and they can all be avoided if you play — and execute — each shot wisely.
North Palm Beach County Club also offers various types of golf instruction, including private and group lessons, as well as clinics for juniors and women.
They also offer the TrackMan Launch Monitor, a golf equipment fitting machine that is used on the PGA Tour to help determine the right type of club each individual golfer should use.
The testing is held on the driving range under the supervision of a club professional along with fitting clubs from Titleist and Callaway.
“I don’t know of any public courses that offer this,” said Stroever.
In addition to the golf course, North Palm Beach Country Club offers a fully-stocked golf shop, lighted driving range, 10 Har-Tru tennis courts, Olympic-size pool with a high dive, a restaurant — which also hosts events and banquets — and the Village Tavern.
Group and private tennis lessons, as well as leagues and clinics are available.
While the club and all of its amenities are open to the public, members are also welcome. In fact, they have 250 members, which accounts for nearly half of the club’s play.
When you hear “Jack Nicklaus Signature course,” you would expect the golf to be phenomenal, but Stroever says that impact can be felt throughout the club.
“It gives us validation and lets consumers know that they are getting a top-quality product and experience,” he said. “The Nicklaus name is held in very high regard, as it should be, and we have a responsibility to live up to that in every possible way.
- By Keith Merritt
Advertising Content Writer