The New Greens

What's different about the new greens at the Par 3?



USGA standards for green construction include very specific drainage requirements. That's primarily what's new about the new greens being built at the Par 3. Click on the title above The New Greens to see the USGA green construction guidelines for more complete information. Basically, all the greens at the Par 3 will now drain well and away from the center of the green, meaning a faster recovery and more play opportunities for our golfers. The water will drain off the greens in four different directions where it is dispersed back into the ground. These new greens were dug out to a depth of 24 inches, drainage installed and layered with gravel and greens mix (90% sand and 10% clean fill). The next step is fumigation. The new green is injected with methyl bromide and covered with plastic for three days. This process sterilizes the site and protects against insects and weeds. When the plastic covering is removed, the green is allowed to rest for three days and the grassing can then begin.

Day 93

Three months into the renovation and the Par 3 is looking better than ever. The drilling is finished at 1390 feet and the big drill rigs will be exitting July 10th. Final contouring on the west side tees is underway and many of the greens are under plastic for fumigation. Next step is the grassing, which we expect to begin July 7th. Irrigation on the west side should be finished by July 6th with all the course irrigation expected to finished by the end of July.

Day 69

Work has begun on the East side near the dunes. Lots of reshaping and contouring. Many more trees will be planted on the East side as work continues. The new Par 3 will feature six holes on the ocean, two more than before.

Tee Times News Article on the Par 3

"Par 3 Gets a Makeover with Greatness in Mind"

Click on the title above to read the latest article by Lawrence Hollyfield from Tee Times News complete with photos. The text of the article appears below..

By Lawrence Hollyfield

To listen to Rick Dytrych tell it, the Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course has struggled with a bit of an identity crisis. Palm Beach, after all, is Palm Beach. And to some people, a short course …

“I think people wanted to start calling it the Palm Beach Golf Course,” said Dytrych, the pro manager of the facility. “They left out the Par 3, but now they’re going to embrace the idea that it is what it is.”

A wall-to-wall renovation is powering the change in attitude. The project, which began April 3, is scheduled to be completed in November. “They’ve shaped about 12 holes,” Dytrych said in late May. “Some of the holes will be ready to grass by June 10; the rest by the end of June. I think they have only five more greens that have to be fine-contoured and they’ll be ready to go.”

There was a lot of landscaping done and two big lakes were put in as part of the effort to modernize the course. Greens were contoured and given collection areas. The old set-up with one long tee is gone, replaced by three sets of tees on each hole to eliminate an issue with wear-and-tear.

There will be a pair of practice greens, and the driving range jumped up about 25 yards to the 290 range thanks to a reconfiguring of the parking lot. The course itself will gain a couple hundred yards and go from four ocean-side holes to six. Holes of 100 yards? Gone, replaced by ones in the 120-range.

“We were able to stretch out the holes 10-12 yards each,” Dytrych said. “A couple [received] significant length. The old 12th hole on the Intracoastal was 152. It can be played at 215. “The 11th hole [No. 4 on the new layout], when it plays into the wind … Jesper Parnevik, that was his favorite hole. He said there were plenty of days he’d have to hit driver there. Now it’s going to be a 210 carry over water from the back tee. There will be other tees to play from, of course, so you don’t have to carry the water. But the tournament tee – not sure if that will be the name – would require that kind of carry.”

Dytrych said he expects the greens fees – which peaked at $45 to ride 18 holes – to go up some, but not a significant amount “because so much money was private.” The overhaul was a long time coming. The facility opened in 1961. The greens were redone in 1979, the year Dytrych arrived, and again in 1993.

A big upgrade comes with the turf – top-of- the-line Paspallum is being laid down. “Everything will be a greens-mix Paspallum,” Dytrych said. “You wouldn’t [do it], of course, but actually the whole course could be cut as a green. Paspallum is an environmentally friendly grass that is happy getting brackish water to drink, so part of the project is digging a well 1,500 to 1,800 feet down to reach the Florida Aquifer.

Dytrych said the drilling will take about $400,000 of the roughly $5 million price tag. The funds were raised in a public-private partnership, with Palm Beach putting up $2 million and $3 million coming from private donations. Most of those donations came from Raymond Floyd and his contacts. The golfing legend and Palm Beach
resident also donated his design talents and his passion. He has been a frequent visitor through the first third of the project.

