Boca West Is Bringing the Highest Elevation in Palm Beach County Golf

Boca West Country Club is preparing for a golf transformation that goes well beyond a traditional course renovation.

Course 1 is being reimagined by Fry/Straka Global Golf Design with new landforms, dramatic elevation, routing updates, and two new ways to play: a par-3 short course and a Himalaya-style putting course. Together, these additions are designed to create more variety, more shot-making, and a championship experience unlike anything currently found at the Club.

For a South Florida setting, the elevation story is especially significant. The project is expected to create the highest point of elevation in Palm Beach County golf, giving the course a new sense of movement, strategy, and visual drama. For Members, it means a familiar course is being rebuilt with a more dynamic way to play.

The redesign is also part of a much larger Club setting. Boca West Country Club is home to four championship golf courses, offering 72 holes of play. While this work is underway, Members will continue to have three other championship courses to enjoy, reinforcing the depth and scale available through Membership.

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.

How Can Prospective Buyers Learn More About Living Within Boca West?

For prospective buyers, the course transformation is one more example of how life within Boca West connects to the private club lifestyle available through Boca West Country Club Membership. Boca West Realty represents residential opportunities within Boca West and helps buyers understand neighborhoods, home types, and the lifestyle access connected to the community.

Prospective buyers who are in town are invited to visit 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 or visit the website to learn more about available residences within Boca West. For commonly asked questions about buying, living, and exploring the community, visit the Boca West Realty FAQ page.