For all the golf travel I’ve done, you’d think I’d be intimately familiar with golf in Florida.
Considering there are more golf courses here than any other state in the country – it’s a golf writer’s mecca right?
Maybe so, but compared to other states my Florida repertoire is sorely lacking.
As such, it wasn’t until recently that I visited Palm Beach.
I wasn’t prepared for just what that would look like.
There’s affluent.
Rich.
Wealthy.
Ultra Wealthy.
And then there’s Palm Beach. It’s a new level of money I’ve never quite seen before.
And just a few minutes across the bridge in West Palm Beach, there’s a new golf enclave that’s quickly becoming known amongst the golfing elite: Dutchman’s Pipe.
What’s with the funny name? What’s the course and club all about? And better yet, how can you play it?
I’m going to tell you all about that and more.
The History of Dutchman’s Pipe Golf Club
The property now home to Dutchman’s Pipe Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, has a rich history of transformation and development.
Established in 1969, The Presidents Country Club featured two 18-hole courses and was a prominent golfing destination in West Palm Beach. However, by the mid-2010s, the club faced financial challenges, leading to its closure and subsequent sale.
In 2016, the property was acquired with plans to develop it into a luxury resort. Jack Nicklaus was commissioned to redesign the existing course, aiming to create a world-class golfing experience. The project envisioned a 250-acre resort featuring a 7,200-yard par-72 course, a hotel, residential units, and various amenities. Despite the ambitious plans, the development faced multiple setbacks, including construction delays and financial difficulties, which hindered its full realization.
This brings us to today.
In early 2024, the Witkoff Group and Access Industries acquired the property, initiating a comprehensive transformation. The existing course underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation led by Nicklaus Design, enhancing playability and aesthetics.
The idea was to turn it into a high-end club that featured a championship golf course that was a bit longer and more spread out than some of the other private clubs in Palm Beach, where land can be scarce.
In fact, despite other new developments in nearby counties, this is the first new golf club to be built in West Palm Beach proper in over 25 years.
As part of the development plans they renovated the former Banyan Cay Resort, and turned it into a new Marriot Autograph Collection property known as The Belgrove Resort and Spa.
I stayed there for two nights during this trip, and will give a recap of that in a little bit.
First Impressions of Dutchman’s Pipe
When I first pulled up to the Club, as is the norm for a high-end club in Palm Beach, there were a number of exotic cars parked in the turnaround. I was immediately greeted by a fleet of employees eager to help with my clubs, park my car, and show me where to go at the Club.
Throughout my day at Dutchmans, you definitely feel a level of service that’s a step above what you get at your typical country club.
Considering the location, cost, clientele, and small membership – this shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
The current clubhouse was inherited from Banyan Cay, and has been refreshed for the new Club. It’s small, but well-appointed, and the porch overlooking the first tee is great.
However, a new larger clubhouse is scheduled to break ground soon. This will be a much better reflection of the lifestyle club that Dutchman’s is looking to evoke as it grows.
The Range
After I got a cup of coffee and changed my shoes in the locker room, I went out to the range.
The range and practice facilities here are world class.
First off, considering how little land there is in West Palm Beach to develop – the fact they have a massive 300 yard+ range, and a two-acre short game area is very rare for the area.
Dutchman’s Pipe has everything a Tour Pro could want out of a practice facility, so it’s no surprise that there are a number of famous names who call this place home.
When you walk up to the range, the attendant will ask you what kind of balls you play.
Why?
Because they have 8 different brands for you to choose from.
Yes, on the driving range.
Pro V1s, TP5, Chrome Tour – you name it, you can hit it.
The only thing more impressive than that is the range robot that scours the range to pick up said balls.
The short game area features a number of greens at different yardages, different bunker styles, and allows you to practice pretty much any shot you could ever want from within 120 yards. The setting right on the water makes it an especially nice place to be.
The Front 9 at Dutchman’s Pipe
The front and back 9s both have distinctly different personalities.
On the front, you’re going to find holes that are slightly tighter than the back (although by no means claustrophobic).
The course opens with a cool par 4, named Devil’s Elbow.
The green is tucked over the ridge on the right-hand side of the hole. Playing 342 from the member’s tees, it’s not drivable for most, but you can cut the corner to get yourself really close to the green.
In typical Nicklaus fashion, it’s a “gentle handshake” of an opening hole, but there are some risk/reward elements for those that want to get spicy off the bat.
The par 3s at Dutchman’s are all beefy holes with yardages of 223, 233, 160, and 201 from the tips.
The first par 3, Longshot, has a wide undulating green, with an imposing bunker guarding the left half.
Pay attention to the pin position, as that will dictate your strategy off the tee.
On the 4th you immediately get a sense of why the previous course was called “Banyan Cay”.
This 414-yard par 4 from the member’s tees has a trio of banyan trees dotting the fairway. In a world where palm trees can easily be planted anywhere you want, this is a very cool element of the course and club, knowing that these trees have been there for decades.
#5, “Waterhole” is the next par 3, and as you might guess, features a big lake carry. It’s a fun shot, and has a variety of tee box options that each make the hole play very differently.