“I think [his motivation] was civic because he lives in the town and it’s a town golf course and a town project, so I guess he felt that he’d like to do something for the community,” Dytrych said. “He really helped get this project off the ground with donating his design and raising a lot of money from his friends.”

“He wants it to really be a success. Like everybody knows, it’s a very wealthy, classy town and he and his friends wanted a golf course that would fit this town’s image. They’re looking to be the best short course in the country.

Send e-mail to LH@teetimesnews.com or call
(954) 607-6325 to comment on this article.

The Basics of Paspalum

This is from the University of Florida website. To visit that website and learn all about paspalum, just click on the post title above. Here are the basics.

Paspalum vaginatum is also referred to as Seashore Paspalum, Siltgrass, Sheathed Paspalum, Salt Jointgrass, Seaside Millet, Sand Knotgrass, and Saltwater Couch. It is native to East Central South America, from Argentina through Uruguay and into Brazil. Today, Paspalum grows in tropical areas throughout the world. Paspalum is being maintained on golf courses in Asia, South Africa, South America, Hawaii, the Caribbean Islands, and in the United States. Right now, Paspalum has sort of filled a niche in America. Only courses close to the oceans, where saltwater and saltspray is a problem have utilized this grass.

Seashore Paspalum is a warm season perennial grass. It does not produce highly viable seed, and therefore must be propagated vegetatively. Propagation can be achieved by using stolons, rhizomes, verticuttings, or sprigs. Paspalum is great for wet boggy areas where drainage is a problem. It has been known to survive being underwater for several days and still survive. According to Dr. Duncan, of the University of Georgia, it grows on golf courses that receive rainfall for 250 days of the year. Dr Ronnie Duncan is one of the leading researchers in Paspalum vaginatum and will be referred to often though-out this paper.

Siltgrass can be watered with ocean water. It has the highest salt tolerance of all turfgrasses. There are golf courses throughout the world that use saltwater as their source of irrigation. Although it is beneficial to be able to water with freshwater from time to time in order to alleviate the buildup of salts in the soil.

Research conducted at the University of Guam, by Andree-Anne Couillard and Greg Wiecke has indicated that seawater could be used as a selected herbicide. Since Paspalum has a higher salt tolerance than some weeds, why not? The research conducted at the University of Guam was done using Mimosa and Crabgrass as the weeds to be affected. I have also heard of a golf course in the Dominican Republic that has experimented with using seawater as an alternative to herbicides.

Paspalum will also tolerate reclaimed or recycled water, sometimes referred to as "gray water" or effluent. This is one of the reasons Dr. Duncan sees Paspalum as a grass of the future. Each day, more and more golf courses are forced to find a new source of water. In some parts of the country local governments are forcing golf courses to take on effluent water, and at high costs. Some coursed have no choice but to use this water. After a period of time, Bermudagrass cannot handle recycled water and begins to suffer. Where the Bermuda suffers, the Paspalum will continue to thrive. The same goes for golf courses that have desalinization plants. This water can still have a higher content of salt that can be damaging to Bermudagrass.

Siltgrass has high shoot densities and as a result is much more competitive against weeds than other grasses. This competitiveness will undoubtedly keep the use of herbicides to a minimum. If for some reason there is a need for weed control, one could use saltwater. There are almost no known pests to deal with. Pesticides in general will not be necessary like they are for other turfgrasses.

Paspalum requires much less Nitrogen than other warm season grasses. Dr. Duncan recommends no more than 5 pounds of Nitrogen per year. That comes out to about a half to a third of a pound of Nitrogen per month. Much less than other warm season grasses. Paspalum can handle a larger range of pH than other grasses. The range of pH that Paspalum can grow in is 4 to almost 10.

Seashore Paspalum is shade and drought tolerant. Once established it has shown to be equal to Centipedegrass in terms of drought tolerance. It is compatible with cool season grasses used to overseed on golf courses, and can be mown at heights as low as an 1/8 of an inch. This grass also loves to be verticut.

