I’m embracing my retirement era just a few decades early by picking up golf. My latest round was at Hollywood Beach Golf Club, the city’s redesigned public course.
Driving the news: The course, which first opened in 1924, reopened in April after a $13-million, two-year redesign by architect Richard Mandell.
- The renovation included a new clubhouse, upgraded turf and drainage systems, layout redesigns and new bunkers and greens.
State of play: My brother-in-law and my fiancé, both golf fanatics, joined me.
- We paid $80 each for a noon tee time.
- The website’s daily deals feature offers tee-time discounts. The club uses dynamic pricing.
- Hollywood resident rates are offered.
The vibe: The renovation made the course feel fresh. The dining and bar area in the clubhouse and pro shop were nice. The modern feel stands out when compared to other municipal courses.
- The fairways are very wide, so the course is forgiving for an amateur like me. There were some water elements, but generally, the course was not very hard.
- It was busy, and the pace of play kept moving.
- Some of the tee boxes and greens were not in the best shape, making driving and putting inconsistent.
Yes, but: There’s no driving range, so we had to take some “breakfast balls” off the first tee.
The verdict: We all agreed that the club offers a great value, especially with the updated facilities…