New Palm Beach Gardens B&B Is A Tribute To Great Course Designer
One good Palm Beach Gardens B&B certainly deserves another -- as the Great Bard never said -- and the 2-month-old Donald Ross Inn is special enough to share the sun with the town's Heron Cay B&B.
Named for this country's premier golf course designer who was responsible for no fewer than 413 layouts in the United States -- 34 of them in Florida -- the Donald Ross Inn opened in July after months of modernization and makeover by owners Cindy and Charlie Herbst.
Newcomers to the innkeeping business but not to Florida, where they've spent some 60 years combined, the Ohio natives played their first golf at the Donald Ross-designed Inverness Club in Toledo and are familiar with many of Ross' other achievements including his masterpiece, the Pinehurst in North Carolina. It's where Ross introduced many of his innovations, including grassy greens, and it's where he died in l948.
What better tribute to the tireless talent than an eponymous inn, conveniently located close to Florida's Turnpike and Interstate 95 on a road bearing his name, in the heart of golfing country? There are more than 30 challenging courses in the area, and the Herbsts can make arrangements for golf packages, scheduling tee times for guests staying two or more nights in one of four accommodations named for famous Ross courses.
The Oakland Hills suite is the honeymoon retreat with king-size bed, and the Seminole has a queen, each with private bath. The Pinehurst and Inverness rooms accommodate foursomes and are being finished with French doors leading to the poolside patio, where a full complimentary breakfast is served to guests. There's always fresh fruit and fresh-baked breads, muffins and such plus something special, like Charlie's Hole-in-One eggs, made with a round loaf of sourdough bread which, when it's sliced, looks like an aerial view of a putting green. It's a variation of French toast with cooked, domed eggs in the center, with a small flag by the egg and fruit garnish, bacon or sausage on the side.
There is also a grill near the pool, and guests are invited to grill their own meals. It's a great place to relax after a day on the fairways. Or a day in conferences. The inn is an appealing oasis for small business conferences, which can use the huge cathedral-ceiling living and dining rooms. In the future there will be a separate meeting room, created from the pair of garages out back.
Also on the Herbst's priority list of projects is a Bermuda grass putting green, to be planted in a corner of their 11/4 acres.
Charlie Herbst should be turning his attention to putting his design talents to use, perhaps painting wall murals of the suite courses or adding other thematic touches. Maybe something similar to the painted chest of drawers he brought back to life with splashy, bright marine-life colors.
The former college professor taught theatrical set design, and for the past decade he's had his own design firm. Cindy Herbst's background is in sales -- everything from bikinis to big-rig trucks -- and she's currently working in marine insurance out of Fort Lauderdale.
Combining their talents in creating this tribute to the game they both love while striking out in new directions is a joy to experience, and it will be a pleasure to see them grow in their new endeavor.
Named for this country's premier golf course designer who was responsible for no fewer than 413 layouts in the United States -- 34 of them in Florida -- the Donald Ross Inn opened in July after months of modernization and makeover by owners Cindy and Charlie Herbst.
Newcomers to the innkeeping business but not to Florida, where they've spent some 60 years combined, the Ohio natives played their first golf at the Donald Ross-designed Inverness Club in Toledo and are familiar with many of Ross' other achievements including his masterpiece, the Pinehurst in North Carolina. It's where Ross introduced many of his innovations, including grassy greens, and it's where he died in l948.
What better tribute to the tireless talent than an eponymous inn, conveniently located close to Florida's Turnpike and Interstate 95 on a road bearing his name, in the heart of golfing country? There are more than 30 challenging courses in the area, and the Herbsts can make arrangements for golf packages, scheduling tee times for guests staying two or more nights in one of four accommodations named for famous Ross courses.
The Oakland Hills suite is the honeymoon retreat with king-size bed, and the Seminole has a queen, each with private bath. The Pinehurst and Inverness rooms accommodate foursomes and are being finished with French doors leading to the poolside patio, where a full complimentary breakfast is served to guests. There's always fresh fruit and fresh-baked breads, muffins and such plus something special, like Charlie's Hole-in-One eggs, made with a round loaf of sourdough bread which, when it's sliced, looks like an aerial view of a putting green. It's a variation of French toast with cooked, domed eggs in the center, with a small flag by the egg and fruit garnish, bacon or sausage on the side.
There is also a grill near the pool, and guests are invited to grill their own meals. It's a great place to relax after a day on the fairways. Or a day in conferences. The inn is an appealing oasis for small business conferences, which can use the huge cathedral-ceiling living and dining rooms. In the future there will be a separate meeting room, created from the pair of garages out back.
Also on the Herbst's priority list of projects is a Bermuda grass putting green, to be planted in a corner of their 11/4 acres.
Charlie Herbst should be turning his attention to putting his design talents to use, perhaps painting wall murals of the suite courses or adding other thematic touches. Maybe something similar to the painted chest of drawers he brought back to life with splashy, bright marine-life colors.
The former college professor taught theatrical set design, and for the past decade he's had his own design firm. Cindy Herbst's background is in sales -- everything from bikinis to big-rig trucks -- and she's currently working in marine insurance out of Fort Lauderdale.
Combining their talents in creating this tribute to the game they both love while striking out in new directions is a joy to experience, and it will be a pleasure to see them grow in their new endeavor.
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