West Palm Beach’s first new private golf club in 25 years readies for debut

West Palm Beach, Fla., is a hub of high-end golf, but new private clubs don’t come around in the city often.

Count Dutchman’s Pipe as a rarity.

Slated to open this fall, the project represents a sweeping transformation of what was Banyan Cay Resort and Golf, a once-financially troubled property that is being remade into an exclusive membership club.

As part of the redo, an existing Jack Nicklaus Signature is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation, led by Nicklaus Design, that will result in new fairways, revamped bunkers and green complexes, all aimed at improving the routing’s playability, flow and visual appeal. Fresh landscaping will fringe the layout with native vegetation, including Dutchman’s Pipe, a flowering vine that provides habitat for swallowtail butterflies. 

The three developers behind the project — Witkoff Group, Access Industries and PPG Development — bill Dutchman’s Pipe as the first new private club in West Palm Beach in 25 years. The prime real estate it occupies sits in the heart of the wealthy city, just east of I-95 and a short drive from Palm Beach International Airport.

“Land is this area is extremely scarce, rendering new golf clubs within five miles of Palm Beach Island exceedingly rare,” said Alex Witkoff, co-CEO of Witkoff Group.

Along with a newly renovated course, Dutchman’s Pipe promises upgraded practice facilities, including a 300-plus yard driving range and a two-acre dedicated short-game area, as well as such amenities as a fitness center, day spa and recreational facility with tennis and pickleball courts. 

Membership will be invitation-only, with initiation dues of $300,000 to $350,000.

Josh Sens

Golf.com Editor

A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.