DORAL — Bryson DeChambeau, the reigning U.S. Open champion, found himself chasing a course record in December alongside every other weekend hacker at the municipal Delray Beach Golf Club.
DeChambeau documented his attempt to set the course record on his YouTube channel in a video titled, "Can I Break A Random Public Course Record In One Try?" The video has been viewed 1.8 million times.
A century-old golf course designed by famed architect Donald Ross, Delray Beach Golf Club is a local favorite for Palm Beach County golfers thanks to its public access and affordable rates both in and out of season.
It is, however, far from its glory days in terms of condition.
PGA professional Rick Durham told DeChambeau prior to the round that Delray Beach Golf Club was a "great golf course" that had been neglected for more than 20 years. Delray Beach city officials rejected multiple redevelopment plans in the summer of 2023.
The course's tee boxes and greens have deteriorated in recent years, leaving no shortage of dirt patches, sand top dressing and aeration holes, particularly in the winter months.
Such was the experience DeChambeau said he was looking for in his attempt to connect with the broader golf public through social media.
"We wanted to go to a golf course that wasn't as pristinely kept on purpose to showcase what it's like playing normal golf," Dechambeau said Wednesday at Trump National Doral ahead of LIV Golf Miami. "I think that's the most important thing we're trying to show on YouTube is to show what actual golf is.
"I think that's why it's so relatable and why the video did so well. It also highlighted a great golf course that's been there for a long time."
