Golf Guide: West Palm Beach - FL

West Palm Beach attracts an affluent crowd who can be found playing polo, fox hunting, shopping on Worth Avenue in Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany and cruising on their yachts. Of the close to 50 courses within 10 miles from West Palm Beach, it's not surprising more than half are pricey private clubs like Trump International Golf Club built Trump-style with an unlimited budget in the hands of Jim Fazio who planted 1000 live oaks and moved a lot of earth to build up elevations creating the highest point in Palm Beach County. Trump is available only to members and their guests but there are other options.

For the "full monty", stay at the 379-room PGA National Resort & Spa giving you access to five championship courses designed by Nicklaus, Palmer, the Fazios, and Karl Litten. Home of the Honda Classic, the resort is about to get even better with a $65 million revitalization including a new zero-entry pool, renovated rooms with all the bells and whistles and upgrades in the spa and restaurants as well as the golf courses. Ask about play and stay packages.

The Club at Winston Trails in Lake Worth, a well-honed Joe Lee design playing more than 7,000 yards from the tips and The Links at Madison Green, a tough track with plenty of water, are good bets for single digit handicappers.

Traditionalists can play the user- friendly Palm Beach National in Lake Worth, built in the 1960s but renovated by Joe Lee in the late 70s. It has a fine island hole, Tif-Eagle greens and wide fairways. Also try the President Golf Club's two tracks, the Eagle, an RT Jones Jr. layout with a lot of water, pampas grass and coquina-lined fairways and the more traditional Patriot Course with fewer flourishes and more reasonable green fees.

Off-course cruise along the Intracoastal waterway lined by exquisite mansions, take in a few chukkers of polo at the International Polo Club in Wellington or check out the many cultural events at the Kravis Center for Performing Arts and the Harriet Himmel Gilman Theater. Night life turns on in Gatsby's, Purple Lotus Kava Bar, and the Blue Martini or try the Blue Boar Tavern for great drinks and gaming fun.