Getting To Know: The Seagate Country Club

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Darren Panks who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.


Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
The Seagate Country Club is a world-class golf and country club featuring one of the best championship golf courses in Palm Beach County. The newly restored golf course debuted on November 20, 2013. For the first time in 40 years, the club is open to hotel patrons who are guests of The Seagate Hotel & Spa.

The former Hamlet Country Club was acquired by Seagate Hospitality Group, operators of The Seagate Hotel & Spa, The Seagate Beach Club, The Seagate Country Club, The Seagate Yacht Club, and The Seagate Residences in October 2012. The 18-hole champion-style course was originally designed by noted golf architect Joe Lee and was restored and refreshed by Gene Bates of Bates Golf Design Group with consultation from PGA Tour golfer, Jeff Sluman. The new state of the art practice facility features a fully outfitted driving range with ProV1 golf balls, putting green, short game pitching and bunker areas as well as a staff of International and Domestic PGA professionals. Additionally, The Seagate Country Club features a full-service clubhouse, fitness center, Har-Tru tennis courts, casual and fine dining, and banquet space for special events.

The Seagate Country Club is located in Delray Beach - voted the "Most Fun Small Town in the USA" by Rand McNally & USA Today in 2012 - just minutes from The Seagate Hotel & Spa and the vibrant arts and entertainment district around it. Complimentary round-trip transportation is provided for hotel guests. Legendary golf architect and gentleman of the game, Joe Lee, designed the Country Club Course in 1973 - it was one of the first private clubs in the state of Florida. The restoration preserved the original Joe Lee design while modernizing the course and enhancing the playability. Gene Bates of Bates Golf Design Group lead the refresh with consultation from Jeff Sluman, a resident of The Seagate Country Club and touring golf pro, who has six PGA Tour victories to his name.

The championship 18-hole course is comprised of 300 acres with stocked bass ponds and natural wildlife nearby. The greens were replaced with TIF Eagle grass while the tree-lined fairways and tee boxes were replaced with Celebration Bermuda Grass. There are a total of 91 bunkers with new G-Angle manmade sand and enhanced drainage. Cart paths now have Coquina Shell and the bulk heads on the water holes were replaced. Improvements were made to select par-3 holes and yardage added to several tees. Additionally, a few women's tees were shortened and improved.

Golf instruction at The Seagate Country Club began in 1973 when the club opened the first-ever Golf Digest School staffed by Golf Digest professionals. The following services are provided by PGA professionals: Golf lessons (including individual, group and playing lessons), video analysis, clinics and club repairs. The practice range has been designed to closely emulate actual playing conditions.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
The Seagate's impressive staff of PGA professionals are available year-round for personal instruction. The staff is led by PGA Director of Golf Darren Panks, an International PGA Professional, who brings experience earned under the tutelage of renowned Teaching professional Peter Cowan, Lindrick Golf Club Nottinghamshire, England. Craig Harmon, an internationally renowned PGA Professional, is the Director of Golf Instruction and is available for private lessons; private lessons are available to hotel guests, members and public patrons. Formerly the Head Golf Professional at Oak Hill Country Club, Harmon was the 51st recipient of PGA Golf Professional of the year - the premier honor given by the PGA America to a PGA professional. Harmon brings with him a "Family Legacy" of teaching and instructing all facets of the game. Additionally, Andy Anderson is a PGA professional who brings 20 plus years of experience as a head golf professional. PGA Professional Whitney Young leads the women's golf. The Seagate recently introduced new, hi-tech Precedent i2 GPS golf carts from Club Car® that are equipped with Visage Mobile Golf Information System, increasing the overall golfer experience.

Many accomplished golfers have played this golf course over the decades including Jack Nicklaus, Bob Toski and Jim Flick. Jack Nicklaus was a charter member. Retired major leaguers Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford frequented the fairways. PGA Tour Player David Graham and Champions Tour players, Jeff Sluman and Bernard Langer. LPGA Hall of Famers Beth Daniel, Sally Little, Jane Blaylock and Hollis Stacey called the Club their home. CBS golf analyst Peter Kostis was a bag room attendant.


