South Florida—the Palm Beach County area in particular—has long been a mecca for the game’s biggest names. But the quiet and quaint town of Hobe Sound is making its way to the top. Between now and the end of 2025, eight new golf courses are expected to open in Martin County.
In 2018, basketball legend Michael Jordan built his own private golf playground in Hobe Sound – Grove XXIII. It’s not just any type of private club; it’s invite-only, where you basically need to know someone who knows someone. Through the years, others had considered putting a golf course on that piece of land, but Jordan made it happen.
Just a few years later, Grove XXIII now represents the epicenter of what is an incredible concentration of highly private courses. Some are open, more are on the way. The overwhelming majority of them are all just a short drive from one another.
Other major projects include Apogee, owned by Michael Pascucci and Stephen Ross, which will consist of three different 18-hole courses created by such A-list designers as Gil Hanse, Tommy Fazio, Mike Davis and Kyle Phillips, along with a 360-degree practice facility designed by Rory McIlroy and Ernie Els.
Ken Bakst, the creator of the highly lauded Friar’s Head golf course on Long Island, purchased 3,902 acres that will become The Ranch, a vast property that will have a pair of 18-hole golf courses as well as an immense, 175-acre practice area. The Ranch will also have 175 homes, but none of them will be built near the golf courses; the majority of the property will remain untouched by the development.
Discovery Land Co., the high-end real estate company with a vast portfolio of luxurious properties around the world, is also coming to Hobe Sound. Discovery was created nearly 30 years ago by Michael Meldman, who also went on to co-found the Casamigos Tequila brand with George Clooney and Rande Gerber. Discovery has broken ground on Atlantic Fields, a Hobe Sound property that’s right next to Grove XXIII.
It will be important to watch the trends in real estate in these areas for both residents and investors as the golf courses are being developed. If you have any questions about how these new builds can affect your home or investment, let’s talk more about it!
