South Florida welcoming its first new golf club in decades

Greater Miami will soon get a spiffy new golf club -- its first in many years.
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New York Post
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Developers originally proposed 486 units on the Hollywood, Fla. property, but plans have been revised with less density. Ari Pearl of PPG Development says his site plan is for 322 units spread over five locations throughout the golf course. Nicklaus Design is slated to redesign the remaining golf course as part of this project that would include a 30,472-sq.-ft. clubhouse with a restaurant, pro shop, kids club, members club, salon, lounge, ballroom, indoor basketball court, and fitness club.

The Hollywood, Fla. Planning Board is considering a land use change from “open space and recreation” to “low-medium residential” for 36.8 acres of The Club at Emerald Hills, the South Florida Business Journal reported. The property is currently owned by First Eagle Management, led by Todd Schoenwetter, and it would be developed in partnership with Ari Pearl and Mickey Taillard of PPG Development.

The developers originally proposed 486 units on the property in 2020 but those plans have been revised with less density, the Business Journal reported. However, Palm Beach Gardens-based Nicklaus Design, led by Jack Nicklaus, is still slated to redesign the remaining golf course as part of this project.

The new rezoning proposal would allow for up to 360 units. However, Pearl said his site plan is actually for 322 units spread over five locations throughout the golf course, the Business Journal reported. The buildings would range from two to four stories. There would be 40 townhouses, 30 villas and 252 condos. Pearl said it would be a for-sale development.

Pearl said he lives in Emerald Hills, so he worked closely with his neighbors to adjust this proposal to ease concerns about traffic and safety, the Business Journal reported.

Most condo projects in South Florida are in high-rise buildings, and there hasn’t been much mid-rise condo development on golf courses in recent years, the Business Journal reported.

“The Emerald Hills is super-hot and in demand,” pearl said. “Houses put on the market here sell within days.”

In addition to the 18-hole golf course, amenities in The Club at Emerald Hills would include a 30,472-sq.-ft. clubhouse with a restaurant, pro shop, kids club, members club, salon, lounge, ballroom, indoor basketball court, and fitness club, the Business Journal reported. There would also be outdoor amenities such as tennis courts, pickleball courts, and a pool. That would replace the existing clubhouse.

Miami-based Kobi Karp Architecture designed the project, the Business Journal reported.

Pearl said condo buyers would purchase social memberships to the club through their maintenance payments and current Emerald Hills residents could also buy memberships to access the amenities, the Business Journal reported.

“The residential and condo social memberships will support the club and make it financially stable for generations to come,” Pearl said.

Meanwhile, Pearl is working on plans to redevelop part of a city-owned golf course in Hollywood, the Business Journal reported.