The amount of verticutting depends on the amount of play and the type of surface one desires. Paspalum responds well to regularly scheduled verticuttings and will tighten up. All these reasons make Paspalum vaginatum an excellent choice for the golf industry, as well as the recreational sports industry. Siltgrass can also be used for environmental purposes. It is an excellent deterrent against beach erosion. Since it is native to sand dunes throughout the world, it thrives in coastal areas.

The only negative aspect that I can see, is cold tolerance. Paspalum will not go dormant in tropical areas during the cooler months, like here in Florida. But, it will go dormant at 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are several varieties of Paspalum vaginatum. Some have wide blades like St. Augustinegrass, while others are more similar to Common Bermudagrass. Some of the dwarf varieties have even finer leaf blades. Adalayd is probably the oldest and most known. Another cultivar Salaam is newer and much more suitable for the turfgrass industry. Dr. Duncan has developed a variety called AP-10. It has just been released this year, and is the best cultivar to date. When planting Paspalum it is recommended that sprigging rates be 200-600 bushels per acre. The initial mowing should be around a 1/2 an inch at about 5-6 weeks after planting. Young Paspalum can be sensitive to salt, but will grow-in and establish itself much quicker than Bermudagrass.

With all of this in mind, it is no wonder that Dr. Duncan believes that "Paspalum vaginatum has the potential to be the most environmentally sound turfgrass available for recreational turfgrass use."

Gulf Stream Golf Club in Gulfstream, Florida is fortunate to have seen some success with Paspalum vaginatum. The golf course is built on a barrier island. One hole is along the ocean, while the other exist on the leeward side of the island. Salt spray is not a problem, salt quantities in the groundwater is. The leeward side of the island is made up of dredged material and sometimes is below the level of high tide. It is this part of the golf course where the Paspalum grows. Eight of the fairways have a mixture of Bermudagrass and Siltgrass. The Bermuda outdoes the Paspalum in the summer months, while the situation reverses in the winter. This original stand of Paspalum originally came from Sea Island, Georgia. A gentleman by the name of Mr. O.J. Noer(one of the producers of Milorganite fertilizer) saw this grass in Georgia and realized it's potential. Mr. Noer brought the grass to Vero Beach, Florida. Some of this grass made it's way to Hawaii and the experimental plots of Dr.G.C. Horne, Ornamental Horticulture Department of the University of Florida at Gainesville. Around this time planting material was also provided to Mr. Ralph White.

Mr. Otto Schmeisser, the greens superintendent at Gulf Stream Golf Club also managed to get some of this grass. Around 1961-2 the remaining grass of Mr. Noer was verticut and sold as sprigs, roots, stems and blades. Mr Schmeisser paid $5 a bushel for the remaining 240 bushels of shredded grass. It is Otto Schmeisser and Mr. Stanley Carr(superintendent for thirty years at Gulf Stream Golf Club)who are responsible for the mix of Bermudagrass and Paspalum vaginatum fairways.

With the newer cultivars on the market, current superintendent Mark Henderson has decided to experiment with Paspalum. A small putting green was planted with Salaam to see how it would respond to mowing and fertilizing. It is currently being mowed at 5/32 of an inch and is looking great. Several tees have also been planted with Paspalum vaginatum. Six all together, some of them were planted with Salaam and some with AP-10. Two tees were planted side by side with both cultivars so comparison can be made. Both types of Paspalum vaginatum have grown in quickly, and surpassed our expectations.

With the increasing pressures of environmental concern being placed upon golf courses, Paspalum vaginatum is a logical choice. Some work still needs to be done as far as putting surfaces, but for tees, fairways and roughs it is an easy choice. Paspalum requires less water, fertilizer and pesticides than other warm season turfgrasses. Golf courses are always under pressure about their water usage. Golf courses do use a lot of water, but it is used most efficiently. If golf courses could convert to Paspalum vaginatum all the complaints about water usage would be silenced.

Day 37

The drilling rig has been set up and is now operational. The southwest side of the course (Holes Three and Four)is almost ready for grassing. The new trees are just beautiful and really enhance the "golf on the ocean" experience at the Par 3. Enjoy.

From the Palm Beach Post

By Michael LaForgia
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 07, 2009
PALM BEACH — Golfers, take heart.

