History
A Celebrated Course of Unmatched Reputation,
where Passionate Golfers Become Part of a Family.
Professional Launchpad
Welcome to the only course in greater Vero Beach that’s hosted a US Open Qualifier. Six to be exact – in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2013 and 2015.
No other Vero Club can match our record of national professional recognition. Three teachers from Bent Pine have been multi-year winners and are again named to the 2024-2025 GOLF magazine Top 100 Teachers in America — Todd Anderson, Eric Johnson, and Joe Plecker.
Honorary Member and 10-time PGA Champions Tour winner, Kenny Perry, started as a bag boy here. The list of golf professionals once affiliated with Bent Pine is long and distinguished. Click here.
Goldilocks Zone
There’s a reason Golf Links referred to us as “one of the best golf clubs along Florida’s southeast coast”. Bent Pine is the crown jewel of the 80 Florida courses designed by golf architect, “Gentleman” Joe Lee, who also co-designed Doral’s Blue Monster and Orlando’s Bay Hill, with his early partner, Dick Wilson. Considered in the “Goldilocks Zone,” it offers tour caliber holes challenging low handicappers, yet enjoyable to those with higher ones. That’s why we can boast six US Open Qualifiers while keeping players of all levels engaged.
Epitome of "Old Florida Golf”
A wealthy group of John’s Island members, tired of playing a course designed to sell real estate, wanted a championship worthy venue where Mother Nature was the star attraction. So, they built Bent Pine. Verdant foliage frames our original 419 Bermuda grass fairways and Tif Eagle greens. Bobcats, native birds, tortoises, and amphibians watch the action. Ball strikes echo from tee to green.
Where Camaraderie Reigns
Social engagement is a hallmark of Bent Pine. Ours is a club where there are no strangers, only friends we have yet to meet. We mix and mingle in activities that build relationships – cooking classes, art lessons, lectures, performances, book clubs, quiz nights and lots of Sipping Society tastings. And we play a lot of golf! This is not a place where you sit and watch the action. You become part of it.
Locally Renown Cuisine
Chef Brian has helped build our enviable reputation for casually elegant cuisine. Golfers from other local clubs and out-of-town guests give the quality and creativity of our food high fives. Whether you seek off the menu selections, themed buffets, or wine pairing dinners, we have something to please everyone’s palate.
Conceived in 1975 and named after the distinctive tree on the eighteenth fairway, Bent Pine Golf Club was opened for play in 1979. A small nucleus of 24 men, mostly from John’s Island Club, and led by founder Dr. Harry Day, president of Woodway Golf Club in Darien Connecticut financed the project. They had the vision of an intimate private club which would be kept uncrowded and uncluttered by real estate borders.
Carved out of the sand ridge in once rural Vero Beach, it was a risky and courageous decision to venture from the barrier island to this totally undeveloped area where few people lived.
The founders made a shrewd choice asking “Gentleman Joe Lee” to bring their vision to life. When he died in 2002, Lee was considered one of the most prolific golf architects of all time, credited with having conceived or remodeled more than 250 courses during his 50-year career. In Florida, more than 80 bear his name, and Bent Pine is considered by many to be his crown jewel in the state.
In addition to Bent Pine, Joe Lee designed many renowned courses including La Costa (CA), Jekyll Island Gold Club (SC}, Country Club of Virginia (Tuckahoe Course}, St. Clair Country Club (Pittsburgh, PA), Del Mar (Santa Fe, NM}, Sea Island (Retreat Course, GA}, and Hobe Sound Golf club (FL}. With his mentor, renown 20th century golf architect, Dick Wilson, he helped co design Orlando’s Bay Hill and the Doral’s Blue Monster.
Lee and Tom Kite urged the nominating committee to hire Dennis Satyshur as Bent Pine’s first Head Golf Professional. Dennis started his golf career at Pinehurst Country Club and joined us in 1979. A few years later, PGA Tour Pro, Hal Sutton built a home in Bent Pine.
In 1980, The Bent Pine Classic, an annual one-day Pro-Member event started. It drew notables like Payne Stewart, Greg Stadler, Curtis Strange, Mark O’Meara, Freddy Couples, Gil Morgan, Hale Irwin, and others who were in between battles at Doral and Bay Hill.
This is a course truly wrapped in the tradition of championship play. As we focus on the future, we envision significant changes to our amenities footprint.