West Palm Beach Golf Course Featured as Florida Historic Golf Trail Course of the Month

TALLAHASSEE –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today that the West Palm Beach Golf Course has been chosen as the featured course on the Florida Historic Golf Trail for the month of March. The West Palm Beach Golf Course is located in the city of West Palm Beach in Palm Beach County.

“We are proud that West Palm Beach Golf Course is a partner of the Florida Historic Golf Trail,” said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. “Since its opening in 1947, this course has hosted some of golf’s greatest players and had a rich history of hosting PGA tournaments for several decades.”

In 1946, the City selected the design of prominent golf course architect Dick Wilson, and began construction.  Wilson designed a unique, highly rolling, waterless 18-hole layout. The new course opened in 1947 and was soon hosting the West Palm Beach Open Invitational, a yearly PGA tournament. Arnold Palmer, Gardner Dickinson, and Gay Brewer are just a few of the past winners at the annual Palm Beach event. The golf course was restored in 2009 by ten time PGA Tour Champion Mark McCumber.  The grand reopening event was highlighted by the ‘King’ himself, Arnold Palmer, hitting the first tee shot in celebration of his 1959 victory at the West Palm Beach Golf Course.

The 18-hole, par-72 West Palm Beach Golf Course features five sets of tees playing from 5,000 to 7,002 yards. Rolling terrain, elevated greens and tees, a magnificent variety of native vegetation, palm, pine and oak trees, and no water hazards distinguish this public course from others in the county. The West Palm Beach Golf Course has a full grass driving range, a large practice area overlooking the course, and lessons are available.

 “We are very excited to be selected as this month’s featured course on the Florida Historic Golf Trail,” said Judy Dickinson, former LPGA TOUR player and Head Golf Professional at the West Palm Beach Golf Club. “Since the Dick Wilson designed course opened in 1947, it has not only served the public with affordable golf, but also hosted PGA TOUR events in the 50's and 60's.

Arnold Palmer’s 1959 victory on the West Palm Beach course earned him $2,000.  This year, the winner of the 2015 Arnold Palmer Invitational will earn over one million dollars. The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando will be on Thursday, March 19 through Sunday, March 22.

For more information about the West Palm Beach Golf Course or the Florida Historic Golf Trail program visit West Palm Beach Golf Course or Florida Historic Golf Trail or Facebook.com/FloridaHistoricGolfTrail.

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 About The Florida Historic Golf Trail
Florida's golf history, recognized as one of the oldest in the nation, dates back to the 1890s when a number of early courses were created along with the development of railroads and hotels in the state. The Florida Historic Golf Trail is a collection of more than 50 historic, publicly accessible golf courses throughout the state that can still be played on today.Through the Florida Historic Golf Trail, golfers can play on courses designed by world-class architects and played by famous golfers such as Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Babe Zaharias, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.  Information about the history and current day contact information for each partner course can be found at FloridaHistoricGolfTrail.com.  Find the historic course near you and Come Play on History!

 About The Division of Historical Resources
The mission of the Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources is to promote Florida’s role in regional, national and international history by identifying, preserving and protecting the historical, archaeological, and folk cultural resources of Florida. Find out more by visiting FLHeritage.com.