Frenchman’s Creek is a private club community in Palm Beach Gardens. It has two golf courses and an oceanfront Beach Club in Juno Beach, and the club says some of its homes have deep-water docks with direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway. Living there also means joining the club, because membership is mandatory for community residents. That makes the club’s paperwork as much a part of the purchase as the house.
Frenchman’s Creek is also easy to confuse with Frenchman’s Reserve, a different club community in Palm Beach Gardens. If the Reserve is the one you’re researching, start with our comparison of BallenIsles, Mirasol and Frenchman’s Reserve. This guide covers Frenchman’s Creek: the land, the club, the docks and the paperwork.
Key takeaways
- Frenchman’s Creek is a private club community in Palm Beach Gardens. It isn’t Frenchman’s Reserve.
- It has 36 holes of golf and an oceanfront Beach Club in Juno Beach.
- The club says 95 homes have deep-water docks with direct access to the Intracoastal.
- Membership is mandatory for residents, with an equity fee at purchase plus annual dues and POA fees.
- Get current fees in writing and read the governing documents before you sign.
Where is Frenchman’s Creek, and how big is it?
Frenchman’s Creek is in Palm Beach Gardens. The club’s main address is 13495 Tournament Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, and its Beach Club is a separate site at 400 Celestial Way in Juno Beach (Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club). County property records list the Frenchman’s Creek golf course parcel in the municipality of Palm Beach Gardens, zoned Planned Community Development (Palm Beach County Property Appraiser).
Frenchman’s Creek was developed on 700 acres, according to the club’s history (Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club). Today, the club describes the community as having just over 600 homes (Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club). For homes on the market now, see our Frenchman’s Creek homes for sale page.
How did Frenchman’s Creek begin?
Frenchman’s Creek began with a land purchase in 1977. That year, developers Burt Haft and Jack Gaines bought 1,400 acres, two public golf courses included, from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, according to the club’s history (Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club). The southern half, the 700 acres south of Donald Ross Road, became Frenchman’s Creek.
The northern portion was later developed into The Bear’s Club and Trump National. Our comparison of Old Palm and The Bear’s Club covers one of those neighbors.
The plan was kept small on purpose. Zoning allowed up to 3,300 housing units on the land, but the developers limited the plan to 600 home sites. The ocean came later: in 1986, the community bought oceanfront property in Juno Beach and built its Beach Club.
What golf and amenities does Frenchman’s Creek offer?
Frenchman’s Creek has 36 holes of golf and a bi-level driving range, led by PGA professional staff (Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club). The club also lists a new 124,450-square-foot clubhouse with dining venues, golf and tennis pro shops, meeting spaces and a ballroom. For court sports, it lists 26 Har-Tru and stadium courts for tennis, pickleball and creek ball, plus two full-size bocce courts.
The club’s golf page describes two courses with different characters (Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club). Jim Fazio designed the par-72 North Course, which the club says isn’t a typical Florida layout: more pine trees than palm trees, rolling hills and green fairways all year. The club calls the South Course “a Robert Cupp showpiece,” with 18 holes of lush, tree-lined terrain and strategic water features.
For what to weigh on any home near a course, see our buyer’s guide to golf community homes in Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter.
What’s at the Beach Club?
The Beach Club is the community’s place on the Atlantic. The club says a private section of Juno Beach is reserved for members, and the Beach Club has a heated outdoor pool, a children’s swimming area and a private restaurant (Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club).
For more on the town around it, see our Juno Beach real estate and community guide.
Can you keep a boat at Frenchman’s Creek?
At some homes, yes. The club says 95 homes have deep-water boat docks with direct access to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club). It also says the full-service Loggerhead Club and Marina is adjacent to the community and reachable through the deep-water canals.
If a boat is part of the plan, confirm the home has one of those docks, then check it as you would any other:
- The depth at the end of the dock at low tide, and along the route out.
- Permits for the dock and for any lift or seawall.
- Any community rules on boats, lifts and dock use.
- The route by water to the inlet, including any bridge on the way and whether it opens.
If you’d rather keep a boat at the Loggerhead Club and Marina, ask the marina directly about slips and terms. Our guide to the types of waterfront in Palm Beach County compares the options, and our guide to coastal home maintenance in South Florida covers dock and seawall upkeep.
How does club membership work at Frenchman’s Creek?
The club says country club membership is mandatory for community residents (Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club). It also says Frenchman’s Creek is owned and operated by its equity members, which makes each member an owner in part of the club and its related facilities.
