Biltmore Miami

[Ira Fishman]

Has anyone played it since it reopened last month? I have a business meeting in Key Biscayne in March and debating whether to stay a couple days for golf.


Thanks as always,


Ira

[MCirba]

Ira,

I played it recently and it seems well-conceived with fairway bunkering definitely impacting decision-making and quite a bit of tree-clearing (I was told).   The greens are the highlight, as the property itself is rather flat without much natural interest.

The grow-in is taking some time if conditioning means much to you, but I'm thinking by March it should be getting there.

[Tim Gavrich]

Echo MCirba's words - I quite enjoyed it but the fairways particularly are still coming in in many spots, so it's cart path only (and you can only walk after 10 am, I believe) for the forseeable future. I hadn't played before but it sounds like Brian Silva added some more fairway bunkers and movement on some of the greens, particularly the 14th and 18th.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Yes, more fairway bunkers and strategy according to Brian Silva:


http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/silva-leads-restoration-of-ross-course-at-biltmore

[Adam Lawrence]

I played it on the same opening week trip as Tim and I really rather enjoyed it. Pretty good example of what a top architect can do with a flat site.

[Ira Fishman]

Views from people whose views I respect. They lead me toward playing it some day, but on this trip finding a way to get to Streamsong for the first time.


Ira

[Anthony_Nysse]

Views from people whose views I respect. They lead me toward playing it some day, but on this trip finding a way to get to Streamsong for the first time.


Ira

That's about a 4 hour trip, one way...

[Ira Fishman]

I know, but we can fly back to DC from Tampa. Plus my wife does the driving

[Jaeger Kovich]

Ira- I played the course pre reno. Unless you had a bunch of other non golf related things to do in Miami it isn’t worth the drive. If you wanna play a flat Ross Florida course on your way in/out of streamsong go see Dunedin much closer to Tampa. There are a few old
Photos of it in Ross’ books and maybe even Georgia Thomas’ too. It could use a little TLC but I found it just as interesting as Biltmore, a fraction of the price and way easier considering where you are spending most of your time.

[Blake Conant]

What's the story with that 9-hole Granada course 5 minutes north of Biltmore?  I have it in my notes as a Ross and Langford, but don't know much else.

[Tim Gavrich]

What's the story with that 9-hole Granada course 5 minutes north of Biltmore?  I have it in my notes as a Ross and Langford, but don't know much else.

I stopped by and just had a quick look and chat with the guy in the shop/bar on my way home after Biltmore and it looks like it could be a "next Winter Park" (with more high-rises visible) if the City of Coral Gables wanted to go that route. Design-wise it looks fairly rudimentary at the moment; the property is skinny so the holes are pretty straightaway. Nevertheless, it was busy on a Sunday afternoon and looked to be in good shape.

[M. Shea Sweeney]

.