Par 3 Pleasure at The Nest

THIS SUMMER, PALM BEACH GARDENS’ NEWEST GOLF FACILITY OPENED ITS DOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME, LETTING GOLFERS TEST THEIR SHORT GAME SKILLS ON THE CITY’S NEW, PUBLIC PAR-3 COURSE.

The Nest, situated next to the City’s other public course, Sandhill Crane Golf Club, boasts a 30,000 square foot putting green, two bars, retail, and casual dining, but the amenity that appears to be generating the most buzz is its two-story driving range, which includes 18 covered hitting bays.

The bays are split between two levels of The Nest’s clubhouse with nine downstairs and nine upstairs. Each one is equipped with Trackman technology, a ball tracking system similar to what’s used at popular entertainment venues like Drive Shack and Top Golf. In the bays, golfers can use the Trackman to play fun games like Closest to the Pin, Capture the Flag, and Bullseye. They can also play a virtual round of golf on Trackman’s courses of the month, which include a rotating selection of some of the country’s most iconic golf courses like California’s Pebble Beach Golf Links.

“Basically, it shows you, on the screen, the hole that you could be playing in Monterey, California, and it shows your shot and tracks the ball based on your shot in the driving range,” says Casey Mitchell, PGA, the Golf General Manager.

Mitchell says for many younger players, going to the driving range to practice your swing can be “stuffy and boring,” but the Trackman’s gaming options are making kids excited to go out and work on their swing.

According to Mitchell, the games are also a great, nonthreatening way to introduce people to golf. She says she’s seen plenty of first-time golfers pick up a club and reserve a bay, including parents who are passing the time while their kids take a private lesson or families who are looking for a fun, group activity.

In addition to the gaming options, the Trackman system also has a function called Trackman Combine, which is for golfers who are looking to hone their skills. The system can collect data on a golfer’s launch angle, direction, height, ball speed, distance and more. It then sends that data directly to an app on the golfer’s phone.

While the covered driving range bays and the Trackman system are generating a lot of buzz, the Nest has about 20 other, uncovered bays on either side of the building, giving golfers upwards of 50 spots to work on their swing. Mitchell says in total, the driving range is a 60,000 square foot grass tee which is available and maintained to the same standards of a private club. The range also has plenty of lights, so golfers can come out as late as 8 o’clock at night to practice.

The golf course itself is 3,100 yards from the tips with holes going up to 256 yards. There’s also an additional 19th hole with an island green. For five dollars, golfers can play that extra hole and have their money go towards a non-profit or charity organization doing philanthropic work in the area. Golfers who play the charity hole will also receive a chip to come back and play in the summer for a reduced rate.

The Nest’s Hours of Operation

Starting November 1

GOLF COURSE

Monday: 9:00 am - sunset

Tuesday: 7:00 am - sunset

Wednesday: 7:00 am - sunset

Thursday: 7:00 am – sunset

Friday: 7:00 am - sunset

Saturday: 7:00 am - sunset

Sunday: 7:00 am - sunset

DRIVING RANGE

Monday: 11:00 am – 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday: 6:45 am – 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 6:45 am – 8:30 p.m.

Thursday: 6:45 am – 8:30 p.m.

Friday: 6:45 am – 10:30 p.m.

Saturday: 6:45 am – 10:30 p.m.

Sunday: 6:45 am – 7:30 p.m.

Inside the clubhouse, there are multi-purpose rooms and a conference room, which can be rented out for business and special events. For dining, there’s Casey’s Café, which was named after Mitchell. It offers a variety of fast, casual eats like chicken tenders, salads, and sandwiches. The bars are also stocked with a wide selection of seltzers, beer, and wine.

Already, The Nest has hosted several tournaments and events for businesses, including the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, the PGA Corridor, the Minor League Golf Tour, Nicklaus Design, Pratt and Whitney, and Florida Power and Light among others. Of course, it’s not uncommon for many of those golfers to wrap up play and immediately head to the driving range bays to get in some more practice with the Trackman system, according to Mitchell.

“They’re so in awe of the driving range; for a golfer, it’s like heaven,” she says. For Mitchell, seeing those reactions to the new facility has been the best part of the Nest’s opening. She says she often hears people say, “If I didn’t have a job, I’d be here every day.”

Mitchell credits residents’ satisfaction with the support she and her staff have received from both City Council and the Administration, saying, “We want to be proud of golf, and this is the way to include everybody and give all of the residents, whether you play golf or not, something to be proud of.”