Representative image Photo: ristok from Helsinki, Finland · CC BY-SA 2.0
Seminole Golf Club
Juno Beach, Florida, United States
18 Holes · Par 72 · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Coastal
— About
About Seminole Golf Club
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Seminole Golf Club is a private 18-hole, par 72 course at Juno Beach, on Florida's Atlantic coast. Donald Ross designed it, and it dates to 1929. What made the ground special was its sand. Two dune lines run through the property, a high ridge on the western side and dunes beside the ocean, and Ross threaded his holes along and between them. Later hands adjusted the design. Dick Wilson renovated many of the bunkers in the years after World War II, and between 2016 and 2018 Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw carried out a three-year restoration that reworked the bunkering and reopened sandy waste areas that had grown over. Wind is a constant factor here, and the greens are the main defense rather than length. Seminole has always kept a low profile. Its first television appearance came only in May 2020, with the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match, and in May 2021 it hosted the Walker Cup. Ben Hogan regularly practiced here before the Masters, and his name is still tied closely to the club. Access is limited to members and their guests, with no public tee sheet and no published green fee.
- Ross's design runs along and between two dune lines, a high ridge on the western side of the property and dunes beside the Atlantic Ocean.
- Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw spent three years, from 2016 to 2018, restoring the bunkering and reopening sandy areas lost to overgrowth.
- The club hosted the Walker Cup in May 2021, a rare public showcase for one of the most private courses in the country.
- Ben Hogan regularly practiced at Seminole before the Masters, which is why the club is tied so closely to his name.
- The club stayed off television until the May 2020 TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match, its first broadcast.
History of Seminole Golf Club
Seminole dates to 1929, when Donald Ross laid out the course at Juno Beach. Ross used two dune lines, a high ridge to the west and dunes along the ocean, as the spine of the routing. For decades the design changed little apart from postwar work by Dick Wilson, who renovated many of the fairway and greenside bunkers. Ben Hogan became the club's best-known regular, practicing there before the Masters. The wider public saw the course for the first time in May 2020, when the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match was televised. Coore and Crenshaw then completed a three-year restoration between 2016 and 2018 that reworked the bunkers and reopened sandy areas, with the aim of returning the property closer to Ross's original vision. In May 2021 the club hosted the Walker Cup. Throughout, it has remained private, with play limited to members and their guests.
Signature holes at Seminole Golf Club
The 4th is a long par 4 played along a sand ridge to a domed green that is regarded as one of the harder greens on the course. The closing holes are where writers tend to focus, and they draw praise as a strong finish to the round. Restoration work opened sandy areas between the holes, so on many holes the trouble is bare sand rather than thick rough, and the tee shot is judged against the wind before it is judged against the bunkers. Because the greens are the main defense, approach shots and putting decide most of the scores here.
When to play Seminole Golf Club
Seminole is private, so the practical answer is whenever a member invites you. Florida's golf season generally peaks in winter and spring, while summers are hot and humid with frequent afternoon storms. Its two headline events, the televised skins match in May 2020 and the Walker Cup in May 2021, were both held in spring. Wind is a constant factor on this coastal course, so expect to adjust your club selection more than the calendar. There is no public booking or tee-time service.
Playing Seminole Golf Club: tips
There is no public access. A round at Seminole means playing as the guest of a member, and the club does not sell tee times or publish a green fee. Ask your host whether caddies are available, since on a course this exposed to wind a caddie's advice is worth having. Palm Beach International Airport is the closest major airport, and Juno Beach sits on the coast north of West Palm Beach. Ask your host about arrival times and dress, since the club publishes no visitor guidance of its own.
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Seminole Golf Club
Can the public play Seminole Golf Club?
No. Seminole is a private club, and the course is played by members and their invited guests. There is no public tee-time booking and no published green fee.
Who designed Seminole Golf Club?
Donald Ross designed Seminole, which dates to 1929. Dick Wilson renovated bunkers after World War II, and Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw restored the bunkering between 2016 and 2018.
What big events has Seminole hosted?
The club hosted the Walker Cup in May 2021. In May 2020 it also staged the televised TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match, its first broadcast.
Why is Seminole linked to Ben Hogan?
Hogan regularly practiced at Seminole ahead of the Masters, and he became the club's best-known regular. The connection is one of the best-documented parts of its history.