WELLINGTON NATIONAL GOLF CLUB: SOLITUDE BASKED IN SUNSHINE

WELLINGTON NATIONAL GOLF CLUB:  SOLITUDE BASKED IN SUNSHINE

Story by Mike May, Photos by Emily May

It’s a fabulous, fun, and first-class place to unwind, exercise, eat, and play golf.  That’s the best way to describe the Wellington National Golf Club (wellingtonnationalgolfclub.com) in Wellington, Florida.  There are many reasons why the Wellington National GC deserves to be referred to as a first-class venue for golf.  Beginning with the opening tee shot and ending with the last putt dropping on the 18^th green, you’ll quickly see that the attention to detail by Wellington National GC superintendent Jeff Smolen and his crew is impressive and commendable.  While the tee boxes, fairways, rough, and surrounding wooded areas are maintained to the highest standards possible, the quality and consistency of the greens are even better.

Perched on 260 acres of pine tree-filled property, this golf course was designed by one of golf’s major champions:  1973 U.S. Open and 1976 British Open winner Johnny Miller.  The course opened for play in 1989 and was originally called the Binks Forest Golf Club.  It changed names in March 2016.  In addition to being a first-class place to play golf, the Wellington National GC is also a first-class place to swim, dine, and exercise.  And, the atmosphere is always welcoming and friendly.

Whether it’s January or June, Wellington National is maintained to the highest and most meticulous standards possible.  At Wellington National, you can see that perfection is always the goal, yet excellence is always an acceptable outcome.

At Wellington National, you’ll see a tribute to Wellington’s strong and vibrant equestrian community.  To that end, the tee markers on each hole are actually small metallic heads of horses that reflect the presence of polo, dressage, and horse jumping in the village of Wellington.  And each tee box is well grassed and flat, just like all horses would prefer.  In fact, the club’s logo features that same horse-head silhouette.

On the course, the fairways are in great shape throughout the year, as if a PGA Tour event was scheduled to be played there the following week.

If you ever wanted to rename Wellington National, two acceptable monikers would be Solitude or Serenity.  Why?  Because it’s very peaceful and quiet on this golf course.  For the most part, on any given hole, the only tee box, fairway, or green that you will see is the one you are playing.  It’s worth noting that one of Wellington National’s clever creations is a rather large double green that services both the par-five 12^th and the par-four 14^th holes.

Since this golf club’s opening, Wellington National has blossomed into one of south Florida’s pre-eminent destinations for golf, especially in Palm Beach County which is filled with many private and public golf courses that includes the oldest 18-hole golf course in Florida – that being the Ocean Course at the Breakers in Palm Beach.

The sternest test at Wellington National can be referred to as ‘The Formidable Foursome’ — the last two holes of the front nine and the first two holes of the back nine.  Of those four holes, the 8^th is the third most difficult hole on the course and the 9^th hole is the most difficult.  As for the par-four 10^th hole, which is ranked 12^th on the course’s handicap system, it’s one of the more testing medium-length par fours as the fairway narrows the closer that you get to the green.  And, the 11^th is ranked second on the handicap rating.  There’s no shame in playing those four holes in level bogeys.

In an effort to maintain this course’s natural beauty, golfers are allowed a free drop if their ball finishes in the mulched flower beds on the 18^th hole.  Clearly, the superintendent doesn’t want you trying to save par from the petunias!

As a private club, the Wellington National Golf Club does offer membership opportunities at a variety of price points.

According to Wellington National Golf Club General Manager and Director of Golf Ted Strelec, there are a few options and price points to consider.  For instance, the top-tier membership is the Premier Golf Membership, which is ideal for an entire family.  For young families, where the parents are under the age of 40, there’s the Junior Executive Membership.  And, for people who enjoy limited access to the golf course, but want all the social benefits of the club — such as access to the outdoor pool, the gym, and the two restaurants: Wine Bar Restaurant and the Champions Bistro — there’s the Social Membership.

If you are interested in playing first-class golf at a first-class club, contact Kyle D’Andrea at 561-333-5731 ext. 110 or via email: kyle@wellingtonnationalgolf.com.