Delray Beach and Lakeview Golf Clubs join Bobby Jones Links as Delray Beach Golf Club, a historic Donald Ross design, undergoes $32 million renovation
ALPHARETTA, Georgia – Bobby Jones Links, one of the fastest-growing club management and development companies in the industry, is pleased to announce that it has been chosen to manage Delray Beach Golf Club and Lakeview Golf Club, both owned by the City of Delray Beach, Fla.
Designed by Donald Ross and Dick Wilson and opened in 1926, the Delray Beach Golf Club features an 18-hole championship course and an expansive clubhouse. One of Florida’s busiest municipal golf courses,
Delray Beach hosts 60,000 rounds each year along with numerous weddings and special events. Opened in 1972, Lakeview Golf Club is a popular par-60 executive course that averages more than 50,000 rounds annually.
In January of this year, Delray Beach Golf Club’s golf course began a $32 million renovation – led by renowned golf architect John Sanford – to restore and preserve the course in accordance with the vision of its original designers, Donald Ross and Dick Wilson, while modernizing it to current standards. With upgrades and enhancements to the clubhouse and a new maintenance facility, Delray Beach Golf Club will become one of the top municipal golf destinations in the U.S. when it reopens in late 2026 or early 2027.
“This is a truly special and personal project for me,” said Whitney Crouse, CEO and Co-Founder of Bobby Jones Links. “I learned to play golf at Delray Beach Golf Club when visiting my grandparents as a kid. My first swings were on this historic municipal course. Now, to be part of the team overseeing its rebirth means even more to me.”
Sanford stated the goal is to modernize the course, not only from an infrastructure standpoint but also in terms of design, extending the length to meet today’s standards and properly positioning bunker locations. To that end, ample drainage will be added to the fairways, greens, and bunkers, along with the installation of an entirely new irrigation system. The greens will be built to USGA specifications with Tifeagle Bermuda grass to ensure superb putting surfaces for years to come.
He added that the work of both original architects on their respective designs will still be evident.
“You see a distinct contrast in the bunkering style from the Ross nine to the Wilson nine,” Sanford said. “Ross is known for flat bottoms, grass spaces, and simple sand lines. Wilson’s bunkers flashed sand on the faces and had a lot of movement. The sand line is very irregular. So, completely different bunker styles from Ross to Wilson.”
Plans call for the course to be a par 72 layout measuring 4,611 to 7,111 yards, although this could still be adjusted before it’s finally finished. The Ross Nine is slated to be slightly longer than the Wilson Nine at 3,603 yards, versus 3,508 yards.
“This investment and project are an incredible opportunity for the community here. They’ve had this potential gem of a public golf course for many, many years with incredible history,” Sanford said. “And it’s not just the architectural history. Back in the day, Tour players like Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen and other legendary players of the day all played and spent time here. Before the city bought it, it was a private club. This place has a lot of rich player history.
“For the city to step up and make this investment to not only restore the golf course, but also the maintenance facility, an all-new parking lot, improvements to the clubhouse and clubhouse perimeter with landscaping and art-scaping, it’s an incredible investment in a valuable community asset.”
Over the long term of the course’s operation, BJL will implement its culture-based staff training and development through its Bobby Jones Leadership Center, AI-supported business practices and accounting, and a comprehensive range of programs for customers, beginners, and junior golfers to ensure maximum engagement.
For more information, visit BobbyJonesLinks.com.