Boca West Is Reshaping Palm Beach County Golf From the Ground Up

June 3, 2026 | Read Time: 7 minutes

Boca West Country Club is preparing to remake one of its golf experiences on a scale that reaches well beyond a conventional course renovation. The work planned for Course 1 is intended to change not only how the layout looks, but also how Members move through, play and experience the course.

Fry/Straka Global Golf Design is leading the redesign, introducing new landforms, significant elevation changes and routing updates alongside two additional ways to play: a par-3 short course and a Himalaya-style putting course. Together, those elements are designed to create more variety and give Members different ways to practice, compete and spend time around the game.

The most unusual part of the project is the vertical change being created in a South Florida setting. Plans call for the highest point of elevation in Palm Beach County golf, giving the redesigned course new sightlines, strategic decisions and a stronger sense of movement from hole to hole. For Members familiar with the existing layout, the transformation is intended to make the course feel noticeably different while remaining part of the Boca West golf experience.

The project is also taking place within a Club that already offers four championship golf courses and 72 holes of play. While Course 1 is being rebuilt, Members can continue using the other three championship layouts, allowing a major new golf experience to take shape within an already extensive program.

What Is Changing on the Club’s First Course?

The course is not simply being refreshed. It is being reworked with a new design vision, updated infrastructure, and a more flexible playing experience.

The redesign is being led by Fry/Straka Global Golf Design, the architecture firm selected to rethink the layout in a way that respects its history while creating something meaningfully new. The plan includes a redesigned 18-hole championship course, dramatic new landforms, strategic bunker and lake ehnancements, and an elevated experience from tee to green.

The existing footprint gives the design team an unusual opportunity. Because the layout has what architects describe as “core golf,” with residential development largely around the perimeter instead of throughout the interior, Fry/Straka has more room to create bold landforms and meaningful elevation changes.

Jason Straka explained that this type of routing gives the team room to create “bigger and bolder land forms,” resulting in “a lot of ups and downs” that are not common in South Florida.

That matters because many Florida courses are relatively flat by nature. Here, the redesign introduces a different kind of round, one shaped by elevation, angle, visibility, and choice.

Why Is Elevation Such a Big Part of the Redesign?

Elevation is the defining feature of this transformation.

According to Travis Wehrs, Director of Golf at Boca West Country Club, the scale of the earthwork is one of the things that sets the project apart. The plan involves moving more than one million cubic yards of dirt to create the highest point of elevation in Palm Beach County golf.

“This project, as far as the scale and the complexity of it, there’s probably not going to be a larger, more complex scale of a renovation anywhere in the country,” Wehrs said.

That elevation is expected to push roughly 70 feet, with multiple holes playing up and down from the ridge. Wehrs noted that holes 1 and 7 are planned to play up off the ridge, while holes 8 and 11 will play down from it.

The result is not elevation for elevation’s sake. The design is intended to make the course more distinctive, more strategic, and more memorable over repeated play. A downhill par 3, tee shots that drop from elevated positions, and fairways shaped by new contours can change how Members see and play the layout.

Wehrs described the goal clearly: when Members step onto the course after construction, it should have “playability for all membership segments,” feel “interesting on day one,” and remain “unforgettable on day 10.”

How Will the Short Course Add a New Way to Play?

Alongside the championship course redesign, Boca West Country Club is adding a new par-3 short course behind the Aquatics Center. It is designed for social play, skill development, and shorter-format rounds.

This is an important part of the story because it gives Members another option beyond the traditional 18-hole experience. A short course can serve strong players who want to sharpen wedge play, newer players who want a more approachable entry point, and families who want time together without committing to a full round.

The new par-3 course adds another way for Members to stay connected to the game and to each other.

What Is a Himalaya-Style Putting Course?

The project also includes a Himalaya-style putting course, a large, contoured putting surface inspired by the famous putting experience at St. Andrews.

Unlike a standard practice green, a Himalaya-style putting course is built for play. Its oversized surface and bold contours allow for a rotating setup of 12 to 18 holes, creating opportunities for putting leagues, tournament play, practice, and casual competition.

Straka described it as “a massively oversized putting green with a lot of bold contouring,” noting that it can be used for tournament play, putting leagues, and broader Member enjoyment.

That utility matters. The putting course gives low-handicap players a place to work on feel and speed, while also giving families, guests, and social players a fun way to take part without stepping onto a full course.

As Wehrs put it, “The new short course and putting course will be forward-thinking golf alternatives that will speak to families year-round.”

What Does This Say About the Club’s Future?

The project reflects a larger philosophy at Boca West Country Club: continue investing, continue improving, and continue creating experiences that keep the Club moving forward.

Matthew Linderman, President, COO and General Manager of Boca West Country Club, framed the design vision around imagination. He noted that Fry/Straka saw what was missing from many Florida course settings and asked, “Why don’t we create some elevation?”

That question is now becoming a major physical change within the Club’s playing experience.

Linderman also described the Club as “a lifestyle club,” explaining that the game is not only for low-handicap players. It is also for Members who want to be outside, spend time together, compete, practice, learn, and enjoy their time on the course in different ways.

That is what makes this work larger than one course. The redesigned championship layout, short course, and Himalaya-style putting course work together to create a broader experience for Members. They offer more choice, more variety, and more reasons to engage with the game as part of daily Club life.

How Does Golf Fit Into the Larger Boca West Country Club Lifestyle?

Golf is a major part of the Membership experience, but it is not the only reason the lifestyle feels so active. Members also enjoy three clubhouses, eight dining venues, a world-renowned spa, a 72,000-square-foot fitness center, aquatics, wellness programming, and a full calendar of social events.

The Club’s racquet sports experience continues to grow as well. The recently opened Pickleball Club features 25 pickleball courts, including 12 covered courts for year-round play. Members also enjoy 24 Har-Tru tennis courts, along with fitness options such as spin, Pilates, yoga, and performance-focused training.

With more than 600 Member events each year, Boca West Country Club creates a lifestyle where there is always something to do, from time on the fairways and racquet sports to dining, wellness, fitness, and social gatherings.

Within Boca West, the residential community includes 55 different villages, giving buyers many ways to live near the private club lifestyle available through Membership.

Exploring Real Estate and Life at Boca West

For buyers considering Boca West, the Course 1 transformation adds another dimension to the private club lifestyle available through Membership. Boca West Realty can help prospective residents compare neighborhoods, residence types and the different residential settings found throughout the community.

Prospective buyers visiting Boca Raton can begin at the Boca West Realty Welcome Sales Center at 7763 Glades Road, Suite 101, Boca Raton, FL 33434. Those exploring from elsewhere can contact Boca West Realty at 561-665-5855, review available residences within Boca West, or visit the Boca West Realty FAQ page for more information about buying, living and exploring the community.