The club’s membership page names these costs:
- An equity fee, paid when a home is purchased, which includes a contribution to the Capital Reserve Fund.
- Annual club dues.
- POA maintenance fees.
The dues and POA fees are established by the annual operating budget, according to the club.
This guide doesn’t quote figures, because they change. Ask the club for the current equity fee, Capital Reserve Fund contribution, dues and POA fees in writing before you commit, and ask how the operating budget has moved in recent years. For a wider look at association costs, see our guide to HOA costs in Palm Beach Gardens communities.
What should you read before you sign?
Florida law sets the timing for one document. As a general rule, the state’s homeowners’ association statute says, “A prospective parcel owner in a community must be presented a disclosure summary before executing the contract for sale” (s. 720.401, Florida Statutes). For any home in Frenchman’s Creek, request the disclosure summary and the governing documents, and have a Florida real estate attorney review them before you sign.
A checklist for buying in Frenchman’s Creek
For any home you’re considering:
- Get the current equity fee, Capital Reserve Fund contribution, annual dues and POA fees from the club, in writing.
- Ask what golf and Beach Club access comes with membership, and what the dues and POA fees cover.
- Request the disclosure summary and the governing documents, and have a Florida real estate attorney review them before you sign the contract.
- If you want a boat at home, confirm the home has a deep-water dock, then check its depth at low tide, its permits and any rules on its use.
- Trace the route by water from the dock to the inlet, and note any bridge on the way.
- Look up the flood zone for the address and get a quote from a licensed insurance agent.
- Look up the parcel on the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s site.
The wider checks on a high-end purchase, from title to the survey, are in our luxury home due diligence guide. Our breakdown of homeowners insurance costs in Palm Beach County covers the policy side.
Considering a home in Frenchman’s Creek?
The Cahur Group serves Palm Beach County and Martin County, and waterfront property in Jupiter, North Palm Beach and nearby coastal areas is the team’s preferred specialty. From 2017 to 2024, Keller Williams recognized Cibie Cahur as being in the top 1% of all agents, based on county sales statistics, and HomeLight named her a Top Negotiator from 2021 to 2024.
If you’d like help weighing a home in Frenchman’s Creek, from the dock to the club paperwork, contact us. A consultation is free, with no obligation.
Call or text 561-401-5758 · The Cahur Group, Keller Williams Jupiter
Frequently asked questions
Is Frenchman’s Creek the same as Frenchman’s Reserve?
No. Frenchman’s Reserve is a different club community in Palm Beach Gardens. It describes itself as having 341 single-family homes, 56 coach homes and 50 custom homes (Frenchman’s Reserve Country Club), while the Frenchman’s Creek club describes its community as having just over 600 homes. For the Reserve, see our comparison of BallenIsles, Mirasol and Frenchman’s Reserve.
Is club membership mandatory at Frenchman’s Creek?
Yes. The club says country club membership is mandatory for community residents. Members pay an equity fee when a home is purchased, which includes a contribution to the Capital Reserve Fund, and are billed annual club dues and POA maintenance fees established by the annual operating budget. Ask the club for the current amounts in writing before you commit.
What golf courses does Frenchman’s Creek have?
It has two, with 36 holes of golf in all, according to the club. Jim Fazio designed the par-72 North Course, which the club describes as having more pine trees than palm trees and rolling hills. The club calls the 18-hole South Course “a Robert Cupp showpiece,” with tree-lined terrain and strategic water features.
Does Frenchman’s Creek have beach access?
Yes, for members, through its Beach Club in Juno Beach. The club says a private section of Juno Beach on the Atlantic is reserved for members, and the Beach Club has a heated outdoor pool and a private restaurant. The community bought the oceanfront property and built the Beach Club in 1986, according to the club.
The short version
Frenchman’s Creek is a private club community in Palm Beach Gardens with 36 holes of golf, an oceanfront Beach Club in Juno Beach and, the club says, 95 homes with deep-water docks. Membership is mandatory for residents, with an equity fee, annual dues and POA fees. Get current figures from the club, read the disclosure summary and governing documents before you sign, and check any dock before your inspection period ends.
Details come from Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club, Frenchman’s Reserve Country Club, the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser and the Florida Statutes, as cited inline. Club fees and rules change. This is general information, not legal or insurance advice; confirm current terms with the club, a Florida real estate attorney and a licensed insurance agent.
