Boca Lago Country Club, Boca Raton, Florida, is nearing completion of a total golf course renovation headed by Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA, part of a comprehensive transformation of member amenities designed to position the private club among the most desirable in Boca Raton.
The 27-hole golf experience at Boca Lago has been reconfigured under the direction of Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design, Inc. and golf course superintendent George Redshaw, GCSAA. Scheduled to be unveiled in November, the redevelopment of the South, East and West nines includes redesigned greens, repositioned bunkering in the fairways and around the green complexes, as well as reshaped and rearranged teeing grounds.
“We have incorporated the best elements of the original golf course design with a revitalized approach to strategy and playability,” Bel Jan, ASGCA, said of the renovation. “We provided multiple choices of how to play each hole, with the lakes still playing a pivotal role in the character of all three nines.”
Established in 1975, the Boca Lago Country Club golf course was originally designed by golf architects Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge. The current renovation includes modernizing the golf course infrastructure: a new irrigation and pump system has been installed; fairway drainage has been enhanced; and cart paths have been refreshed or removed.
“The complete revitalization of the infrastructure will elevate the club experience for current and new members and guests,” Boca Lago General Manager Steve O’Neill said of the $9-million project. “The golf course has always been considered a thoroughly enjoyable layout and the renovation will place Boca Lago among the best private golf clubs in the region.”
Walking will be encouraged when the course re-opens, provided pace of play is not impacted.
The South, East and West nine routings all offer five teeing areas. Some of the back-teeing grounds have been lengthened to provide significant challenges to more skilled golfers, while each of the four other teeing grounds are designed to fairly engage golfers with slower clubhead speeds.
The South will play from 3,212 to 2,060 yards; the East will play from 3,374 to 2,104 yards; the West will play from 2,955 to 1,742 yards. Flexibility in yardages for special events, wind direction and other conditions has been considered into the tee designs, locations and sizes, as well as the landing areas and bunker positioning.
All 27 new greens are being planted with Tif-Eagle Bermudagrass, while the fairways will be Latitude 36 Bermudagrass, and the teeing grounds will feature Tif-Grande Bermudagrass.
Significant to the project is the major expansion of the practice facilities to include more full-swing space, a superior practice putting area and dedicated short-game area, as well as two practice holes that can be played in multiple ways. The practice areas will sport similar grass types as the golf course.
“The practice holes will be a great asset to golfers who want to hone their games,” Bel Jan said, “as well as to those who are learning the game and everyone in between.”
Besides the golf course renovation, Boca Lago Country Club expects to complete several other projects late this year, including a complete interior restoration of the clubhouse, new outdoor dining areas, renovated banquet facilities, and refurbished tennis center.
“The investment in Boca Lago Country Club is generating a great deal of excitement among our members,” O’Neill said. “We are looking forward to everyone in the area experiencing the transformation of the Club.”