The Florida Department of State has recognized the property as a historic course, joining a list of more than 50 properties statewide that represent early golf heritage. The club’s greens officially opened in 1926 as a nine-hole course, then closed during World War II and reopened in 1945.
The city announced Wednesday that the Delray Beach (Fla.) Golf Club has been recognized by the Florida Department of State as a historic course on the Florida Historic Golf Trail, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Sun Sentinel reported.
The trail consists of more than 50 golf courses that represent Florida’s early golf heritage, which dates back to the 1890s, the Sun Sentinel reported.
“It’s a big deal,” said head golf professional Tommi Ylijoki. “To be recognized as one of the oldest golf courses that has remained open through all the ups and downs in golf history is pretty neat.”
Fairways featured on the trail were built between 1890 and World War II and must still be publicly accessible to be eligible for the historic trail designation. Delray’s greens officially opened in 1926 as a nine-hole course, but it was forced to close for a while when World War II broke out, according to city records, the Sun Sentinel reported.
Folks were able to break out their clubs again after the war ended in 1945. The city also expanded the course to an 18-hole, par 72 course. The expansion was completed in 1950. The course was designed by legendary architect Donald Ross, the Sun Sentinel reported.
Ylijoki said having Ross’ name attached to Delray’s course helped when the state was reviewing documentation to consider adding the course to the trail, the Sun Sentinel reported.
“He is one of the greatest architects ever,” Ylijoki said of Ross. “We are fortunate that he was able to design the Delray Beach course.”
According to the Department of State, Florida’s golf history is one of the oldest in the nation. Golf courses began to pop up with the development of railroads and resort-style hotels in the state. A boom in construction of golf courses took place during the “golden age” of golf course architecture, which lasted from 1900 through the 1930s. During the golden age, many famous architects of the time were hired to design and build new greens, the Sun Sentinel reported.
The state’s historic trail was created in 2014 as a way to promote the public’s awareness of Florida’s golf history. The nearby Boca Raton Resort & Club resort course, Lake Worth Golf Club and West Palm Beach Golf Course are a part of the trail, the Sun Sentinel reported.
Ylijoki said the Delray course will feature the trail’s logo and use the historic designation as a way to attract more golfers, the Sun Sentinel reported.
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