On 6 you get a classic “Cape” template. Bite off as much as you want on the tee shot, but get too aggressive and you’ll find the pond.
I wish I’d got a photo of the tee shot on 7, as this par 5 is one of the best holes on the course. You can tell a lot of Earth was moved here to add significant elevation to the fairway. The front 9 already had a lot of variety, but this hole keeps it going.
The approach is a tricky one with a green that slopes left to right, and water surrounding the entire right side of the green. My fade worked out pretty well for me, however, as I started way out left of the green on my approach and got it to land and roll to 3 feet for my only birdie of the day.
8 is an even longer par 5, with some strategic bunkering around the green.
And 9 gives you a little bit of everything as a par 4 with water left, bunkers beyond that, and a pot bunker directly fronting the green.
The Back 9
Considering the land Dutchman’s site on used to comprise two 18 hole courses, Nicklaus had a lot of acreage to work with.
There’s a bit of a commute to get from the front to the back. But I’d highly recommend before doing so you grab a hot dog from the clubhouse.
The chef at Dutchman’s has a Michelin Star to his name, and this was hands down one of the best hot dogs I’ve ever had. The truffle fries also made for a delicious side.
The back 9 as a whole feels a little more open and spacious than the front. You see this right away on the par 5 10th, which at only 508 yards from the tips begs you to go “Full Throttle” – an apt name for the hole.
11 provides the easiest par 3 option on the course. Measuring just 145 from the member’s tees we played at, you’d be wise to take advantage of the opportunity. Although saying it’s easy wouldn’t really be doing it justice, as you’ve got water, bunkers, and a very undulating green to navigate.
13, “Punchbowl” has rumpled fairways that almost evoke a feeling of being on a Scottish Links. A center-line bunker forces you to be strategic with your drive. A bailout to the left will leave you with a longer approach. Go right, and the angle isn’t quite as ideal. Bomb it straight over if you want to find yourself in position A.
The “Punchbowl” style green, is a cool visual, and has some more severe undulation than some other similar greens I’ve seen.
14 is the last par 3, and forces you to carry water and bunkers from 185 at the member’s tees. Fortunately, there’s a decent bailout right if taking dead aim feels too aggressive.
15 has water all down the left side and makes the approach shot feel particularly perilous.
16 is one of my favorite holes on the back. At only 320 yards from the tips, this drivable par 4 makes you want to go for it.
But water covers the entire left side, and bunkers near the green on the right, means the landing zone with driver calls for a very precise shot.
18 is a stout par 5. While it only plays 530 from the member’s tees, it’s a burly 640 from the tips.
When you look at where the back tees are on many of the holes, you get a sense of just how challenging this course can be. Especially considering you’ll be looking at some decent wind during most of the rounds you’ll play.
Final Thoughts on the Course
One of the major things Dutchman’s Pipe has going for it is its location.
With no traffic, you can be in Palm Beach in 10 minutes.
To have a club with this level of service, and a fun, challenging championship golf course so close in? It’s very rare.
While a 7,300 yard course may not seem like a big deal in most places. When you consider the lengths of other nearby high-end courses? The Everglades, 5,655. The Breakers 5,778. Palm Beach Country Club 6,155.
A course of this caliber is very unique for the area.
With so many tee options, this is a course you could play every day and not get sick of. And when they’ve finished building out the lifestyle amenities for the club? It will quickly become a place you’ll never want to leave.
Want to Play Dutchman’s Pipe? Here’s how you can…
In most cases, the public will never get an opportunity to play a course that’s as expensive and intensely private Dutchman’s Pipe.
But as part of the development deal, guests of the neighboring resort The Belgrove, get limited access to play the course.
It’s not a slam dunk, however. Members always get priority, you’ll need to show proof of handicap, and you can expect the cost for the day after green fees and caddie fees to be approaching 4 figures.
But when you’re on property, you get the full membership experience – which will make for one very special day of golf.
Is it Worth Staying at The Belgrove?
The Belgrove just opened in December 2024, and I spent two nights there on this trip in January 2025.
The resort is beautiful.
The lobby feels light and airy, and the main dining room, Society 48, is fantastic. I had both breakfast and dinner there, and each time the food was excellent.
However, the prices may be the most expensive I’ve ever seen at a resort hotel – which is saying something.
The pool area is beautiful, and in season the bar and al fresco dining looks like it will be wonderful.
The highlight may have been my room, however.
It was very well designed, felt modern and brand new, and the bed was as comfortable as any 5-star hotel I’ve stayed at.
My wraparound pool view balcony was also one of the largest hotel balconies I’ve ever had.
During my stay, there were a handful of rough edges in terms of service and around the property. But I’m chalking that up to me staying there so soon after opening. The good news is that it was nothing significantly detrimental to my overall experience, and I wouldn’t expect any major issues as the resort matures.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the resort, and I’d absolutely stay here again during my next visit to Palm Beach.
Bottom line? Whether you’re looking for a luxury resort vacation and a spectacular round of golf, or perhaps a new home away from home in West Palm Beach – Dutchman’s Pipe is a fantastic place to consider.