Barren stretches of dirt now sit where the Palm Beach Par 3 golf course's lush greens used to be, but the absence of life there signals something long in the making for the public links: a total face lift, which, if all goes well, will be done by late November.

The revamped course, which will be paid for with a combination of public money from the town of Palm Beach and private donations, will include a completely new layout, more holes by the ocean and, down the road, a state-of-the-art clubhouse with a second-floor, wraparound terrace overlooking the ocean, officials said.

"The golf course is nearing its 50th birthday," said Jay Boodheshwar, town recreation director, but it's never had a major renovation in its lifetime. "It was time," Boodheshwar said.

The two-phase, $4 1/2 million plan originated with a handful of residents who approached the town about revamping the course, which was built in 1961 and eventually sold to Palm Beach.

They suggested using a public-private partnership to get it done, Boodheshwar said. The idea got a big boost when renowned golf course designer, and Palm Beacher, Raymond Floyd signed on to shape the new links.

Floyd, who has designed courses in Palm Beach County as well as in Puerto Rico, Springfield, Tenn., Davidson, N.C., and other golf destinations, told town officials he felt a responsibility to the community.

"Since Raymond has gotten on board, the project just happened," Boodheshwar said. "He has donated his personal services to this project. He has led a fund-raising effort to help raise funds to match the town's commitment for the project." The result has been more than $3 million in private donations, collected through a nonprofit foundation set up for the golf course by Robert Simses, who took on the task pro bono.

At the heart of people's desire to chip in is a sense of pride in the course, which represents the largest section of publicly owned land in the town, officials said. "It's a big part of the town, this property, and it should really represent the town for what it is," said Rick Dytrych, head pro at Palm Beach Par 3 for 30 years. "We're happy that that's the way we're going forward."

Among the biggest changes in store for the new course is a new irrigation system and a new type of surface to match, a bright, emerald-green surface that can be irrigated with brackish water.

The grass, Paspalum, will rely on a new well that will draw from the Floridan aquifer, and will eliminate the need for the potable water that standard Bermuda grass requires.

The grass costs slightly more than Bermuda up front, but with "the savings that you would realize over time with reduced water usage, it becomes a bargain in my opinion," Boodheshwar said.

As for the new layout, it will remain a Par 3, or short course, but will include six holes by the ocean rather than four and allow for east-to-west and south-to-north tee shots.

"The goal here is to be the top short course in the country," Dytrych said. "It has to be challenging for the top player, but it has to be playable for high handicaps too. That's a tough order, but I think that's what's being followed here.

"If a pro did come here and played from the tournament tees, it'd be a heck of a tough golf course," Dytrych added. "A lot of holes are being made longer from the tournament tees."

Day 23

The new course is really starting to take shape. Old vegetation has been swept away and all the trees worth saving have been relocated. Dozens of new trees are planted around the new greens and tees. Work on the new big east side lake is underway. All three of the small lakes on the east side are being consolidated into one big beautiful lake. As the new area is dug out, the water is drained from one to another and then to a temporary holding pond on the driving range. When the new lake is escavated and shaped, the water will be pumped back and Voila! A gorgeous body of water too pretty to call a hazard. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see the new course layout, or click on New Course Design under the Labels column at the bottom of the blue column on the right. Enjoy.

Day 14

Two weeks have passed since the shovels hit the sand. The transformation every day is remarkable. Click on any of the pictures in the slideshow below for a larger view. You can also change the speed of the slideshow or pause at any of the photos for a closer look. We'd love to hear your comments and suggestions. Click on the comment link just below this post. Enjoy!

A few words about course designer - Raymond Floyd

Champion Raymond Floyd and his award winning Design Team are responsible for the new Par 3 layout and renovation. The following was borrowed from www.rayfloyd.com and I urge everyone to visit and learn more about this remarkable man, his achievements and his vision. Just click on the title above (A few words...) to go to the Raymond Floyd Design website.

The personal commitment of Raymond Floyd to his design projects is from start to finish. He is personally involved in every aspect of the design and construction process, and places a high priority on the architect – client relationship. Mr. Floyd likes to work with the land as the project evolves, and that requires a hand-on approach in the design and construction phases.

