If you’re driving north on A1A past the Tequesta line, you might miss it. There aren’t any flashing neon signs or massive gold leaf gates screaming for your attention. That’s because Jupiter Hills Club doesn't need to shout. It’s tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the Loxahatchee River, sitting on a massive ridge of ancient sand dunes that make you forget you're in a state usually as flat as a pancake.
Most people think Florida golf is just ponds, palm trees, and cart paths. Jupiter Hills breaks that mold completely. It’s rugged. It’s hilly. It feels more like you’ve been transported to the sand hills of North Carolina or even a slice of the Northeast. George Fazio, who designed the place alongside his nephew Tom Fazio back in 1970, famously said he’d been looking for land like this his whole life.
The Fazio Legacy and the Hills of Tequesta
You’ve got to understand the history to get why this place feels different. William Ford—yes, of the Ford Motor Company family—was the driving force behind the club’s inception. He wanted a "golfer's club." No tennis courts back then. No swimming pools to distract from the mission. Just pure, unadulterated golf.
The topography here is the real star. We’re talking about elevation changes of up to 60 feet. In Florida, that’s basically a mountain range. The Hills Course, which is the alpha of the two tracks on-site, utilizes the "Jonathan Dickinson" ridge. This isn't artificial mounding created by a bulldozer; it’s a natural geological feature. When you stand on some of these tees, you’re looking down at fairways that tumble through dense stands of scrub oaks and pines. It’s beautiful, sure, but it's also intimidating.
Honestly, the Hills Course is a brute. It’s consistently ranked among the top 10 in Florida and often finds its way into the Top 100 in the U.S. rankings by Golf Digest. But don't let the rankings fool you into thinking it's a resort-style walk in the park. It’s a stout test of ball-striking. If you can't control your trajectory in the Florida wind while standing on an uneven lie, Jupiter Hills will eat your lunch.
Why the Village Course Isn't Just a "Secondary" Track
Most 36-hole facilities have a "championship" course and a "member" course. While the Hills Course gets the lion's share of the national press, many members will tell you they actually prefer the Village Course for a Tuesday afternoon round. It’s a bit shorter, but it’s arguably more scenic and just as demanding in its own right.
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Tom Fazio came back to renovate the Village Course, and he didn’t hold back. It weaves through the residential side of the property, but the houses are set back enough that they don't choke the play. The greens are often described as "pure." In the golf world, "pure" is code for "if you miss this putt, it’s 100% your fault because the roll was perfect."
What It’s Actually Like Inside the Gates
Jupiter Hills is private. Very private. It isn't the kind of place where you can just pay a high greens fee and roll up to the starter. You have to know someone. And even then, the vibe isn't about showing off wealth. It’s a high-net-worth crowd, obviously, but the culture is centered on the game.
- The Caddie Program: This is a walking-heavy club. The caddies here know every break in the greens and exactly which club to pull when the wind off the Atlantic starts gusting.
- The Locker Room: It’s legendary. Not because it’s gold-plated, but because of the camaraderie. It’s where the deals happen and the stories are told.
- The Practice Facility: It’s world-class. You’ll often see pros from the PGA Tour or LIV Golf practicing here because the conditions mimic what they face on tour.
The membership list is a who’s who of industry titans and sports figures, but there’s a strict "no autograph" kind of dignity to the place. You might be hitting balls next to a Hall of Fame athlete or a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, and the only thing you’ll talk about is why the greens are running at a 12 on the stimpmeter.
The Sand and the Scrub: A Different Kind of Beauty
One thing that surprises first-timers is the lack of water hazards on the Hills Course. Think about that for a second. This is Florida. Usually, if you hit a bad shot, you hear a splash. At Jupiter Hills Club, you’re more likely to end up in a deep sand bunker or buried in the native scrub.
The environmental aspect is a big deal here. The club sits right next to Jonathan Dickinson State Park. This means the wildlife is abundant. It’s not uncommon to see gopher tortoises trekking across the fairway or osprey circling overhead. The club has worked hard to maintain the "Old Florida" feel, avoiding the over-manicured, plastic look that plagues many modern developments. It feels weathered and established. It feels like it belongs to the land.
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Hosting the Big Stages
The USGA loves this place. Jupiter Hills has hosted the U.S. Amateur (1987) and the U.S. Mid-Amateur (2018). When the best amateurs in the world come here, they struggle. In the 1987 U.S. Amateur, Billy Mayfair took the title, but the real story was the course. It proved that you don't need 8,000 yards to protect par if you have movement in the land and greens that require a surgeon's touch.
- Precision over Power: You can't just bomb it here. The corridors are framed by sand and trees.
- Short Game is King: The run-off areas around the greens are shaved tight. If you miss, you're faced with a delicate chip or a terrifying long putt from off the green.
- Conditioning: The turf quality is typically flawless. They use TifEagle Bermuda on the greens, which allows for those lightning-fast speeds members crave.
Practical Advice for the Lucky Few
If you ever get the "invite," don't turn it down. But go prepared.
First, check the dress code. It’s traditional. Tucked shirts, tailored shorts or slacks, and definitely no cargo pockets. Second, arrive early to use the range. The transition from the flat practice tee to the undulating fairways can be jarring for your brain.
Also, listen to your caddie. There are several holes, particularly on the Hills Course, where the line off the tee is "blind." You’ll be aiming at a specific tree or a distant chimney. Trust the line. If you try to peek or steer the ball, the sand traps will find you.
The club is located at 11800 SE Hill Terrace, Tequesta, FL. It’s a bit of a drive if you’re staying in South Beach, but it’s a whole different world once you cross into Martin County. The air feels thinner, the pace is slower, and the golf is significantly better.
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The Reality of Access
Let's be real: getting a membership here is a "long game" endeavor. It’s not just about the initiation fee, which is substantial. It’s about being vetted by the community. They want people who respect the pace of play and the traditions of the club.
If you aren't in the market for a membership, your best bet is playing in a high-level amateur tournament or finding a charitable outing that occasionally gets hosted on the grounds. These are rare, but they do happen.
Actionable Steps for Golf Enthusiasts
To truly appreciate what makes Jupiter Hills special, you should do a bit of homework before you ever step foot on the property.
- Study George Fazio’s Design Philosophy: He was a master of using natural contours. Compare Jupiter Hills to his work at Salem Country Club to see how he adapts to different climates.
- Check the USGA Archives: Look up the 2018 Mid-Amateur scores. Seeing how the top 1% of amateurs played the course will give you a realistic expectation of its difficulty.
- Visit Jonathan Dickinson State Park: If you can't get past the gates, hike the Hobe Mountain trail in the neighboring park. It’s the highest point in South Florida and gives you a literal bird's-eye view of the ridge that makes the golf course so famous.
- Connect with Local Pros: Many of the head pros in the Jupiter/Tequesta area have played the course. Buying a lesson at a public track like Abacoa or North Palm Beach County Heritage and asking about Jupiter Hills is a great way to get "inside" intel on how to play the specific holes.
Jupiter Hills remains a temple of the game. It’s a reminder that Florida golf can be rugged, hilly, and profoundly difficult without a single ocean-front hole. It relies on the land, the sand, and the legacy of the Fazio family to provide an experience that most golfers only ever see in pictures.