In March of 1969, the golf development visionary E. Llwyd Eccelstone acquired 3,200 acres just north of Vero beach proper that encompassed a vast swath of beachfront, Indian Riverfront and over a thousand acres of wetlands. Despite Vero’s old Florida feel that was literally and figuratively miles from Miami and the Palm Beaches, Eccelstone’s trailblazing work at Lost Tree Village in North Palm gave instant credibility to the John’s Island Club. John’s Island became the first gated community to have 36 holes and has now evolved into a 54 hole club community on the highest end of the upscale meter. John’s Island set the stage for Vero Beach’s emergence as a diverse golf region, but the City and the courses maintain their distinct feel and privacy.
Having just experienced Quail Valley Golf Club, the Vero courses played roster now consists of John’s Island South, North and West, Bent Pine, Riomer, Hawks Nest, Orchid Island, Indian River, Redstick and Windsor. The common thread in all of these courses is that they are private with credentials required. For that matter, try and book a flight to Vero and a hotel room that offers an entrée to a golf course. Negative on both fronts. Vero has certainly boomed since 1969, but it remains distinctly less ostentations and pleasantly more genuine. Quail Valley fits both of those descriptions as it is solely a golf club well west of the barrier island portion of Vero Beach. The Clubhouse, the staff, the range and the course are all first class. The only nods to promotion are the stuffed lion, polar bear and elephant head mount in the men’s locker room.
Quail Valley is a joint design of Tommy Fazio and Nick Price. Although it is clear that significant earth work was undertaken, the course melds with the natural environment and exudes traditional design and inspiration. On the fifth tee, I was observing a flock of wood storks, when an Otter popped up out of the canal bordering the hole. The fourth and the ninth are the most appealing holes on the front. The tee shot on four must carry a large barranca and then the approach must navigate a sloping green with numerous subtleties. The ninth is a sharp dog-leg left with the green perched on top of a steep valley guarding the front that forces a carry right to the surface.
The back nine at Quail Valley is a delight. The routing is interesting, the shot values are high and the overall feel is that of a true golf escape. The overall conditioning is tremendous and the walking experience is marvelous with veteran caddies familiar with golfers looking to unwind.
Upon further reflection, I would put John’s Island’s West Course at the top of the Vero heap, followed by Quail Valley, Hawks Nest and Bent Pine. I would highly recommend any of the aforementioned courses, but more than anything I strongly advise the Vero Beach scene be added to your travelogue.
As an epilogue, it is worth that Llwyd Eccelstone also purchased 1,800 acres from Billionaire John D. MacArthur in 1977 in Palm Beach County, which is now the four course, mega-home of the Honda Classic on PGA Boulevard. At the time, there was nary a house west of the Florida Turnpike on PGA Boulevard. Also, Lost Tree Village remains a landmark gated community maintaining very high standards and not just because Jack Nicklaus has lived there since the early 1970’s.
Ben