Throughout his playing career, Raymond Floyd has studied the great golf courses of the world. His extensive travels, masterful shot-making and superior strategic skills provide Raymond with a vast and voluminous knowledge of the qualities that make great golf courses. Raymond draws on these experiences to create golf courses with all the benefits of modern golf course architecture but with a focus on traditional philosophies.

The result of this design philosophy, are golf courses that appeal to all who play them. Whether one prefers older, more traditional golf courses or newer, more innovative designs, a Raymond Floyd designed golf course uses elements of both philosophies in crafting truly unique and original designs. Further, Raymond believes that the ultimate goal is not just to create quality golf courses, but also to create value for the client. Raymond’s image is one of integrity, intensity and excellence.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY, A blend of nature and creativity

Raymond Floyd Design has a commitment to creating golf course excellence, keeping in character with Raymond’s reputation as a champion with a fierce drive for success. The same commitment and drive are integral elements to Floyd’s approach to golf course architecture.

PERSONAL COMMITMENT & TEAMWORK

The personal commitment of Raymond Floyd to his design projects is from start to finish. He is personally involved in every aspect of the design and construction process, and places a high priority on the architect – client relationship. Mr. Floyd likes to work with the land as the project evolves, and that requires a hand-on approach in the design and construction phases.

Each Floyd Design project begins with a foundation meeting with the client, where goals and objectives are established. After a site review, Floyd Design can determine how the site’s natural features can be used to create the “theme” for the course design. Raymond’s objective is to create golf holes with a variety of challenges but a consistent quality.

“I think it takes teamwork to develop truly great golf courses.
Everyone in the process from the client, to the designer, to the feature shaper to the golf course superintendent has ideas and creative input. I try to start every project by developing a close working relationship with the client and his team so together we can achieve the desired goals and objectives.”

THE DESIGN PROCESS

In designing a golf course that embraces its surroundings, Floyd Design tries to incorporate as many natural features as possible in routing the golf course. To a large degree, those features can dictate Floyd’s design theme. In the absence of significant terrain elements, Floyd Design has extensive experience creating the land forms and landscaping features necessary for a world class golf course design.

After an extensive study of the course site and its characteristics, and defining client needs surrounding the design, Mr. Floyd begins the routing process. In addition to mapping the holes in a logical progression, routing is also crucial to the course’s competitive nature and level of enjoyment.

“Without a doubt, routing is the most important step in building a golf course that is playable, challenging, fun, aesthetically pleasing, and looks like it conforms to the surrounding land.”

Floyd Design looks at every project as a unique one, and refrains from designing holes that have a signature look. Mr. Floyd believes that Mother Nature should have the biggest influence on what he designs, rather than waste time and resources force fitting a feature that doesn’t match the theme of a particular course.

“I have learned many things from designers through the years. The one that stands out the most is not to have a signature associated with your design style, but make the land dictate what you do.”

In designing a golf course that embraces its surroundings, Floyd Design tries to incorporate as many natural features as possible in routing the golf course. To a large degree, those features can dictate Floyd’s design theme. In the absence of significant terrain elements, Floyd Design has extensive experience creating the land forms and landscaping features necessary for a world class golf course design.

A Short History of the Par 3

A Golfer's Hymn, by E.W. Stansbury
A bag of clubs, a dimpled ball,
Fair verdant greens that rise and fall,
An azure sky, a glorious sun,
A day of golf is well begun
A score that does not bring disgrace,
Good will for all the human race,
Enjoyment of a setting sun.
A splendid day of golf is done.

This solid oak pedestal table is forty-eight inches in diameter. The design is engraved by hand using a wood-burning tool. The color is added with oil pencils and the inlaid wood appearance is achieved with tinted polyurethane acrylic stain. The poem on the perimeter of the table is Golfer’s Hymn, by E.W. Stansbury.

The following comes from the History page of the old website that's currently under renovation, just like the course. It was written in 2003 and there have been a few changes in personnel and sadly, some of our friends mentioned in the story have passed on. The story does, however, capture a moment in time at the Par 3 and I hope you'll enjoy it.

