Women on a boating dock by the Jupiter Lighthouse in Palm Beach County, Florida.
The Palm Beaches of Florida have been known as a playground of the rich since industrialist Henry Flagler famously built a railroad and luxury hotels, in order to lure his friends to visit via private railway car. The area still boasts mansions, mega-yachts and major resorts. And the warm climate of the Palm Beaches (the 39 Florida cities, towns and villages that comprise Palm Beach County) make possible a wide variety of outdoor activities.
The palm trees that give the area its name are not native to Florida, instead arriving via the wreck of a Spanish ship in 1878. It was carrying a cargo of 20,000 coconuts, which were salvaged and planted.
Today palm trees grace boulevards, parks, city streets and golf courses. Local tourist literature does not take a direct shot at nearby Miami, but says Palm Beach represents ‘the gentler side… cleaner sands, warmer waters, and fewer crowds.”
The area’s golfing and climate has lured many athletes, from Michael Jordan to Tiger Woods. In Jupiter, there’s a wonderful restaurant, BEACON, at Charlie & Joe’s at Love Street. Co-owner “Joe” is New York Jets Hall of Famer Joe Namath,
That athletic vibe is everywhere, certainly at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach. The resort boasts ninety-nine holes of championship golf on six courses, including the famed Champion course, home to the PGA TOUR’s Cognizant Classic .
A steak at The Buthers Club at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
After a game, you can fuel up for the next day at The Butcher’s Club, with its Royal Cuts of wagyu and prime steaks, raw bar seafood, and inventive side dishes. Masterminded by celebrated Michelin Star Chef Jeremy Ford, The Butcher’s Club is the PGA National Resort’s modern steakhouse. It’s part of the luxury resort’s $100 million update, from interior and exterior designs to all-new restaurants, activities, and amenities.
At the PGA National Resort, traditions remain, such as a golfing dress code calling for full length trousers or Bermuda length golf shorts. (Cargo shorts and trousers are also acceptable.) Shirts must have collars or blade collars designed for golf, and all shirts must be tucked in. Visors and hats must be worn forward as designed. (No backwards hats, bro!)
Women are required to wear golf designed dresses, skirts, skorts or shorts at mid-thigh length or slacks. Shirts need sleeves and collars; all sleeveless shirts must have a collar.
Fortunately, I had invested in some salmon shorts and polos, so I fit right in.
Professional beekeeper Sierra Malnove, and visitors to the hives she operates at the PGA National ... [+]
There are many other activities at the PGA National Resort as well. For example, did you know the resort is home to 250,000 honeybees? Fortunately, they are not out stinging golfers like an outtake from Caddyshack but hanging with their queens in four on-site hives as part of a sustainability initiative.
The PGA National Resort contracted with local professional beekeeper Sierra Malnove, who set up a beekeeping facility by a pond on the golf course. We drove out by golf cart and changed into spotless white beekeeping attire, complete with gloves and enormous circular, netted hat. Our group got to hold the frames of the hives and bees in our gloved hands, followed by raw honeycomb tasting.
The PGA National Resort is making such efforts to expand beyond golf while simultaneously enhancing its golf offerings. The luxury hotel (a black-tie wedding was held while we were there) also offers a Sports & Racquet Club featuring 19 tennis courts, along with a gym and a 40,000-square-foot spa.
Palm Beach and the PGA National Resort are all about the outdoors. Despite not yet being a golfer, I got to experience the warm sun at the pool and at various outdoor venues on the property.
Intrigued by the growing interest in pickleball, I got a brief doubles lesson from an understanding teaching pro. I learned about the rackets, the wiffleball-like balls, the rules of which box to hit into and when to rotate, and how to serve and return. We played a short doubles game in which our team was the victor, but I was mortified when my only slam return richened off the chest of my opponent.
A couple kayaks through the y Intracoastal Waterway near West Palm Beach, Florida.
Beyond the PGA National Resort , there’s much to explore in the Palm Beaches. A tiki boat ride near the Jupiter Lighthouse at sunset was a romantic experience. Less successfully, I tried kayaking in the suddenly choppy waters of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Our outdoor adventures in the Palm Beaches continued the next day, when we visited The Park in West Palm, a public golf course. I’m familiar with busy, aging Los Angeles municipal golf courses, like Rancho Park where Arnold Palmer famously shot a 12 on the 18th hole of the U.S. Open.
So I was surprised at how lush and luxurious The Park was, as a municipal course. Billed as a world class 18-hole golf course with natural landscapes, I ended up playing my first three holes of golf there. I even drove fairly close to the cup on a couple of holes. Putting was another story, but I was able to wax philosophical after a fantastic lunch at The Park’s restaurant, The House.
But I found polo the most interesting outdoor sports activity in Palm Beach County. I had the opportunity to visit the United States Polo Association (USPA) at the Polo Center in inland Wellington, one of the largest polo centers in the world. The clubhouse is clubby, the pool is sparkling, the stables are clean, and corporate sponsors are starting to come calling.
The club members were passionate about polo, which is now streaming and may eventually attain Formula One-like popularity.
A crowd of spectators watches a polo match on the field at National Polo Center in Wellington, ... [+]
We visited the Outback Barn to meet some of the horses and learn more about the sport. There is a professional polo league, and players from Argentina, a perennial polo power, play a significant role in it. We watched some of them work out in the on-site gym. And while participating in the sport can require significant investment (horses sell for $30,000 to $150,000 and up) watching does not. Seats at matches go for as little as $30.
After I learned the proper way to hold a mallet, I climbed aboard a wooden steed. Somehow, I managed to tap the white ball through the goal. But when I watched a real match, I was in awe of the athleticism of the players and horses. They galloped around the field, passing the ball. One rider crashed into another, earning himself a foul, and the other, a visit from an ambulance driver.
Palm Beach may be sunny, but it’s certainly not stuffy.
A pair of polo players compete in a match at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida.
