By KATIE RYAN Sun-Sentinel
Web-posted: 12:05 a.m. Mar. 14, 2000
HALLANDALE BEACH -- Many of the old stars are gone, but the opening of the first phase of the Diplomat Resort &
Hotel marks a return to the glamour days of the old Diplomat hotel on Hollywood beach.
On Wednesday, officials will unveil the first phase of the $600 million complex, which straddles both Hallandale Beach and Hollywood.
Opening is the Diplomat Resort Country Club in Hallandale, a mix of old style glamour and 21st century health-conscious amenities.
And as Diplomat boosters like to say, there is something for everyone.
There is a 155-acre golf course designed by well-known golf architect Joe Lee, the man responsible for the Disney courses. The entranceway to the main building boasts marble collected from seven different countries. Venus Williams wannabes can dream of the pro tour with an on-site tennis professional.
As many longtime Floridians remember, the old Diplomat hosted such luminaries as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., rivaling anything Miami Beach or Las Vegas could offer. But after several years of decline, the resort closed for renovations in 1991, putting 600 people out of work. It never reopened.
The pipefitters union eventually purchased the hotel and the old structure was leveled.
A new Diplomat was soon born.
Hallandale Beach gets the tournament-level golf course and the glitzy spa and resort in a lush Northern Italian villa style.
Across the Intracoastal, Hollywood gets the oceanfront dual-tower building, complete with 1,000 rooms and 39 stories, set to open next year.
Wednesday marks the country club's "soft" or partial opening, but such things as the hotel, restaurants and the golf course will also be open for business.
Representatives expect a full opening in May.
"We are going to be checking people in. It's wonderful," said Mike Hall, the resort's managing director.
The golf course is open to the public for now with a public rate of $95 to play, Hall said. Guests at the hotel pay $85.
"Just need a reservation and a tee time and off you go," Hall said.
Hotel rooms will range from about $300 a night to $850 for a suite in season -- January through May 11 -- and will drop to $160 to $650 out of season, though the rates can change.
Amenities aside, the economic impact of the project will be substantial, Hall said.
He gave the example of the resort's 240 employees, many of whom will live and spend their money in the cities of Hallandale Beach and Hollywood, he said.
"When the (old) Diplomat closed, businesses felt a direct impact," Hall said.
City officials agree.
Hollywood has long touted the reopening of the Diplomat as the engine that will drive the city to a new economic revival.
"It means a great deal to the city," said Hallandale Beach Mayor Arnold Lanner.
The hope is that the resort will inspire more development, Lanner said, such as luring restaurants into the area.
"I don't mean Burger King," Lanner said. "I mean quality restaurants."
Tournaments and a competition quality golf course will also be a major draw for both the cities and the resort, Lanner said.
Already the condominiums that line the new course on Atlantic Shores Boulevard are seeing a bump in property values, he said. Of course, that means higher assessments come tax time, he added.
"You can't win for losing," he said. "But it has definitely improved the status of the city."
Any plans on hitting the links himself?
Lanner laughed.
"The only links I hit are hot dog links."
Katie Ryan can be reached at kryan@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7920.
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