Dutchman’s Pipe Golf Club
16th Hole / 320 Yards / Par-4
Architect: Nicklaus Design (2024)
West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Short par-4s can provide the ultimate test for the broadest range of players. When designed smartly such holes offer scoring opportunities for both elite and non-elite players.
On the flip side, such holes also include perilous situations one must smartly navigate in order to avoid serious pain on one’s scorecard.
The history of Dutchman’s Pipe goes back to 2017 when the property was named The President Country Club. In the years to follow the facility was renamed Banyan Clay Resort & Golf.
Witkoff Group & Access Industries purchased the 220-acre property in early 2024 and the Nicklaus Design carried out an extensive updating of the course with work commencing in January and finishing in May.
A $10 million investment was put into motion and the 220-acre club now operates in the private lane with limited tee time access provided to guests of the adjoining Belgrove Resort & Spa. The course has also been regrassed with bimini except for greens, which feature TifEagle.
The opening of Dutchman’s Pipe represents the first new private club immediately in West Palm Beach in 25 years.
The 16th is well-positioned during a round. Strong players seeking to make a late surge can take a direct line to the green by hitting driver. However, a menacing pond hugs the entire left side and the landing area narrows as one gets closer to the green. The slightest mishap can quickly find a final resting position underwater.
Two bunkers are placed in varying positions in the fairway. Golfers opting in taking a more conservative play must be ever mindful of where one’s tee shot finishes.
The first fairway bunker is not difficult to carry off the tee but the second one can be. With only 25 yds between the bunkers many golfers will lay up short of the first bunker which leaves them a little over 100 yds to the center of the green.
The putting surface is 4,550 square feet and features two distinct tiers.
“The front half of the green is a crown. Then it steps down to the back half of the green which slopes strongly from right-to-left which makes this smallish green a demanding one to hit and creates multiple challenges for recovery shots from around the green, ” said lead designer Chris Cochran.
“To the right of the green is a fairway hollow that is not overly difficult to pitch or putt from for those who find their drive there but is just deep enough to make an “an up and down” for par challenging. Drives finding the bunkers right of the green have a very scary blast shot out of the sand, over the fairway hollow to a green where most of the putting surface slopes away from them.”
Wind direction can vary with the prevailing often coming from the southeast and assisting players. The hole can be equally challenging when encountering a headwind from the northeast.
The 16th at Dutchman’s provides the ideal blending. Providing sufficient temptation to entice the bold play but never ensuring success without well thought out execution even when opting for a more conservative strategy.
A quintessential short par-4 hole.
