Things to Do in Wellington

The 18 holes of Palm Beach Gardens Golf Course slither through the natural marshes and wetlands of the Loxahatchee Nature Preserve, testing golfers' mettle with frequent changes in fairway direction and lots of water. Players scoot about the Roy Case-designed layout aboard golf carts equipped with GPS systems, which help them ascertain exact distances to greens and around sunbathing caddies. The fairway of the par 5 ninth hole -- dubbed "Mucho Agua" -- lies on an isthmus between two large bodies of water, leaving little room for error as players try to reach the green in two. The fairway of the 13th hole, also a par 5, doglegs twice into a unique Z shape, earning it the name of "Zorro's Revenge." Before players may turn in for the day, they must deal with two shots over water on the last hole, named "Swamp Thing" for its proximity to marshland and proclivity for early '80s horror movies.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 6,500 yards from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole

Palm Beach Paddleboards gets water riders up and running with lessons, tours, and a slate of boards and accessories. On daytime paddling jaunts, tour-goers can explore the natural inlets, bays, and canals of the Intracoastal Waterway, which spans 3,000 miles of Florida's Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. While benefiting from both the full-body workout and the inherent peacefulness of paddling, adventurers can encounter members of the local eco system, such as manatees, turtles, and stingrays, and also scope out the grand waterfront homes and vacationing English castles sprawled throughout Palm Beach. Inside the store, vessel experts outfit adventurers with a slate of boards and accessories from brands such as Suplove, Tahoe, and Kialoa.

The single and tandem kayaks of Paddle Away Sports encourage competitive and cooperative paddling, and standup-paddleboard rentals entail relaxing expeditions and include long paddles for fending off carnivorous barnacles. The knowledgeable staff leads instructional sessions for new riders and sunset tours of the shimmering waters.

The emerald alleyways of Forest Oaks Golf Club's 18-hole course tumble through towering trees and scenic streams for a round of lengthy, challenging play. Tight fairways supply the bulk of the difficulty throughout the round, which tests golfers' accuracy off the tee and golf carts' stamina with six par 5s. The club hosts frequent scrambles, beat-the-pro competitions, and other friendly competitions to unite linkspeople under the common cause of hunting pins and fending off mulligans. To prepare duffers for rounds on their scenic course, Forest Oaks' staff of resident aces offers onsite golf instruction, and the golf club fuels herculean drives and underfed 9-irons with refreshments and homemade snack-bar

A nonprofit organization dedicated to the visual arts, Palm Beach Photographic Centre has kept citizens abreast of ever-evolving aesthetics since it was incorporated in 1985. Recently settled into their brand-new facility in the City Hall complex, guest instructors including Robert Farber, Ross Whitaker, and Laurence Gartel hold more than 300 photography workshops every year. The in-house staff teaches other classes, with curricula ranging from Photoshop tutorials to technology-oriented lectures to far-flung traveling workshops in such locales as Peru, Bali, and the mirror city located beneath Lake Mangonia. Members earn discounts on all of these opportunities, receive invitations to exclusive events, and get the chance to be displayed in the annual INFOCUS juried exhibition.

Legendary course architect Donald Ross began design on the first nine holes of Delray Beach Golf Club in 1923, and when the course officially opened for play in 1926, players embraced the layout's variety of shot scenarios. When the course closed during World War II, the grounds sat idle, forcing the course carts to join the Allied forces as lightweight tanks.

Delray Beach Club reopened in 1945 and, five years later, the city sculpted a back nine to create a modern, championship course that stretches 6,907 yards for a par of 72. The original challenges still exist today, beckoning golfers to rely on every club in their bag as they take on par 4s that range from 347 to 451 yards, where treating the hole like a par 5 is often the best strategy. A stream enters play on five holes, running parallel to both the par 5 first hole and the par 3 sixth, forcing players to fight the urge to chip onto a passing lily pad and let it carry the ball downstream.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 6,907 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 72 from the back tees
• Course slope of 123 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees available
• Scorecard