What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Take advantage of not having to hit the golf ball too far off the tee. Accuracy is a virtue, as the golf course is very narrow but not awfully long in terms of yardage. Make sure you study where the pin locations are when playing your approach shots to the green, as the greens are small in size but very undulant.


Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
On the heels of a multi-million dollar golf course renovation, The Seagate Country Club in Delray Beach, Florida, has recruited internationally renowned PGA professional Craig Harmon as the new Director of Instruction. A living legend with a lineage to match, Harmon is available for private and group lessons for golfers of all levels. A PGA Hall of Fame member, Harmon was born into one of the game's most distinguished families. His father, Claude Harmon Sr. was head professional at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York and the last-ever club pro to win a major championship ¬- the 1948 Masters. In addition, all four of the Harmon brothers - Craig, Butch, Bill, and the late Dick Harmon - have been ranked among Golf Digest's Top 50 Teachers.

Now the Director of Instruction at The Seagate Country Club, Harmon was the 52nd recipient of PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 2005. He spent 42 years as Head Golf Professional at the famed Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York - site of the most recent PGA Championship. Craig Harmon is available to teach golfers of all levels - from children and beginners to seasoned tour players. Private lessons are $75 for 30 minutes, and $150 for one hour. Group lessons are also available at $250 for one hour, and video and playing lessons are available upon request.

The newly renovated course features an original Joe Lee-designed championship course enhanced with Celebration Grass for the fairways and TIF Eagles Grass for the greens. Additional improvements include: newly designed cart paths with synthetic stone and crushed seashells; adding yardage to select holes and improving women's tees; enhancing bunkers with G-Angle sand; and introducing new hi-tech "Precedent i2" GPS golf carts from Club Car® that are equipped with Visage Mobile Golf Information System, increasing the overall golfer experience. The Seagate Country Club is an affiliate of The Seagate Hotel & Spa, where guests are eligible to book golf packages and experience the full service resort.

The Seagate Country Club is also a proud member of Preferred Golf, an esteemed collection of the finest golf resorts around the world. Additionally, the Club recently hosted a 2014 U.S. Open regional qualifier in May and will play host to the LPGA Legends Tour's Walgreens Charity Championship benefitting The Dan Marino Foundation for Autism November 6-9, 2014.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Hole Number 17 is The Seagate Country Club's signature hole, which is also considered one of the great short Par-3's in South Florida. The proximity of the green to the lake offers a unique challenge, as there are a variety of hole locations that offer different shot selections. The three bunkers surrounding the green are deep and threatening hazards to be avoided. For a golf hole ranging from 100-137 yards, this is a very intimidating yet scenic hole.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
Hole #1. The reason being is that this hole is a par 5, not awfully long, but straight. If you are a long and straight driver of the ball this hole can be reached in two, giving you an opportunity for an eagle or birdie, always a confidence builder when starting a round.

To play the hole, keep your tee shot towards the center of the fairway as there are two fairway bunkers - one left and one right, about 270 yards out. If you successfully avoid these, you should have a relatively straight forward shot to the green. Make sure when playing your second shot (if going for the green), you develop a lot of height on the shot as the green is undulant.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
The Roasted Turkey & Avocado Panini with red pepper & sundried-tomato pesto, provolone cheese, caramelized red onion, served on ciabatta bread, is one of the 19th hole's top-selling items (recommended side: vegetable chips with sea salt or home-made potato salad). The Corona Lite on draft pairs well with this favored lunch offering.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Sonny Kim with a score of 69 in the 2014 US Open Qualifier

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 6711
Slope: 138
Rating: 73.0

More Information
The Seagate Country Club
3600 Hamlet Drive
Delray Beach, FL, 33483
561-498-6298
www.Seagategolf.com