The Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District voted 5-0 on Monday to move ahead with an updated golf market and financial feasibility study for the western half of North Park, a former golf property the district bought in 2018. Chairman Bob Rollins said the district would “get there,” but commissioners agreed to proceed carefully.
The district will consider only three proposals and had already engaged the National Golf Foundation to evaluate a possible Boca National Golf Club on the former Ocean Breeze site in the Boca Teeca neighborhood. The land covers about 212 acres, and the western portion remains undeveloped.
Speakers urged the district to bring back youth, family and adult golf. Keep Golf in Boca president Harold Chaffee criticized the district for taking so long to respond to residents. Antonio Justo, president of the FAU golf team, said the team once played Ocean Breeze for free.
Many speakers said getting a tee time at public courses is nearly impossible. The district suggested prioritizing Boca Raton residents, but took no formal action on that idea. The board also said it would keep working with the city and avoid conflicts with Boca’s municipal courses, the nine-hole Alford Red Reef Family Golf Course and the Boca Raton Golf & Racquet Club on Congress Avenue.
The district said Monday’s discussion does not approve a golf facility, change its conceptual plan or commit money to golf. Commissioner Steve Engel said the district owes the community a careful process.
