By Mike May
golf history
Lake Worth Municipal Golf Club:
A Coastal Paradise While golfers in Palm Beach County, Florida have access to a number of well-known, nicely manicured layouts such as Emerald Dunes, Madison Green, and PGA National, one of the forgotten ‘gems’ is Lake Worth Municipal Golf Club, one of the courses on the Florida Historic Golf Trail. It’s ‘worth’ noting that Lake Worth Municipal (www. lakeworth.org; 561-582-9713) was a winter golfing destination for baseball great Babe Ruth, back in the day! Opened in 1926 as a nine-hole course designed by Theodore J. Moreau and William Langford, Lake Worth Municipal is perched on one of the most
nearby Atlantic Ocean is another bonus -- keeping it comfortable. As for the actual golf course, it’s an old-style south Florida golf course, where walking is always an option. It’s pure golf and a fun outlet for golfers of all abilities. Every day, Lake Worth Municipal plays like a links golf course as the wind is everpresent -- always impacting your selection of the right club for the next shot. What makes this course special is that every green is raised from the fairway and is bordered by a lush perimeter which adds to the difficulty of getting ‘up & down’ for par. While the championship tees measure less than 6,200 yards, the course will play longer and tougher than it appears on paper. The course opens and closes ‘like a lion,’ and
Babe Ruth
scenic parts of south Florida – adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway. In 1948, golf course architect Dick Wilson redesigned the existing nine holes and added nine more to create today’s par-70 layout. Here, while six of the holes are alongside the Intracoastal, all 18 holes are within eyeshot of the aquatic landmark. You can always look to the east and see the water. The views are also spectacular from the club’s ‘19th hole,’ E.R. Bradley’s Beach Club, which overlooks the Intracoastal. After each shot, every golfer should take a moment to glance at the beauty of the nearby waterway. It helps put the game of golf in its proper perspective. And, the ocean breeze off the 58
the 16 other holes are not ‘lamb-like.’ The opening hole is a 500+ yard, rightto-left par five -- the #2 handicap hole. If you hit the opening tee shot too far left, your ball will find the Intracoastal Waterway. At Lake Worth Municipal,
the best was saved for last, as the 18th is a 435-yard par four, made more difficult by any southerly breeze. The 18th is the #1 handicap hole. A par at the home hole is always a worthy achievement. The most memorable tee shot here is at the par-three 17th. From the tee, an unblocked view of the Intracoastal Waterway is at your back -- a priceless perspective. As you look to the 17th green, the steeple of a nearby church grabs your attention, especially late in the day with a setting sun to the west. With your tee shot, aim to the right of the steeple. To add to the local ‘flavor’ of Lake Worth Municipal, three benches on the course are named in honor of those who once called this club their golfing home. They are Charlie Terry, Agnes Carreccia, and a group of golfers called “The Dogfighters.” After you play Lake Worth Municipal, you’ll understand why this course was their ‘home away from home’ and why it remains that way for many of the area’s golfing regulars. Plus, not many people get to play golf and walk in the footsteps of such luminary figures as baseball slugger Babe Ruth. The Lake Worth Municipal Golf Club awaits your arrival. Are you ready? Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 3