Pine Tree #14

The idea of Pine Tree began in 1961 when a group of good friends and avid golfers felt the need for a great golf course in the area of Boynton Beach. The 50 Founding Members and 12 Charter Members purchased a large tract of dairy land and engaged the prominent course architect Dick Wilson to design the course. Pine Tree is considered to be one of Wilson's best courses. It is ranked in the nation’s top 100 and is consistently ranked as one of Florida’s top five courses.

Florida offered little topography changes and the cost of moving large amounts of soil was prohibitive, so Wilson used the available elements of prevailing winds, well-positioned bunkers and water to create a strategic game of golf that can be enjoyed by all, regardless of ability. Pine Tree features risk-reward golf where the golfer will use every club in his bag. J. Clark describes Pine Tree in an issue of Club Management as "each hole having its own individual character. It is routed on the ground masterfully and it requires skillful play all around. Wilson's signature bunkering technique is evident throughout the course. Nearly every green on the front nine, with the exception of the seventh, is bunkered directly in front."

Wilson took into account the prevailing winds in South Florida and designed the course to be lengthened or shortened depending on wind direction. The course stretches to 7,215 yards from the gold tees and can be played as short as 6,177 yards from the white tees with the Senior and Ladies' tees even shorter.

Pine Tree gets its name from the native Florida sugar pine. The pine tree, the Club's logo, stands in the middle of the 12th hole and is the signature pine that Jim Raymond, creator of the Blondie cartoon, drew "Scotty" playing under.

Many of the world's finest golfers have played Pine Tree with many of them calling it home including Sam Snead, Louis Suggs, JoAnne Carner, Beth Daniel, Meg Mallon and Karrie Webb.

Wilson lived and worked on the property. Before reaching the course, visitors will pass the "Wilson Cottage" where Wilson lived after the completion of the course until his death in 1965. The winding drive will then reveal the plantation-style clubhouse that greets arriving guests in the fashion of true southern hospitality.

The 89th Amateur Championship will be played at Pine Tree with Hunters Run Golf and Racquet Club serving as the second site on June 22-25, 2006. The Amateur Championship includes a field of 168 players split alternately on the two golf courses the first two days. The field is then reduced to the low 70 plus ties after the first two rounds to play an additional 36 holes of stroke play at Pine Tree to crown the best amateur golfer in the state.