The Story of The Palm Beach Golf Course Table

The tabletop represents the eighteen beautiful holes of the Palm Beach Golf Course. You see that Four, Five, Six and Seven border the Atlantic Ocean. Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen offer the challenge of narrow fairways and the sparkling Intracoastal Waterway. Three ponds at Eight, Eleven and Seventeen are home to generations of red-beaked gallinules, white-beaked coots, blue herons and Mallard ducks so tame they eat from our hand. A shy red fox keeps company in the sea grapes along Six and Seven and a gentle giant iguana sometimes lazes on the seawall from Eleven to Thirteen. More players have made a hole-in-one at Seventeen than any other hole, although one local lady has aced Three so many times, she is reluctant to boast, lest someone think more of her and less of Three.

You may notice that some of the bunkers represented here are not on the course at this time, as they were when it was first designed in 1961 by world renowned course architect, Dick Wilson. At that time, the property was owned by the Phipps family, who eventually, and to our everlasting gratitude, allowed the course to be sold to the Town of Palm Beach for the sum of five million dollars. By special proviso, the residents of Palm Beach have assured that these thirty-nine lush and treasured acres will remain green space in perpetuity. In 1994, thirty-three years after his apprenticeship with the original designer, Joe Lee refreshed the course with new tees and greens.

For eighteen years, from 1983 until 2000, women from the LPGA played with local amateurs in the annual Palm Beach Par Three Pro-Am event. Hall of Fame honorees, Joanne “Big Mama” Carner, Marlene Hagge, Betsy King, Beth Daniel, Kathy Whitworth and scores of the greatest golfers of our time helped to raise over half a million dollars for local hospitals and charities. When hurricane Andrew raged all over South Florida, the Par Three responded with “We Will Rebuild”, sending all the tournament proceeds to help.

It was here that Sweden’s Jasper Parnevik first tilted the brim of his cap upward to feel the warm sun on his face, long before a sponsor thought to advertise products there. It was here in 1961 that Louise Suggs and Sam Snead battled it out for bragging rights. Legend has it that Sam was so distraught over the outcome, he rammed his boat into the old pier at Eleven. Scalawags and Scholars, Senators, Heisman Trophy winners, Economists and Comedians have played here. Federal jurists and felonious fellows have played here. Barishnikov took lessons here.

Rhonda Glen, the author of History of Women’s Golf grew up here. Her mother, Rhonalda kept shop here for more than thirty years. Her juicy southern twang still echoes around our memory. Golf Magazine once rated this course as the best Par Three in the United States, second only to the short course at Augusta. Witness to two weddings and countless memorials, “The Par 3” is unique in all the world.

I learned to play here. I fell in love here under a full blue moon one New Year’s Eve many years ago. This table is my way of honoring this special place and the thousands of people responsible for making it so: The Phipps family, the Residents of the Town of Palm Beach, the first Head Pro and former mayor of West Palm Beach, his honor, George McCampbell, and my hero, Rick Dytrych, Head Pro since July 8, 1978.

The first team of Superintendents was Kenneth Wilson, Nathaniel Horton and Charles Jones, followed by Mark Henderson and Peter Brooks. Stephanie Tannone currently tends the course and has since November 3, 1987. Her staff, Henry Berger, Bill Loihle, and Kerry Hoptner keep things green and growing here. Austin Terico has directed the First Tee since 1981 and is famous for his ability to greet returning players by name every year. PGA pro, Gene George set the course record in 1998 at nine under par and has encouraged and instructed golfers for seventeen seasons here at the Par Three. Kellie Stenzel, author of The Women’s Guide to Golf, A Handbook for Beginners and The Women’s Guide to Consistent Golf brought her talent and passion for teaching to the Par Three two years ago, as did Tim McCoy, PGA pro and protégé of Bill Strausbaugh. Anita Ruggirello, shop manager since 1995, carries on the traditions and standards set by Joannie Smiztowski for thirty years.

Ray Heuning, who passed away this year at 102 and Sidney Romanoff, still going strong at 93 are among the hundreds of volunteers like Joe “Duffy” Doyle and the late Mel Rosmarin, who throughout the years have given their time and loving attention to a thousand details that make this place so wonderful.

