Old Palm News

Being the premier private Club community in the Palm Beaches, Old Palm Golf Club offers a wealth of recreational activities behind its private gates. Yet, some outdoor activities you can only participate in beyond our gates, such as snorkeling in the Atlantic Ocean. One of the best and closest places to snorkel is John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. Established in 1989, it is the only state park in Palm Beach County. This protected natural landscape sprawls over 438 acres of prime real estate donated by John D. MacArthur, the late founder of Palm Beach Gardens. While the park’s four different habitats are certainly beautiful, what lies offshore is equally astounding. You’re welcome to explore the waters on your own, or you might join one of the park’s Educational Reef Programs every Saturday in June at 10AM. You’ll learn about the fish and marine species around the park’s near-shore reef and then be instructed on the best places to snorkel. There’s no telling what you will see, but the waters are usually teeming with colorful parrotfish, boldly striped sergeant majors, lobsters and yellow-accented porkfish. To find out more about the Educational Reef Program and snorkeling at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, call the Nature Center at 561-624-6952.