WELLINGTON, Florida— Palm Beach Polo Inc. announced Monday it had offered the 18-hole Cypress golf course to businessman Mark Bellissimo’s firm worth $35 million as the latest step toward his mission of protecting Wellington equestrian park through preservation plans.
The Great Palm Beach Polo Club Real Estate Purchase
Palm Beach Polo Golf & Country Club will become part of The Wellington, Bellissimo’s plan to construct two luxurious homes and an upscale commercial area in its preserve using aid from an entity with backing from stars Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake as partners.
Palm Beach Polo can be found directly adjacent to a property acquired by Bellissimo near Equestrian show grounds for their project, close by an Equestrian course and show grounds. This arrangement allows Bellissimo access to The Wellington, and it is also helping Palm Beach Polo pay their outstanding fines of $6.8 Million due to The Wellington.
Wellington will assume management of Palm Beach Polo parcels that make up its golf course, totaling 125 acres in size, which comprise Wellington’s acquisition target. A judge recently postponed its scheduled auction date until July 12, citing Palm Beach Polo’s cash posting as part of an appeal of their decision against them.
Before Bellissimo can allow its residents to use golf carts on its course, three villages boards – elected by Wellington’s municipal council- must vote on whether his plan complies with stringent regulations that regulate development within its equestrian reserve area of 9,000 acres in South Wellington.
As yet, it remains uncertain when or if decisions will be taken; no board member has set a date to discuss Bellissimo’s proposed development; furthermore, neither his company nor the one developing this area has submitted plans that include restaurants, hotels, and shops in their plans to commercialize the district.
What will become of Wellington and its Equestrian Park? Since 2012, Bellissimo has made several efforts in his 9,000-acre equestrian reserve where the Wellington sits, hosting his Winter Equestrian Festival each year and investing in several properties therein.
Protests by local community members ultimately derailed his plans for building both a hotel and dressage facility; then, in 2016 proposed improvements to International Polo Club, which he eventually sold instead, creating an Equestrian Centre in North Carolina instead.
Mark Bellissimo presents his expansion plans proposal to the Equestrian Preserve Committee in Wellington, Florida. (Photo: Greg Lovett/Palm Beach Post)
Bellissimo warned that Wellington could lose business and equestrian events that have defined it as horse-friendly, like Ocala and Myakka City, should they reject Wellington’s plans. These proposals aim to double the show area while simultaneously providing luxurious homes and amenities to horses.
Some have raised concerns that approval of his plan would set a precedent for future development within the park; current laws prohibit motels, hotels, condos, apartments, and condominiums, restrict commercial structures built and limit how much housing was constructed.
Following his failed 2016 run for Village President, Voters approved all necessary approvals for any significant development plans in the preserve. Plans such as this one require the support of an Equestrian Committee member and both Planning & Zoning committee members and the council of the village members before being put forward for consideration by Wellington Planning Staff; their staff has confirmed these plans fit the purpose of preservation.
Bellissimo will unveil his plan for luxurious homes when housing costs have skyrocketed throughout West-facing communities of Orange County, leaving vacant homes that cannot be built and many workers raised they’re being priced out; according to him, his plan does not provide housing for workers.
Tiger and Timberlake, part owners of the design firm, filed revised plans earlier this month that revealed: The Wellington real estate site would be divided into three sections.
Wellington South comprises 143 estates and five 4-acre farms, while Wellington North includes 272 condos and 28 houses. To complete its the new equestrian community is Wellington Market: this central hub for shops, restaurants, and hotels.
Bellissimo announced on their team blog that their firm has joined with Nexus Luxury Collection to design homes, a town center, and, potentially, community clubs in villages that agree with their proposed development plans. Nexus investors include Justin Timberlake, Tiger Woods, and Ernie Els, along with British Investor Joe Lewis of Tavistock Group, who has invested.
Nexus Bellissimo and Nexus Bellissimo have united forces in an innovative joint venture called Wellington Lifestyle Partners that will oversee the planning, design, and operation of The Wellington Village should they accept their plans. Both companies aim to draw inspiration from Nexus’ Albany community near Nassau in The Bahamas for this undertaking.
Douglas McMahon, WLP’s managing partner, says the golf course will be renovated in the coming months. Palm Beach Polo residents who complain of poor maintenance and overgrown grass now have access to play it, and some tees have bare fields or turn into mud traps which will also need attention in this timeframe.
McMahon reported that Woods, who lives on Jupiter Island and owns property there, is aware of the plan, but details surrounding who will redesign both clubhouse and course are yet to be hammered out. For now, though, McMahon noted, both are accessible, as is a new membership plan for members.
Additional recreational amenities planned for The Wellington include:
Golf Practice Areas
A lake and park covering 16 acres that feature trails, gardens, and space for events and 12 tennis courts (12 tennis courts, 10 paddle tennis courts, and 12 pickleball courts). A stadium court for tennis play. Twelve tennis courts (8 in addition to 8 stadium courts). Ten paddle courts. Plus, twelve pickleball courts! The property will compile the who’s who of several sports and industries, the real estate market for this community will likely be only available off-market, possibly not even listed on your local mls.
One pool specifically targeted adults. A two-story fieldhouse featuring an outdoor basketball court. Five sports simulators. And, of course, our fitness and health center.
Bellissimo’s team has stated that development should occur holistically to avoid piecemeal growth.
McMahon alleges WLP altered its plans to meet community preferences while building support for further commercial and residential development around the fairgrounds.
He expressed hope of creating excitement about an exciting community club for Wellington to experience growth.
Paige Bellissimo, Mark Bellissimo’s daughter and vice president of development for Wellington Equestrian Centre, has stated that investing in the sport of equestrians is crucial if Wellington wishes to remain competitive against independent venues like Ocala Equestrian Center.
“There’s an extraordinary opportunity here to build something truly memorable from all 600 acres we own in a way that would create more meaningful and long-term growth versus opting for piecemeal development of individual parcels,” according to she stated.