Dennis “D.C.” Campbell, our sartorial expert and all around nice guy, gathers up those errant range balls and baskets just because he cares. Gary Webster, former captain of the golf team of Notre Dame University, and Jack Murphy are both former volunteers who have since signed on for part-time duties. The Colonel, the Cabinetmaker, and the Missionary, have chosen second careers here. Their enthusiasm and love for the game enhance every aspect of the Par Three. Jim Bridgeman, Mike Beaudoin, and Tom Myers, along with Jay Gaston, Joan Hayes and Jim Hammond are but the most recent arrivals in a long line of accomplished and dedicated people who work here part time and love it fully. Skylar McDonald, a rare gem and perfect young gentleman, is relentless in his pursuit to keep the practice area up to par.

To these people, and all the Staff at the Palm Beach Golf Course – Past, Present and Future – and most especially to The Players, great and small and all who have taken The Par 3 into their hearts, this table and my humble effort is dedicated.

Mary Lindsey Dytrych
December 2003

Day 10

These were taken early in the morning, just before the camera battery went weak! I'll be adding more this afternoon. The shots up by the ocean give just a slight indication of how spectacular the new views from the course will be. The driving range is all dug up and ready for reshaping with new elevated greens that will enhance the practice experience for every golfer.
AFTERNOON UPDATE...I've added 50 more pictures to the slideshow showing the work on the old 10 and 11 and around the lake. The lake is so much larger now and curves around the back of the old ten green. At the other end of the course on the west side, you'll see the irrigation tanks and piping going in. It was great to catch a few of the workers who were kind enough to pose with their machines.

Day 7

Well, it's been a week since the renovation project began. The transformation is nothing less than spectacular. Every day, the new course emerges a little more as the old course gives way. Palms are tagged and carefully moved into their new position. New fairways, tees and greens are sculpted. The lake on the Intracoastal side becomes larger and deeper every day. The old Australian pines, known for their thirsty thirsty ways, are crunched and turned into mulch. Miles of new pipe arrive along with more heavy equipment.

All this happens in a carefully orchestrated dance that looks like chaos, but really isn't. The Par 3 is a busy place these days as the big machines claw and scrape and dig the way to a new exciting course. The safest place to view the many changes is right here and I hope you'll enjoy this latest installment of our progress.

Par 3 Before Renovation

To view photos of the Par 3 before the renovation began, scroll down to the bottom of this page. I've inserted an extra large slide show that will be on this page permanently so viewers can compare the daily progress with what the course looked like before.

Day 4

These were taken just after sunrise on Day 4. Crews were just arriving and moving the equipment into place.

Thrilling Groundbreaking Ceremony

An estimated 250 Friends of the Palm Beach Par 3 turned out Friday to kick off the renovation of the course. Although the skies were overcast and rain threatened, there was nothing but sunny smiles and warmest thanks for everyone who has given so much time effort and money to this project. The Mayor of Palm Beach, Jack McDonald welcomed Town Council members and guests and introduced Mr. Raymond Floyd who Thanked the Par 3 Committee, the Golf Course staff, the Town Council, the Architect and landscape design teams, and all the generous donors who are making this possible. Everyone enjoyed the refreshments provided by the Citizens Association of Palm Beach. Enjoy the slideshow below and simply click on any of the photos to make them larger.

Day 3

These were taken in the morning just hours before the groundbreaking ceremony began in the afternoon. It's amazing to see how quickly the transformation is taking place. The crews are working hard and it's clear how much they enjoy doing this work by how much care and attention they give every detail. Remember to click on any slide to make it larger.

Many Thanks to the Par 3 Committee

James Clark, Howard Cox, Marjorie Fisher, Maria Floyd,
Raymond Floyd, Gerry Goldsmith, Stephen Hall, Ira Harris,
Terry Allen Kramer, Daniel McDonnell, Danielle Hickox Moore,
Pauline Pitt, Thomas Quick, Robert Simses, Jeffrey Smith,
Lesly Smith, Scott Snyder, Floyd Wideman

Day One ~ The Work Begins

Click on any of the pictures in the slideshow below to see a larger view or to slow down the slideshow.

New Course Design

To view the image in greater detail just click on it.