Public will have voice in new public golf club

The community will have a chance to share thoughts and ideas for a public golf course, school and possible hotel planned in northeast Boca Raton tonight.

The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, a taxing body separate from the city, is in the midst of buying, renovating and re-opening Ocean Breeze Golf Club, a 200-acre course on Northwest Second Avenue near Yamato Road, for $24 million. It will be re-branded Boca Raton National Golf Club.

The district board will pick a firm to design the course from 15 proposers, some of which are associated with golf pros such as Tom Lehman and Greg Norman.

The course design could cost as much as $18 million.

The third of three meetings to interview and choose the architect is this evening at 5:30.

Residents can sit in, and will have a chance to offer input at a later date.