APOGEE A new level of golf club comfort in Stuart, Florida

Written by Bradley S. Klein

An entirely advanced standard of luxury and indulgence for a three-course private golf club is now underway in Martin County. APOGEE – the name derives from the apex of a flight path, meaning the highest possible level of achievement – occupies a low-lying, 1,200-acre inland site 30 miles northwest of downtown West Palm Beach. There, the biggest names in golf design and golf hospitality are bringing their talents to bear in the form of three 18-hole golf courses framed by an impressive array of recreational amenities.

Six-star luxury, overseen by concierge service of the highest order, will permeate every aspect of the club, from its haute cuisine dining, poolside spa, fitness center, tennis, pickleball, and padel courts to some 54 villas for overnight stays. Unlike almost all new golf developments in Florida, APOGEE will have no real estate on offer.

The visionaries behind the private club – membership is by invitation only – are two veterans of the upscale development market. Michael Pascucci, founder, and owner of Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, Long Island (home of the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open), is also co-owner of the Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida, as well as a proven force in the world of media and investing. His sole equity partner in the APOGEE venture is Steve Ross, owner of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and founder of the worldwide real estate development firm Related Companies, based in New York City and West Palm Beach.

The design team looks like a Hall of Fame of golf architecture. The first course, APOGEE-West, opened in Dec. 2023, is the product of Gil Hanse and Jim Wager. Their previous credits include Streamsong-Black in Central Florida, the 2016 Rio

Olympics Golf Course, Castle Stuart in Northern Scotland, and restorations of the U.S. Open venues in 2022 (The Country Cub in Massachusetts) and 2023 (Los Angeles Country Club). Befitting their design philosophy of ground game access and variety in shot-making, APOGEE-West is unlike any Florida course in that it does not feature intrusive water hazards but instead relies upon a wide playing field.

The second course, APOGEE-South, is now under construction and will open at the end of 2024. The design team unites two industry veterans. Tommy Fazio, scion of a famous eponymous architecture family, sports a resume that includes Trump Bedminster-New in New Jersey, Trinity Club in South Korea, and (with Nick Price) Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach, Florida. At APOGEE, Fazio has partnered with Mike Davis, who gave up a 30-year career as championship director and CEO of the United States Golf Association to pursue a lifelong ambition of becoming a course designer. They are not only designing the South Course but are responsible for all of the golf construction at APOGEE – 54 holes, a 7-hole short course, a par-3 layout, a family-style putting course, and something that will draw the attention of serious players, including the region’s

PGA Tour pros – a circular, 55-acre practice facility replete with state-of-the-art launch monitoring and swing analysis technology. Their layout features dramatic elevation changes; it is the kind of layout that will look hard, and can play hard, but that also offers generous bailouts and alternative paths for those more modestly-skilled players who prefer their golf in more manageable segments.

APOGEE-North, the third course, is under the tutelage of Kyle Phillips, a West Coast-based architect who has forged a powerful international brand identity thanks to Kingsbarns in Scotland, Yaz Links in Abu Dhabi and South Cape Owner’s Club in South Korea. His course is set to debut in late 2025.

The site’s master planning is in the hands of the distinguished landscape architecture firm Hart-Howerton. Their worldwide experience in creating comfort and ease is evident in a land plan that includes two contemporary clubhouses, each overlooking a side of the property.

Areas at APOGEE not destined for golf, roads or buildings have been carefully set aside for long-term preservation of native flora and fauna. The result is an ambitious undertaking that meets the highest standards of sustainable design while offering members elite-level indulgence.

The perfect island escape awaits.

Bermuda may feel like another world, but this idyllic getaway is just a two-hour flight from the East Coast. With wide-open spaces, pink-sand beaches and turquoise waters, Bermuda is ready to safely welcome you to her shores.