Bobby Jones Links (BJL) has been chosen to manage Delray Beach Golf Club and Lakeview Golf Club, both owned by the city of Delray Beach, Fla.
Designed by Donald Ross and Dick Wilson and opened in 1926, the Delray Beach Golf Club features an 18-hole championship course and an expansive clubhouse. One of Florida’s busiest municipal golf courses, Delray Beach hosts 60,000 rounds each year along with numerous weddings and special events. Opened in 1972, Lakeview Golf Club is a popular par-60 executive course that averages more than 50,000 rounds annually.
In January of this year, Delray Beach Golf Club’s golf course began a $32 million renovation, led by renowned golf architect John Sanford, to restore and preserve the course in accordance with the vision of its original designers, while modernizing it to current standards. With upgrades and enhancements to the clubhouse and a new maintenance facility, Delray Beach Golf Club will reopen in late 2026 or early 2027.
Sanford stated the goal is to modernize the course, not only from an infrastructure standpoint but also in terms of design, extending the length to meet today’s standards and properly positioning bunker locations. To that end, ample drainage will be added to the fairways, greens, and bunkers, along with the installation of an entirely new irrigation system. The greens will be built to USGA specifications with Tifeagle Bermuda.
“You see a distinct contrast in the bunkering style from the Ross nine to the Wilson nine,” says Sanford. “Ross is known for flat bottoms, grass spaces, and simple sand lines. Wilson’s bunkers flashed sand on the faces and had a lot of movement. The sand line is very irregular. So, completely different bunker styles from Ross to Wilson.”
Plans call for the course to be a par 72 layout measuring 4,611 to 7,111 yards, although this could still be adjusted before it’s finally finished. The Ross Nine is slated to be slightly longer than the Wilson Nine at 3,603 yards, versus 3,508 yards.
Over the long term of the course’s operation, BJL will implement its culture-based staff training and development through its Bobby Jones Leadership Center, AI-supported business practices and accounting, and a comprehensive range of programs for customers, beginners, and junior golfers to ensure maximum engagement.
