Spend enough time in Palm Beach County and you'll notice something curious. Golf courses seem to appear around every bend, tennis courts are everywhere, and increasingly, the distinctive pop of pickleball can be heard drifting across neighborhood parks.
For a place celebrated for its beaches, restaurants, and social scene, Palm Beach County devotes an extraordinary amount of real estate—and enthusiasm—to sports involving balls, clubs, and rackets. With more than 145 golf courses across the county, it's worth asking: How did we become so devoted to the games?
How Golf Took Root in Palm Beach
The story begins with Henry Flagler, whose arrival in the 1890s transformed Palm Beach into one of America's most fashionable winter destinations. His grand hotels, the Royal Poinciana and what would become The Breakers, attracted wealthy northerners seeking sunshine, society, and recreation.
Golf was a natural addition. In 1897, Flagler commissioned Scottish golfer and course designer Alexander H. Findlay to lay out a course for his hotel guests. At a time when golf was still establishing itself in America, Palm Beach was already embracing the game as an essential part of resort life.
By the Roaring Twenties, golf had spread beyond the grand hotels. The Everglades Club, established in 1919, offered golf to its members, while the Donald Ross-designed Gulf Stream Golf Club opened in 1924.
But the sport wasn't reserved exclusively for the winter social set. Delray Beach opened its municipal golf course in 1926, offering residents and visitors a place to play without a private-club membership. Summer rounds reportedly cost just 50 cents. Lake Worth followed with its own waterfront municipal course in 1927.
Over the following decades, golf became as much a feature of residential development as recreation. Developers discovered that manicured fairways, attractive views, and year-round play helped sell the Florida lifestyle. Entire communities grew around the game, contributing to the remarkable concentration of courses we see today.
That legacy eventually attracted some of golf's biggest names. Jack Nicklaus established deep roots in the northern Palm Beaches, while Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and numerous other professionals have called the Jupiter area home. With exceptional courses, favorable weather, and an established community of fellow players, the region became something of a professional golfing neighborhood.
Palm Beach's Love Affair with Tennis
Tennis has an equally distinguished place in Palm Beach's sporting history. Early clubs incorporated courts alongside golf and other resort amenities, with the Bath and Tennis Club, established in the 1920s, becoming a fixture of Palm Beach society.
But tennis developed a following that reached far beyond private clubs. The same sunshine that attracted winter golfers made South Florida an ideal training ground for aspiring champions.
Venus and Serena Williams spent formative years training in the region under coach Rick Macci, while 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert helped establish Boca Raton as a destination for serious tennis development through the Evert Tennis Academy.
Delray Beach has developed an especially strong tennis identity, hosting international competition at its downtown tennis center, including the annual Delray Beach Open. Professional tennis here isn't confined to television screens; it's part of the local sporting calendar.
And the enthusiasm continues to evolve. Pickleball has brought new players onto the courts, appealing to those who enjoy the social side of racket sports and the satisfaction of a lively doubles match.
Where to Play Golf and Tennis in Palm Beach County
For all the attention given to exclusive country clubs and celebrity athletes, enjoying Palm Beach County's sporting culture doesn't require an invitation or an impressive handicap.
The oceanfront Palm Beach Par 3 offers one of the area's most picturesque public golf experiences, while Delray Beach Golf Club and Lake Worth Beach Golf Club allow golfers to play courses with nearly a century of local history. County-operated courses such as Okeeheelee and Osprey Point provide additional options, and the John Prince Golf Learning Center is a welcoming place to work on your swing.
For tennis, Delray Beach Tennis Center and the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis & Pickleball Center offer public play, lessons, and programming. Caloosa Park in Boynton Beach is another option for tennis and pickleball enthusiasts.
What began as entertainment for winter visitors has become something much more enduring: a sporting culture woven into the landscape and social fabric of Palm Beach County.