Still under construction, the new ocean-view clubhouse at Palm Beach Par 3 is already fielding calls about booking events.
Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Steve Pike
The 6,650-square-foot clubhouse at Palm Beach Par 3 golf course will have a soft opening later this month, with an official grand opening Jan. 17.
“Downstairs will look more like a private club,” said Tony Chateauvert, general manager and head professional at Palm Beach Par 3. “It’s not going to look like a municipal course. It’s going to look like something that can only be in Palm Beach.”
The Key West-style clubhouse, designed by the West Palm Beach firm of Smith and Moore, will have approximately 4,000 square feet under air, featuring a pro shop, bar and the Al Fresco restaurant. The clubhouse’s interior was designed by Scott Snyder Inc. of Palm Beach.
The pro shop in the new clubhouse, Chateauvert said, won’t be significantly larger than the current pro shop, but will offer a more inviting atmosphere and experience to buyers.
“Our concept is going to be a gift shop mentality where you can buy logoed products. We’ll even have beach towels with our logo on them,” Chateauvert said.
The majority of the Al Fresco restaurant’s 154 seats will be outdoors in the clubhouse’s wraparound terrace, making it one of the few Palm Beach eateries with a second-floor ocean view.
“A million-dollar view,” Chateauvert said.
Actually closer to a $3.2 million view. That’s the final expected cost of the project. The town of Palm Beach lent itself $1.25 million, Chateauvert said, so there is no impact to taxpayers. The remainder of the money came through private donations to the Par 3 Foundation, an organization spearheaded by pro golfing great Raymond Floyd and his late wife, Maria, along with Jay Boodheshwar, recreation department director for the town.
Al Fresco is owned by the Desiderio family, which owns popular Palm Beach restaurants Renato’s and Pizza Alfresco. Al Fresco will offer casual fare for breakfast and lunch, Chateauvert said, and a more sophisticated dinner menu that is expected to attract locals and tourists.
The town’s lease agreement with the Desiderios, according to Chateauvert, calls for a $150,000 annual payment, or 10 percent of revenue, whichever is higher.
“Our debt service will be about $200,000 per year,” Chateauvert said. “We’re going to do that (in annual revenue) and then some. Revenue and rounds played have been going up the past three years, so with the new (restaurant) lease agreement and whatever profit we make, things will keep getting better.”
In that regard, Chateauvert said, he’s already fielding calls from people inquiring about booking events at the clubhouse.
“That’s much more exciting than it’s been the past two years,” Chateauvert said. “The whole project is exciting and something that’s unique to Palm Beach. We’re going to make it work.”
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