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DJM

Miami recommendations
« on: March 07, 2012, 05:48:04 PM »
Have a work trip to Miami coming up and a free day before flight back on Wednesday 28th March. Assuming they'll take a visiting three or four-ball, any suggestions on where I should play for approx $100-150 per green fee that has reasonable strategic and architectural merit? Don't know the area at all... Invites to Fisher Island always welcomed of course  :P

Thanks!

And congrats to Gil Hanse and team!

Howard Riefs

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2012, 05:51:17 PM »
Mark Saltzman enjoyed his recent round at the Biltmore. His photo tour:


http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,50607.msg1152200/topicseen.html#msg1152200
"Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: Taking long walks and hitting things with a stick."  ~P.J. O'Rourke

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2012, 05:53:51 PM »
I would also suggest the Biltmore. I really enjoyed my round out there a year ago.
H.P.S.

DJM

Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2012, 06:13:50 PM »
Thanks guys took a look but tee times already fully booked - any more for any more? Cheers

Mark Saltzman

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Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2012, 06:22:41 PM »
I played Crandon near Miami last week. Worth a play but a bit pricey. My review: http://onegolferstravels.blogspot.com/2012/01/crandon-golf-course-review.html

Also definitely worth playing is Donald Ross' Biltmore about 20 minutes from Miami. Some good deals to be had on Golfnow, too. My review: http://onegolferstravels.blogspot.com/2011/12/biltmore-resort.html

As an international, I suspect you would have some success with access to some private courses in the area, if you wanted to go that route.  Many clubs are somewhat restricted with outside play as this is their busy season, but a few to consider that may be a bit more welcoming:

http://www.rivieracountryclub.org/ - a Ross that is reasonably close.  No personal experience but I have heard good things.

http://www.coralridgecc.com/ - RTJ Sr's home course.  Really interesting set of greens.

http://www.delraydunes.org/ - A very early Pete Dye.  Worth seeing for any architecture junkie


I cannot, in good conscience, recommend the Doral courses.  Always fun to play a course you see on TV, but at the price they charge I cannot justify recommending it.

Other options:

http://www.golfjacaranda.com/ West - DO NOT PLAY THE EAST - Was a boring RTJ Sr. design, but the Bobby Weed renovation has made it a very enjoyable golf course.

I have heard good things about http://www.golfcolonywest.com/.  Ditto http://www.hillcrestgcc.com/index.php

A bit farther away I really enjoyed:

West Palm Beach GC: http://onegolferstravels.blogspot.com/2012/01/west-palm-beach-golf-club-review.html -- At $24 on EZLinks.com it is one of the best values anywhere.  Recent restoration has made it very interesting.

http://www.presidentcc.com/ is a recently renovated RTJ Jr. course that has a great set of greens.

http://npbcc.org/ renovated by Nicklaus 5 years ago.  Hillier terrain than most FL golf.  Extreme greens -- love it or hate it kind of thing.

http://madisongreengolf.com/ - A CCFAD.  Better than average but not great.

Tiger_Bernhardt

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Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2012, 06:30:03 PM »
I say ditch the clubs and go to the beach and enjoy the topless girls.

Howard Riefs

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Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2012, 07:09:07 PM »
A recent Golfweek article on the muni plays in Miami, Crandon and Miami Beach GC.

http://golfweek.com/news/2012/mar/01/miami-36-holes-muni-magic/?print


"Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: Taking long walks and hitting things with a stick."  ~P.J. O'Rourke

DJM

Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2012, 05:49:23 AM »
Mark - thanks comprehensive and really helpful.

Coral Ridge and Jacaranda look favourite and convenient schedule-wise. Delray Dunes I had no idea about(!), and West Palm Beach looks like a fabulous gem - if I were with golfers who appreciated the finer points of the ground game vs being drawn aesthetically by manicured fairways I'd be really tempted to take the ride out there. Thanks again.

Tiger - beach tour is Tuesday ;)

Howard - thanks again, they both look like great tracks. Miami Beach might be a bit of a stretch for the guys I'm with - it'll be $300 per man with club and buggy thrown in... Crandon is another great find. So glad I asked!

DJM

Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2012, 01:38:07 PM »
Surprised to see so many Robert Von Hagge (co)designs in the Miami area - temped to try golf colony west. One of my top 10 all time faves is Les Bordes, quirky rather than classic layout but lots of interesting ideas, some fantastic par 3s, and huge fun to play. You couldn't pick a more aesthetically pleasing location in rural France either...simply stunning.

Howard Riefs

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2012, 03:08:12 PM »
Another new Golfweek article on Miami golf. On the slate:

-- Fisher Island
-- Biltmore
-- Westin Diplomat

http://golfweek.com/news/2012/mar/08/golf-south-florida-rich-luxurious-experience/
"Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: Taking long walks and hitting things with a stick."  ~P.J. O'Rourke

Bill Shotzbarger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2012, 01:10:14 AM »
Another new Golfweek article on Miami golf. On the slate:

-- Fisher Island
-- Biltmore
-- Westin Diplomat

http://golfweek.com/news/2012/mar/08/golf-south-florida-rich-luxurious-experience/

That article has me absolutely  :-[ ... I'll be on F.I. this weekend but unfortunately my friend and host is not a player!!

Anders Rytter

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #11 on: March 12, 2012, 06:14:08 PM »
People here were kind enough to reccomend courses for me in Miami not to long ago. Played three course and would recommend biiltmore and Crandon. Not sure which one i liked best. Ross got the most out of what he had to work with at Biltmore but it seems Von Hagge had slightly more to work with at Crandon (or moved a bit of earth). Atleast thats how i saw it. Got good deal on golfnow.com for both :)
« Last Edit: March 12, 2012, 06:16:46 PM by A Rytter »

J Cabarcos

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2012, 12:29:06 AM »
As a local golfer down in SoFla for the pass decade, I fall right in line with the train of thought that a visitor has to hit Crandon & Biltmore when in Miami.  I would call the Biltmore again to see if you can get shuffled in.  Doral's Blue and White, are great, but not compatible with the rack rates. (Turnberry Isles' two courses are probably also in the same boat)  Often overlooked is a really well keep semi-private course in Hollywood, FLA called Emerald Hills which is a great test of golf, and always host the regional USGA US Open qualifier (and former Doral Open qualifier). Lastly, I am surprised that no specific mention took place for both Miami Beach Golf Courses - Miami Beach GC & Normandy Shores GC.  Former has the better layout, and later has the better green complexes.  Both have undergone extensive overhauls in the past and are currently in top form.  Maybe it is the overall anti Arthur Hills bias of GCA'er, but I respectfully suggest that both are well worth the time to discover.  After your round, your down the street from the epicenter of South Beach, Not bad at all? ehh.

Go Miami Beach.

J Cabarcos

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Miami recommendations
« Reply #13 on: March 21, 2012, 12:38:18 AM »
PS-DJM:

You don't wan't an invite to Fisher Island, what you really would like is an invite to play Indian Creek down here in Miami.