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Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club, a private club community near Vero Beach, is pleased to announce its Arnold Palmer golf course is undergoing a refresh this summer. Well known as one of Florida’s few barrier reef golf courses, the renovations to the par-72 championship course will prioritize the preservation of Orchid Island’s captivating Audubon-worthy natural surroundings.

The golf course has been recognized as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary since 2005, and Orchid Island has a long history of supporting the environment and surrounding wildlife. The course itself is a bio-diverse ecosystem that adds a unique natural appeal to the golf experience. The renovations, which began May 1st, aim to refresh course playability while preserving its distinctive character. The plans include introducing new Bermuda grass greens, renovating the bunkers, regressing tee boxes, and enhancing the overall landscaping. Members will have the opportunity to enjoy the revitalized course during Orchid Island’s Welcome Back Weekend in November.

The General Manager of Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club, Rob Tench, looks forward to these new upgrades. “The design and integrity of our Arnold Palmer course will not change, but the majority of the course will be exquisitely refreshed in order to continue to provide our Members with the best golf in Vero Beach,” said Tench. “Golf at all levels is one of the cornerstones of the social life at Orchid Island and we are excited to unveil the newly-refreshed course to our Members in November.”

Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, legendary golfer Arnold Palmer designed the course under the simple principle that golf should be fun to play. Nine tee combinations ranging from 4,321 to 7,126 yards create a flexible game golfers of all skill levels can enjoy. Beginners appreciate the course’s picturesque setting, with daily sightings of otters at play, roseate spoonbills, graceful egrets, and rare white pelicans during the winter. Avid golfers, relish the distinct challenges of the course, winding through natural estuaries and lakes that frequently come into play from the back tees. Sculpted bunkers and well-guarded greens provide holes designed to test the best golfers with a strategic design. Professional golfers were impressed when the course was hosted the 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.